Approximately 62% Respond That Overseas Living/Learning Experience is "Beneficial to Japanese Society." What Skills Are Expected Beyond Language Proficiency?

With the rapid advancement of technology and the widespread adoption of AI, our work styles and required skills are changing quickly. Many people likely feel a vague sense of anxiety, wondering, "Will I be okay as I am?" Meanwhile, in an increasingly globalized society, the value of overseas experience is once again gaining attention. Therefore, in collaboration with Mainichi Education Inc., we conducted a survey among 500 men and women nationwide on their awareness regarding "Reskilling and Global Experience."

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"Awareness Survey on Reskilling and Global Experience" Survey Overview
- Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire
- Survey Period: March 16 - March 26, 2026
- Target Audience: Men and women nationwide
- Valid Responses: 500 samples
- Questions:
Q1: In your current work or life, do you feel the desire to "update yourself (acquire new skills and knowledge)"?
Q2: Please tell us the reason.
Q3: Do you believe that "overseas living and learning experience" will be beneficial for surviving in Japanese society going forward?
Q4: What skills or strengths do you think you can acquire through overseas living and learning experience? Please select all that apply. (Multiple selections allowed)
Q5: If you had one month of free time and sufficient budget right now, would you want to study abroad?
Q6: Which country or region would you like to visit? Please select the one that best applies.
Q7: Please tell us the reason for choosing that country or region.
Q8: When considering studying abroad, are there any expectations beyond language acquisition? Please select all that apply. (Multiple selections allowed)
Q9: When considering studying abroad, please specify what you expect beyond language acquisition.
*In principle, values are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

■ 39.4% Respond That They "Feel the Need to Update Themselves"
First, we asked whether respondents feel the desire to "update themselves" in their current work or life. The results showed that 12.4% "often feel" this desire, and 27.0% "sometimes feel" it, totaling 39.4% who wish to update themselves. On the other hand, 28.2% "rarely feel" it, and 32.4% "never feel" it, indicating that over 60% do not strongly feel the motivation to update. We asked for the reasons behind their answers and present some of them below.

Reasons for feeling the need to "update yourself"
- "Because I feel stagnant and want to see a new world." (30s, Female)
- "I have a sense of urgency that I can't continue as I am and need to acquire new skills." (30s, Female)
- "When looking for a new job, I have no skills to be proud of." (40s, Female)
- "I want to be more valued and increase my salary." (40s, Female)
- "As technology advances in various fields, I feel I will be left behind if I don't update myself." (40s, Male)

Reasons for not feeling the need to "update yourself"
- "Because I feel my current skills and knowledge are sufficient."
- "Acquiring skills doesn't lead to happiness."
- "I want to focus on supporting my family right now."
- "I lack the time and leisure."
- "Because updating doesn't change my salary."

Those who answered "often feel" and "sometimes feel" expressed a sense of urgency regarding technological advancements and societal changes. Meanwhile, those who answered "rarely feel" and "never feel" cited not only satisfaction with their current situation but also practical reasons such as "lack of time or leeway" and "no change in salary."

■ 62.2% Respond That "Overseas Living and Learning Experience is Beneficial to Japanese Society"
Next, we asked whether they believe "overseas living and learning experience" would be beneficial for surviving in Japanese society going forward. The results showed that 20.0% "strongly believe it will be very beneficial," and 42.2% "somewhat believe it will be beneficial," totaling 62.2% who view overseas experience positively. Furthermore, we asked those who responded positively about overseas experience what skills or strengths they thought could be acquired through such experiences. "Language skills/English communication ability" was the most common answer, receiving overwhelming support at 84.6%. This was followed by "understanding of different cultures/flexible thinking" at 55.6%, and "mental strength/self-affirmation" at 39.5%. While language skills were overwhelmingly high, there were also significant expectations for "less visible skills" such as cross-cultural understanding and personal growth. This indicates that the value of overseas experience is recognized not just for language acquisition but as a place for multifaceted development.

■ 28.8% Respond That They "Would Like to Study Abroad if They Had One Month of Free Time and Sufficient Budget"
Next, we asked if they would want to study abroad if they had one month of free time and a sufficient budget. The results showed that 11.2% "definitely want to do it," and 17.6% "would like to do it if possible," totaling 28.8% who expressed a positive attitude towards studying abroad. On the other hand, 21.4% "don't really want to do it," and 49.8% "don't want to do it at all," indicating that about 70% are not enthusiastic about studying abroad. While 62.2% believe overseas experience is "beneficial," the number of people who actually want to study abroad remains at 28.8%. It appears there is indeed a gap between the ideal and actual action.

■ 59.0% Choose "English-Speaking Countries" as Study Abroad Destinations
Next, we asked those who expressed a desire to study abroad which countries or regions they would like to visit. "English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.)" were the most popular, accounting for 59.0% of respondents. This was followed by "Europe (UK, Ireland, Malta, etc.)" at 29.9%, and "Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.)" at 7.6%. We asked for the reasons for choosing these countries or regions and present some of them below.

Respondents who chose "English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.)"
- "To improve my English." (20s, Female)
- "Because I can get the most exposure to English and improve my communication skills." (20s, Female)
- "It's the most global region and has advanced technology." (40s, Male)

Respondents who chose "Europe (UK, Ireland, Malta, etc.)"
- "Because I can experience diverse cultures." (30s, Female)
- "Because I have never been to Europe for work or personal reasons." (30s, Male)
- "I want to experience the history of these countries." (40s, Male)

Respondents who chose "Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.)"
- "I want to improve my Korean language skills first." (30s, Female)
- "I don't want to be discriminated against, so I want to go somewhere with less anti-Asian discrimination." (30s, Female)
- "Because I feel a sense of kinship as fellow Asians." (40s, Male)

Respondents who chose English-speaking countries expressed interest not only in improving their English but also in "global technology." Those who chose Europe were drawn to history and cultural diversity, suggesting that the purpose of studying abroad extends beyond just language acquisition. Among those who chose Asian countries, there were interests in languages other than English and a desire for psychological comfort. The choice of study abroad destination is significantly influenced by individual values and objectives.

■ The Top Expectation Beyond Language Acquisition for Study Abroad is "Understanding Different Cultures and Broadening Perspectives"
Next, we asked those who expressed a desire to study abroad what they expect beyond language acquisition. "Understanding different cultures and broadening perspectives" was the most common answer, with 61.8%. This was followed by "making local connections and friends" at 46.5%, and "gaining confidence and personal growth" at 37.5%.

We asked for specific expectations beyond language acquisition when considering studying abroad, and present some of them below.

Specific expectations when considering studying abroad beyond language acquisition:
- "To be independent in a foreign land, make friends and enjoy myself. To experience different cultures and broaden my perspective, which I can't feel in Japan." (30s, Female)
- "To see Japan from an outside perspective by learning about different cultures."
- "To grow mentally and develop flexible thinking through learning about different cultures."
- "To grow mentally by learning about different cultures."
- "To build a strong mentality and become more self-reliant by experiencing life abroad."

These responses highlight that while language proficiency is a key factor, the desire for personal growth, cultural immersion, and broadened perspectives are equally, if not more, important motivators for studying abroad.