UNITED STATES

US: Universities shift focus away from Japan

More and more US universities are apparently giving up on Japan as a target for recruiting students, as a survey showed that the number of US universities taking part in publicity events in Japan has sharply dropped in recent years, reports Yuji Yoshikata for The Daily Yomiuri.

Japanese students used to be the largest group among foreign students at US universities. But their number is now far below that of Chinese students.

Experts say the decrease reflects the inward-looking attitude of current Japanese students, a growing number of whom have no interest in studying overseas. Due to Japan's chronically low birth rate, it has become easier for students to enter Japanese universities. Students also consider studying abroad to be disadvantageous in terms of job-hunting, which usually begins in earnest during their junior year.
Full report on The Daily Yomiuri site