Latest news in Japan: Updates for international students

Here are some updates for international students looking for the latest news in Japan. The country recently announced that it will begin accepting foreign nationals coming to the country for business trips, study abroad or technical training from November 8. 

According to The Japan Times, new entries such as foreign students and technical interns will also be allowed for the first time in nearly a year, provided that they quarantine for 14 days, which will be shortened to 10 days if they are vaccinated.

Students will need to undergo similar processes and paperwork as business travellers, which must be preapproved before they can enter Japan. The daily said international students who received residence permits between January 2020 and March 2020 will be allowed to apply in November. 

For technical interns, applications will be accepted for those with residence permits from January 2020 through June 2020, while those with permits issued at a later date can apply in December or later.

The Japanese government has set up a hotline at 03-35952176, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., including weekends, for questions regarding the application process. More details can be found on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese).

Despite the latest news in Japan, students say they are not expected to return until at least 2022. Source: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

Latest news in Japan: Students want to return soon 

The latest news in Japan for international students hasn’t been well received by all. Students who have been locked out of Japan have been campaigning for their return to the country under the hashtag #EducationIsNotTourism. On Twitter, students are lamenting that despite the easing of borders, many students are not expected to return until at least 2022.

Twitter user Octoberfest tweeted: “If I can’t enter by january 2022, I’m switching to korea.” Another user, blankksn, said: “I kind of regret choosing Japan. I see my friends and colleagues flying to America and Canada to pursue their dreams. While I’m stuck waiting on Japan.”

Despite student complaints about additional paperwork to enter Japan, many universities who accept foreign exchange students are delighted by the news, reported The Japan Times.

“It is a joy for us that the entry restrictions are being eased, considering that many foreign students have been waiting to study at our campus and many existing students and teachers are looking forward to face-to-face mingling in a multicultural environment,” Hiroshi Yoneyama, deputy dean of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita Prefecture was quoted saying.

Entry to Japan is still not possible for tourists, but the government has begun considering how to accept such visitors by the end of this year.