Four Students from Seifukan High School Academy Selected for MEXT's "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN" 11th Program Out of 2,602 Applicants Nationwide

We are pleased to announce that four students enrolled at the Akashi and Ashiya campuses of Seifukan High School Academy, a support school for correspondence high schools, have been selected as exchange students for the 11th term (2026 academic year) of the "Public-Private Collaborative Study Abroad Support Program 'Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN' New Japanese Representatives Program." For the 11th term, there were 2,602 applicants nationwide, with 718 selected※. Amidst intensifying competition, with a 40% increase in applicants from the previous year, a record-breaking four students from our school were chosen. This marks the third consecutive year that students from our school have been selected.

The study abroad destinations are three countries: New Zealand and the United Kingdom (2 students) and Sweden, with themes ranging widely from regional sports and community music to gender gaps and creative activities. The background to their selection, after overcoming the rigorous process of document screening and interviews, is the unique application support system that Seifukan High School Academy has independently provided.

※Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN New Japanese Representatives Program [For High School Students, etc.] 2026 Academic Year (11th Term) Selection Results" (https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kokusai/tobitate/1413287_00013.htm)

The Four Selected Students and Their Study Abroad Overview

Campus

Grade

Study Abroad Destination

Theme

Akashi Campus

3rd Year

New Zealand

Exploring Models for the Transition of Regional Sports and Club Activities to the Community

Akashi Campus

3rd Year

United Kingdom

Exploring Social Connections Through Community Music

Akashi Campus

2nd Year

Sweden

Comparative Study of Social Structures Supporting the Activities of Female Police Officers

Ashiya Campus

1st Year

United Kingdom

Verifying the International Applicability of Picture Book Expressions That Do Not Rely on Text

The study abroad period varies for each student, and they are currently making preparations for their departure. The four students also participated in a send-off ceremony and pre-departure training held in Osaka on June 20-21, 2026.

The Path to Selection - Seifukan High School Academy's Three-Stage Application Support

Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN is a scholarship program that is by no means easy, with selections made through a comprehensive review of document screening and interviews. It assesses not only academic and language proficiency but also the ability to conceptualize and articulate "what one will explore and what one will give back to society."

Seifukan High School Academy provides the following three stages of support for students wishing to apply for Tobitate, built upon a foundation of weekly one-on-one mentoring for all students:

1 Motivation through In-School Information Sessions

Regular information sessions are held to share study abroad experiences from current and former students. This broadens the understanding that "one can challenge themselves even without confidence in English proficiency or grades," lowering the psychological barrier to application. For some of the students selected this term, these information sessions were the direct catalyst for their application.

2 Theme Articulation Support Based on Student Understanding Through Weekly One-on-One Sessions

Seifukan High School Academy conducts weekly one-on-one mentoring for all students, allowing teachers to daily understand each student's interests and aspirations. The Tobitate application documents require the ability to articulate one's research theme and develop a concrete activity plan for the study abroad period. Thanks to these ongoing dialogues, teachers can work with students to develop their research themes and plan their study abroad activities, taking into account each student's individuality and strengths.

3 Development of Presentation and Articulation Skills Through PBL (Project-Based Learning) and Outcome Presentation Sessions

Interviews test the ability to convey one's thoughts within a limited time. Seifukan High School Academy regularly holds PBL (Project-Based Learning) classes in collaboration with companies and local governments, as well as outcome presentation sessions inviting guests from companies and the community, not just within the school. Students frequently have opportunities to present their ideas publicly and articulate them. The familiarity with presentations cultivated in such an environment is leveraged in the Tobitate interviews as the ability to express oneself in one's own words.

This support system is an example of the dedicated support tailored to each individual's pace, made possible by the learning environment of a correspondence school.

About Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN

Launched in 2013 by MEXT and the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) as an all-Japan initiative to foster a spirit of study abroad among Japanese youth. The "New Japanese Representatives Program" is a scholarship program funded by private donations, which does not require repayment, and assesses the study abroad plans envisioned by the students themselves, regardless of academic or language proficiency. The second stage (2023-2027 academic years) aims to send over 4,000 high school students abroad.

"Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN" Official Website: https://tobitate-mext.jasso.go.jp/

About Seifukan High School Academy

Seifukan High School Academy is a support school for correspondence high schools that provides education respecting each individual's uniqueness, under the banner of "Living Life True to Oneself." Based in Akashi City and Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, it supports diverse career paths tailored to students' "desires to do" through project-based learning (PBL) and guest lectures by professionals from various fields.

Furthermore, as an "AI Advanced Model School" of the General Incorporated Association Education AI Utilization Association, it actively incorporates AI into its learning processes, building a next-generation learning environment that utilizes cutting-edge technology.

Website: https://seifukan-gakuin.com/

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Inquiries Regarding This Matter

For media inquiries, interview requests with speakers, etc., please contact us at the following:

Company Name: Seifukan High School Academy

Contact Person: Hasunuma (Public Relations)

Phone Number: 078-915-0775

Email Address: hasunuma.momoka@seifukan-gakuin.com

Reception Hours: Weekdays 10:00 - 18:00