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Japan Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan's offer to take in foreign students from U.S. universities faces major stumbling blocks
The administration of President Donald Trump has been cracking down on the issuance of student visas to U.S. institutes of higher learning. It has been particularly keen on refusing entry to those supporting the Palestinian cause or who engage in acts of antisemitism. In addition, those with links to the communist party of China have come under greater scrutiny. Writing in Shukan Post (Aug 8), business consultant Kenichi Ohmae observes that major national universities in Japan, including the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University and other institutions have announced temporary provisions for taking in such students. According to the Ministry of Education, as of June 5, some 90 universities in Japan have decided to fast-track the students' admission as well as offer them scholarships and other forms of support. A survey of foreign students found that as of May 1, 2024, Japan had 336,708 students from abroad, a year-over-year increase of 57,434. Broken down by nationality, China led the list with 123,458 students, followed by Nepal (64,816), and Vietnam (40,323). More students have also been coming from other Asian countries, including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mongolia and others. Nevertheless among these numbers not very many could be regarded as "outstanding students." "There are a number of factors for this," writes Ohmae, "but the greatest barrier to matriculating at Japanese institutions is that they do not provide instruction in English, the global language. And acquiring the Japanese language is extremely difficult for foreigners." If the University of Tokyo is to accept students from the U.S., Ohmae doubts that top-level students and researchers (other than Japanese nationals) will take up Japan on its offer to study here. "Most of the students that Trump has forced out of the U.S. are likely to transfer to other English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada." he writes. "Other candidates will be universities in the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong and elsewhere." Singapore is a small country with a high standard of living, but living costs there represent a high hurdle. Hong Kong on the other hand has become a "control society" dominated by China, with heavier restrictions on academic freedom, discouraging applicants. In a nutshell, Japan's greatest handicap is its communications ability. "Once when I was involved in negotiating a merger involving an Indian IT company, I was told by many Indian technicians, 'Sorry, but I don't want to work in Japan,' their reason being the poor English environment and high Japanese language barrier," Ohmae relates. The language problem also works in reverse. In a recent survey of 400 male and female Japanese members of Gen Z (the 19-to-25 year age group) conducted by the Japan Tourism Agency, nearly 60% of respondents stated they had no desire to travel abroad. One of the reasons given for their lack of interest was their inability to speak English. In Ohmae's view, until we move so far as to "teach in English" -- rather than just "teaching English" -- no cure for Japanese people's complex over English will be forthcoming. However, money is not the problem. The government has allocated ample funds to fix the situation. With the aim of becoming a "excellent internationalized research university," Tohoku University announced it would devote 30 billion yen over the next five years, with plans to attract 500 high-paid researchers. But it's not a matter of funding, says Ohmae. As long as the right environment for English is not created, top-notch human resources will not come to Japan. If Japan doesn't change its policy toward English and treat familiarity of English as a natural component of education -- perhaps through adoption of a system similar to Malaysia's, in which from primary school to university Japanese would be the language of instruction for the humanities, and English the language of instruction for math and science -- even efforts to attract outstanding human resources will fail. © Japan Today
Japan Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Hakuho's lofty 'global sumo' ambitions bolstered by generous backers with deep pockets
In a June 9 press conference, former sumo stablemaster Miyagino, a retired yokozuna (grand champion) who formerly competed under the name Hakuho, announced his resignation from the Japan Sumo Association. The Mongolian-born Hakuho, now age 40, holds sumo's all-time record of 45 tournament victories, but was nudged out of sumo when the stable he managed, Miyagino, was disbanded over his failure to discipline Mongolia-born Hokuseiho, a senior wrestler who had allegedly physically abused junior grapplers. But as Shukan Post (June 20) reports, Hakuho's seemingly ignominious departure from sumo may have a silver lining, as he informed the media that he still hopes "to share sumo's appeal with many people around the world, not just in Japan." An unnamed stablemaster remarked that Hakuho no doubt expects to continue organizing the annual "Hakuho Cup," a junior sumo tournament held every February at the Kokugikan sumo arena in Ryogoku since 2010. And thanks to cash contributions from wealthy supporters, Hakuho is said to be in good shape financially. "His retirement ceremony in January 2023 made news because of the extremely high ticket price of 5 million yen," confided a supporter, who noted that several major corporations such as Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Tokyo-based amusement machine giant Sankyo Co Ltd were among the sponsors. "He's also known to have a close relationship with Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda," the stablemaster noted. Nagoya hosts a grand sumo tournament each July. As opposed to traditionally spartan lodgings for wrestlers at Buddhist temples, since 2019, the grapplers of Hakuho's stable had been cozily accommodated at the Toyota Sports Center in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, an air-conditioned sports facility that also houses an athletics track, gymnasium and swimming pool. Toyota also sponsored Hakuho's dampatsushiki (hair-cutting retirement ceremony), where Chairman Toyoda was accorded the honor of being the penultimate person to snip off Hakuho's topknot, just before his stablemaster. "Toyoda's substantial gift of 5 million yen set tongues wagging," a Hakuho supporter was quoted as saying. Rather than sponsorship via the Sumo Association, Toyota appears to be backing Hakuho on a personal basis. "Hakuho is also involved with the Sports Academy, an industry-government-academia collaboration project established by Toyota, Chukyo University and Toyota City," the supporter noted. Asked if he would continue to support Hakuho, Toyoda was quoted as saying, "I have a good relationship with him as a friend. When we met from time to time, our conversation was always about the development of Japanese sumo, connecting the world through sumo, and what we can do for the next generation. "Hakuho's love of sumo and his sincere dedication to the development and passing on of sumo culture has resonated with many people, leading to the founding of the Tokai Miyagino Stable Supporters Association two years ago," Toyoda continued. "I am also a friend and serve as honorary chairman of the supporters' association. I'd like to consult with him about any assistance I can provide for his future activities." By harnessing his relationships with global companies, Hakuho aims to "expand sumo globally," Toyoda added. "Hakuho says he plans to create a new organization and first get involved in sumo events, and then set up a global organization for amateur sumo," an unnamed sumo journalist tells Shukan Post. "Just as judo was internationalized in the past, he wants to develop sumo into a global sport, creating a 'Second Sumo Association,' with himself as its head, that would organize a Sumo World Cup." The groundwork for that is already in place in the form of the aforementioned "Hakuho Cup," which this year marked its 15th anniversary. "The Japan Sumo Association did not participate in the sponsorship, but Hakuho himself solicited sponsors, and was supported by special sponsors including Sankyo and Toyota," the journalist explained. "Despite Hakuho's stable having been shuttered last year, entrants into this year's Hakuho Cup attracted an impressive 203 organizations and 1,144 wrestlers from 15 countries and regions, including amateurs from 40 of Japan's 47 prefectures, as well as from Mongolia, Hawaii, South Korea, Brazil, Poland and Ukraine." The sumo journalist remarked that Hakuho possesses exceptional skills at recruiting sponsors and organizing events. It's entirely possible that a fight for the international sumo market will unfold in the future, but from Hakuho's perspective, such a fight would further expose the "closed nature" of the association that forced him out. "Some members of the association look down on the former yokozuna, saying, 'Once he's gone, without the association's affiliation, he's a nobody.' But is it really going to be that simple?" the journalist asked. "Hakuho is trying to use his situation to his advantage, to recruit and develop talented foreign wrestlers and internationalize sumo," he added, predicting "The day may come in the future when a Japanese team is defeated by Mongolia, led by Hakuho, in a Sumo World Cup." © Japan Today
