Surala Nin-go ICT Japanese Learning Material Introduced at Arakawa City Ninth Junior High School Night Class, the Setting for the Film 'A Class to Remember'
Surala Net's Japanese language ICT material 'Surala Nin-go' has been adopted by Arakawa City Ninth Junior High School's night class starting April 2026. This initiative serves as a practical model for Japanese education for foreign-root students in night schools, where the demand for individualized support is increasing.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:43 (11 min after Collected)
Surala Net Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takahiko Yunokawa), a developer of AI-driven adaptive interactive ICT materials, has announced that its Japanese learning ICT material 'Surala Nin-go' was introduced at the night class of Arakawa City Ninth Junior High School in April 2026, with students of foreign roots beginning their studies.
This initiative is one of the practical examples of Japanese language education for the increasing number of foreign-root students in night schools, and adoption in night schools nationwide is steadily increasing. The material has also received the Special Award in the Japanese Language Education category of the Japan e-Learning Awards.
Realities of Japanese Education in Night Schools
Recent surveys show an increase in students who primarily use languages other than Japanese at home, leading to difficulties in communication and subject learning in school. Night schools, in particular, host students from diverse backgrounds with significant differences in academic experience and language proficiency, making the need for individualized attention paramount.
However, securing specialized Japanese language teachers and building a guidance system tailored to each individual is not easy. Advancing through grades without sufficient Japanese skills can lead to learning delays, anxiety about school life, and a decline in self-esteem. Addressing these challenges through a sustainable support system has become a crucial theme in education.
Beyond the Gap Between 'Speaking' and 'Teaching'
Teacher Hayato Tosei, who instructs at the Arakawa Ninth Junior High School Night Class, shares his perspective on the challenges and the adoption of ICT:
'I have been at this school, which was the setting for Director Yoji Yamada's film "A Class to Remember," for two years. As a social studies teacher for 16 years, teaching Japanese in a night class was a major surprise and a new challenge. Seeing foreign students strive to learn Japanese, I sought better ways to teach and encountered "Surala Nin-go." There is a fundamental difference between speaking Japanese and being able to teach it. Japanese is one of the hardest languages to master. I believe it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide an environment where students can acquire the Japanese needed for life in Japan. I am confident that "Surala Nin-go" will serve as a solid foundation to guarantee the quality of that learning. I will continue to explore how to combine ICT with the role of a teacher so students can feel the joy of understanding and achieving.'
Individualized Learning Realized Through ICT
'Surala Nin-go' is an ICT material that allows learners to acquire Japanese at their own pace through a systematic structure of 'characters, words, and conversation.' Even in environments without specialized instructors, learners can gain 'functional Japanese' from scratch through voice read-alouds and visual navigation. Furthermore, AI analyzes learning history to automatically present problems and reviews suited to each individual, supporting the continuation of learning without strain. A key feature is achieving individualized learning while minimizing the workload for instructors.
Current support includes English, Khmer, and Indonesian, with plans to sequentially add Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, Spanish, Vietnamese, and others.
Supporting the Entrance to Learning
This introduction addresses the constraints of personnel and time in schools by utilizing ICT to provide stable learning opportunities for all children. Acquiring Japanese according to their own pace not only facilitates participation in subject learning but also contributes to a sense of security and motivation to learn. Surala Net will continue to support the academic foundation of foreign-root students and expand learning options by working closely with local governments and schools.
This initiative is one of the practical examples of Japanese language education for the increasing number of foreign-root students in night schools, and adoption in night schools nationwide is steadily increasing. The material has also received the Special Award in the Japanese Language Education category of the Japan e-Learning Awards.
Realities of Japanese Education in Night Schools
Recent surveys show an increase in students who primarily use languages other than Japanese at home, leading to difficulties in communication and subject learning in school. Night schools, in particular, host students from diverse backgrounds with significant differences in academic experience and language proficiency, making the need for individualized attention paramount.
However, securing specialized Japanese language teachers and building a guidance system tailored to each individual is not easy. Advancing through grades without sufficient Japanese skills can lead to learning delays, anxiety about school life, and a decline in self-esteem. Addressing these challenges through a sustainable support system has become a crucial theme in education.
Beyond the Gap Between 'Speaking' and 'Teaching'
Teacher Hayato Tosei, who instructs at the Arakawa Ninth Junior High School Night Class, shares his perspective on the challenges and the adoption of ICT:
'I have been at this school, which was the setting for Director Yoji Yamada's film "A Class to Remember," for two years. As a social studies teacher for 16 years, teaching Japanese in a night class was a major surprise and a new challenge. Seeing foreign students strive to learn Japanese, I sought better ways to teach and encountered "Surala Nin-go." There is a fundamental difference between speaking Japanese and being able to teach it. Japanese is one of the hardest languages to master. I believe it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide an environment where students can acquire the Japanese needed for life in Japan. I am confident that "Surala Nin-go" will serve as a solid foundation to guarantee the quality of that learning. I will continue to explore how to combine ICT with the role of a teacher so students can feel the joy of understanding and achieving.'
Individualized Learning Realized Through ICT
'Surala Nin-go' is an ICT material that allows learners to acquire Japanese at their own pace through a systematic structure of 'characters, words, and conversation.' Even in environments without specialized instructors, learners can gain 'functional Japanese' from scratch through voice read-alouds and visual navigation. Furthermore, AI analyzes learning history to automatically present problems and reviews suited to each individual, supporting the continuation of learning without strain. A key feature is achieving individualized learning while minimizing the workload for instructors.
Current support includes English, Khmer, and Indonesian, with plans to sequentially add Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, Spanish, Vietnamese, and others.
Supporting the Entrance to Learning
This introduction addresses the constraints of personnel and time in schools by utilizing ICT to provide stable learning opportunities for all children. Acquiring Japanese according to their own pace not only facilitates participation in subject learning but also contributes to a sense of security and motivation to learn. Surala Net will continue to support the academic foundation of foreign-root students and expand learning options by working closely with local governments and schools.