High School Options Diversify: Regional Mirai Study Abroad Program Sees Over 1,000 First-Year Students for First Time

The General Incorporated Foundation Regional and Educational Attractiveness Platform (Representative Director: Yu Iwamoto, Co-Representative: Yohei Oda, hereinafter 'the Foundation') announced that the number of students from outside the prefecture enrolling in high schools participating in the 'Regional Mirai Study Abroad' program, a domestic study abroad initiative for public high schools in rural areas, has surpassed 1,000 for the first time in the 2026 academic year.

Starting this April, free high school tuition, an increase in correspondence high school students, and ongoing discussions about reorganization and consolidation of public high schools are significantly changing the environment surrounding high schools.

Amid these changes, more junior high school students and their parents are choosing schools based not only on 'which high school to attend' but also 'in what environment they want to spend their three high school years', according to the program.

To raise awareness of the appeal of 'Regional Mirai Study Abroad' as one high school option, the Foundation is holding a joint school information session called 'Japan Whole High School Festival' in three cities across Japan, gathering high schools participating in the program.

Regional Mirai Study Abroad: 1,127 First-Year Students

Regional Mirai Study Abroad is a domestic study abroad program where students attend public high schools beyond prefectural boundaries. The number of students from outside the prefecture enrolling in participating schools reached 1,127 in the 2026 academic year.

Since the program started accepting students in 2019, the cumulative number of students has reached 5,000, and the number of participating schools has expanded from 34 in the first year (2018) to about 190 as of May 2026.

Traditionally, high school choices were often limited to local schools based on academic rankings, but this new approach of selecting schools nationwide is gaining interest from students, parents, schools, and local governments, with both enrollment and participating schools continuing to increase.

The Foundation views this trend not just as the expansion of Regional Mirai Study Abroad itself, but as a sign of diversification in high school choices.

Changes in High School Selection Seen at Regional Mirai Study Abroad Sites

Nowadays, the ways high school students learn and choose their paths are diversifying.

According to the Ministry of Education's 'School Basic Survey (FY2025 preliminary figures),' the number of correspondence high school students is about 300,000, meaning roughly one in ten high schoolers attends a correspondence school. Additionally, from April 2026, the government will effectively make high school tuition free without income limits, leading to increased popularity of private schools in some areas and a shift away from public schools.

In contrast, Regional Mirai Study Abroad intentionally sends students away from their parents to rural public high schools facing issues like depopulation and aging, offering unique learning environments such as small-group education and inquiry-based learning using local communities as fields.

Graduates of the program pursue diverse paths, including university enrollment, local employment, entrepreneurship, and studying abroad. Testimonials include: 'Living away from home taught me self-discipline, and through local inquiry activities, I found my dream' and 'In university, I realized that my three years in high school were a unique experience that none of my peers had.'

Many young people also choose to stay in the region after graduation to work, finding their own way of living.

Experience the New Reality of High School Choices! 'Japan Whole High School Festival' Held

To let people experience the appeal of Regional Mirai Study Abroad, the joint school information session 'Japan Whole High School Festival' is being held in three cities (Sapporo, Tokyo, and Osaka). The Sapporo venue has already concluded successfully, and events in Tokyo and Osaka are upcoming.

At the festival, participating high schools from across Japan gather, and attendees can hear directly from not only teachers but also current students and alumni about each school's characteristics, learning, and lifestyle.

This year, the festival will feature 'experience booths' where visitors can try real high school lessons and club activities, as well as contests such as a competition for popular high school uniforms and student-developed products, offering content enjoyable from a junior high school student's perspective.

[Overview of Japan Whole High School Festival]

- Tokyo: June 20 (Sat)-21 (Sun) @ Tokyo Ryutsu Center July 25 (Sat)-26 (Sun) @ Tokyo Ryutsu Center August 22 (Sat)-23 (Sun) @ Tokyo Ryutsu Center

- Osaka: July 11 (Sat)-12 (Sun) @ OMM Exhibition Hall

- Sapporo (already concluded): June 6 (Sat)-7 (Sun) @ DO-BOX EAST

All events are free admission with free entry and exit.

For details and advance registration, visit the Regional Mirai Study Abroad event page.

Comment from Representative Director Yu Iwamoto

'The number of students entering Regional Mirai Study Abroad has exceeded 1,000. I feel this is not just an increase in the number of study abroad students, but a sign that high school choices are beginning to change. It's not just about choosing among local schools based on exam scores; more junior high school students are selecting their paths based on what kind of environment they want to learn in and where they want to take on challenges. No one can choose where they are born, but we want to create an era where everyone can choose where they learn. I hope Regional Mirai Study Abroad continues to be a mechanism that contributes to making that possible. We will continue to work with regions, schools, and local governments across the country to create a society where each child can choose their own future.'

About the General Incorporated Foundation Regional and Educational Attractiveness Platform

The Foundation promotes high school educational attractiveness and various education×regional projects, centered on Regional Mirai Study Abroad. About 190 public high schools nationwide (as of May 2026) participate in the program, which mainly targets junior high school students from urban areas to attend rural public high schools for three years. The program has produced over 5,000 study abroad students cumulatively, many of whom continue to engage with local communities after graduation.

Established March 2017.

[Notice: 10th Anniversary of the Foundation]

The Foundation will celebrate its 10th anniversary in March 2027. We will gradually share our gratitude for the past journey and our initiatives for the next 10 years as 'NEXT 10 NEWS.' For the 10th anniversary message, please visit the website.

Address: 2nd Floor, Mirai BASE, 2-25-6 Higashi-honmachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture Representative Director: Yu Iwamoto / Co-Representative: Yohei Oda URL: https://c-platform.or.jp

[Contact Information] For media inquiries: General Incorporated Foundation Regional and Educational Attractiveness Platform, Co-creation Communication Office Contact: Yamaguchi Email: pr@c-platform.or.jp