Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated Thursday that she intends to retain education minister Yohei Matsumoto in his post despite a reported extramarital affair. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/12/japan/politics/takaichi-scandal-education-minister/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoheimatsumoto #sanaetakaichi #mext #shukanbunshun

The education ministry has approved the Institute of Science Tokyo's 25-year plan to strengthen its research capabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/27/japan/institute-of-science-tokyo-research/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #instituteofsciencetokyo #universities #mext #aid

Japan wants to raises the share of its female pilots from only 2% as of 2024 to 10% by the end of 2035, but there are plenty of headwinds. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/27/japan/female-airline-pilots/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #airlines #mext #aviation #women039sissues #pilots #civilaviationcollege

The education ministry will allow three national universities to expand their enrollment capacity for international students from fiscal 2026, as the government steps up efforts to compete for global talent. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/19/japan/university-foreign-student-caps/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #mext #students #universities

Cavity rates for kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school students in Japan have all rewritten record lows, an education ministry survey has found. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/16/japan/science-health/japan-children-cavity-rates-record-lows/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #health #dentists #surveys #mext #children

As policies related to foreign nationals take focus in the upcoming election, some are calling for improvements to Japanese language education for the children of foreign residents. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/03/japan/politics/election-japanese-language-education-improvement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #language #education #mext #2026lowerhouseelection #children

The education ministry has certified the Institute of Science Tokyo as the second university eligible to receive aid from a government-financed ¥10 trillion fund aimed at supporting universities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/23/japan/society/institute-of-science-tokyo-10-trillion-yen-fund/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #theinstituteofsciencetokyo #universities #mext

With the cost gap between public and private high schools in Japan set to substantially narrow, public school educators worry fewer junior high school students will select public high schools. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/08/japan/tuition-elimination-concern/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #highschools #education #mext

The education ministry revised the calculation method for Japan’s university entry rate, after it was learned that the initial rate didn’t reflect graduates from schools for those with disabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/26/japan/university-entry-rate-correction/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #education #children #disability #specialeducation #universities #mext #surveys

A total of 281 teachers and staff at kindergartens, public elementary, junior high and high schools in Japan were disciplined for sexual offenses in fiscal 2024. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/crime-legal/sexual-misconduct-educators/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #mext #elementaryschools #juniorhighschools #highschools #children #sexcrimes #kindergartens #teachers #surveys