Japan expands AI in education with new teacher contest and rising student use

The Education AI Utilisation Association (AIUEO) and the editorial team of *Minna no Kyoiku Gijutsu* have launched the second “AI Utilisation Contest for School Sites 2026”. The competition invites individual teachers or teams (up to five members) from elementary, middle, high schools and special‑needs schools across Japan to submit video demonstrations of generative‑AI projects used in classrooms, administration or student support. Submissions are accepted from 1 September to 16 October 2026, with an online final presentation scheduled for 14 November.

A separate survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education shows that roughly 38 % of Japanese primary‑to‑high‑school students reported using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude for home study in 2025, more than double the 16.9 % reported in 2024. Students use the technology for homework assistance, research, and even everyday questions, while teachers and parents express concern that AI could encourage “copy‑and‑paste” learning unless guided as a tool for refining answers.