Over 400 Applicants Last Year. "Ryugakusai 2026," a Major Study Abroad Event Organized by Current International Students, Seeks Sponsors, Supporters, and PR Partners

SmiRing Ryugaku, a general incorporated association, will hold "Ryugakusai 2026," a large-scale study abroad event planned and operated by current international students and those with study abroad experience, for two days on August 8 (Sat.) and 9 (Sun.), 2026, at the Raksul headquarters.

In the previous year's "Ryugakusai 2025," over 400 people applied, with approximately 370 participating. Current international students and those with study abroad experience from 13 countries addressed consultations from high school and university students, as well as their parents.

In 2026, we aim to create a platform where more young people can consider overseas challenges as their own by addressing the three barriers to studying abroad: "information, connections, and finances." We are seeking companies, organizations, educational institutions, and local governments to provide sponsorship, endorsement, and public relations cooperation for the event.

What is "Ryugakusai"?

"Ryugakusai" is a study abroad event that creates opportunities for young people with aspirations for the world to take their next step.

Current international students, those with study abroad experience, experts, companies, scholarship organizations, and others will gather to propose new forms of study abroad suitable for the coming era from the three essential perspectives for studying abroad: "information, connections, and finances."

The target audience is not limited to students specifically considering studying abroad. We aim to provide a place where high school and university students interested in overseas university admissions, short-term study abroad, exchange programs, scholarships, and international careers, as well as their parents, can consider studying abroad as a more accessible and realistic option.

Information is Increasing, But the First Step to Studying Abroad Still Feels Far Away

In recent years, with the expansion of support systems by the government, local authorities, and companies, and the growing momentum to encourage young people's overseas challenges, study abroad options such as overseas university admissions, short-term study abroad, exchange programs, scholarships, and international careers have become more diverse than before.

On the other hand, precisely because the options have increased, it has become more difficult for students and parents to make decisions about studying abroad. The underlying concerns include:

Financial concerns due to the weak yen and rising prices

Changes in visa and international student policies in each country

Diversification of study abroad destinations, scholarships, and academic pathways

Increasing complexity of career planning, including post-study abroad careers

Lack of consultation partners due to the absence of study abroad returnees in their social circles

Even though the amount of information available on the internet and the number of support systems are expanding, anxieties such as "Can I do it?", "Which country should I choose?", and "How should I prepare the finances?" continue to linger for each student.

What is lacking is not the amount of information, but the touchpoints where one can meet experienced individuals similar to oneself, and consider studying abroad as "their own" by relating it to their own situation.

Turning Anxiety into the "Next Step" Through 1-on-1 Consultations with Current International Students

What Ryugakusai aims to deliver is not just information provision. It is about talking directly with current international students and those with study abroad experience, meeting role models similar to oneself, and finding the next step that suits one's current situation. To achieve this, we create the following touchpoints:

1-on-1 consultations with current international students and those with study abroad experience

Country and major-specific booths created by current international students from around the world

Information on scholarships, finances, academic pathways, and post-study abroad careers

Opportunities for interaction among students, parents, companies, and organizations

Contests to support challenges

We aim to create a space where participants can concretize "what they should do next" through initiatives like 1-on-1 consultations, booths, and contests, not just by explaining systems and universities, but by conveying real experiences that are difficult to find through internet searches, such as living costs abroad, classes, discussions with family, and post-study abroad careers, in words that only current international students and those with study abroad experience can share.

Over 400 People Participated Last Year; Study Abroad Experience Holders and Current International Students from 13 Countries Gathered

"Ryugakusai 2025" received over 400 applications, with approximately 370 participants. 59 student members were involved in the operation, and their study abroad destinations spanned 13 countries.

The study abroad destinations of the participating current international students and those with study abroad experience were diverse, including the United States, Canada, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Latvia. Students studying in various countries and regions gathered and addressed each participant's consultations based on their respective experiences.

Participant Voices

"It was great to be able to ask many things that only international students would know."

"This Ryugakusai was the best opportunity and time of my life."

"I was anxious every day because I had no one or community to consult with."

"Hearing the explanation about scholarships eased my anxiety and made the path to studying abroad feel more realistic."

"Being empathized with and encouraged in my anxieties has greatly contributed to my future motivation."

Some participants, who had only been considering studying in the United States, found that hearing about studying in Asia gave them an opportunity to consider their study abroad destinations more flexibly.

Ryugakusai is a place where current international students and those with study abroad experience face participants' anxieties and uncertainties, and consider options suitable for their individual situations together.

Event Overview

[Event Name] Ryugakusai 2026

[Date and Time] August 8 (Sat.) and 9 (Sun.), 2026

[Venue] Raksul Headquarters (19F, Mori JP Tower, Azabudai Hills, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

[Target Audience] High school students, university students, and parents interested in studying abroad or overseas.

[Organizer] SmiRing Ryugaku, General Incorporated Association

[Venue Sponsor] Raksul Inc.

[Content] Includes individual consultations with current international students, seminars on study abroad and scholarships, booth exhibitions by companies and organizations, contests for students, and networking events.

* To allow participation from students and parents in distant locations, online events are planned to be held separately as pre-events. * Speakers and cooperating organizations will be announced sequentially.

View Details

Seeking Sponsorship, Endorsement, and PR Cooperation

"Ryugakusai 2026" aims to deliver the real experiences of current international students and information on scholarships, university admissions, and careers to high school and university students aspiring to study abroad, as well as their parents. We are seeking cooperation from companies, organizations, educational institutions, and local governments.

Sponsorship of the event

Provision of endorsement name

Public relations cooperation to students and parents

Booth exhibition

Participation in seminars and talk sessions

Information provision on scholarships, careers, and study abroad support

Joint planning and content creation

Sponsorship of Ryugakusai is not merely event support, but an initiative to jointly create touchpoints for young people challenging the world to believe in their potential and take their next step. We wish to collaborate with companies, organizations, educational institutions, and local governments interested in education, careers, global human resource development, youth support, and regional internationalization to jointly create a platform that supports young people challenging the world.

Those interested in sponsorship, endorsement, or PR cooperation are invited to contact the Ryugakusai 2026 Management Office. We will discuss sponsorship packages and collaboration details individually.

About the Organizer

SmiRing Ryugaku, a general incorporated association, has operated under the vision of "Becoming the best partner for challengers crossing borders," supported by over 100 Japanese international students in 18 countries worldwide. Through information dissemination to prospective students, event hosting, individual consultations, and community building among those with study abroad experience, we aim to create an environment where studying abroad becomes a more accessible and realistic option for everyone.

Contact Information

SmiRing Ryugaku, General Incorporated Association Ryugakusai 2026 Management Office Email: ryugakusai2026.official@gmail.com Official Website: https://ryugakusai2026.smiring-ryugaku.com/ Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryugakusai2026.official?igsh=NDhiOGJmdjloaG5w&utm_source=qr Official X: https://x.com/ryugakusai2025?s=11