English scores hit record high in Asia's third-largest economy (opens original article in a new tab)

Japan's public junior high and high school students have achieved record English proficiency levels, with Saitama and Tokyo leading, though national targets remain unmet and regional gaps persist.

• More than half of Japan's public junior high and high school seniors now meet English proficiency targets, a record according to the education ministry survey.
• Junior high students in Saitama achieved the highest rate at 88.9%, while Tokyo had the highest high school rate at 62.4%.
• The government's goal of 60% by 2027 remains unmet, with significant regional disparities in English proficiency.