Japan to upgrade Japanese-learning portal for foreign children

Japan’s education ministry plans to upgrade Castanet, a portal site designed for foreign children learning Japanese, in fiscal 2027. The upgrade comes as the number of students requiring Japanese language instruction in public schools reached a record high of 84,759 in fiscal 2025.

The portal currently provides educational materials in approximately 30 languages, including tools for studying kanji and translating school-related phrases. While the site is presently only available in Japanese, it will be offered in multiple languages, such as Chinese and Portuguese, starting in the fiscal year beginning next April. The ministry also intends to expand the range of teaching materials to align with various Japanese proficiency levels.

The initiative aims to support both students and teachers, particularly in regions with limited experience supporting foreign children, by creating a more effective learning environment.