More universities in Japan want to teach more classes in English, not just for exchange students but also for Japanese students. The University of Tokyo’s engineering graduate school started a big debate when it said it plans to teach almost all classes in English starting in 2026. Some people said this is unfair because most Japanese students study mainly in Japanese, so learning difficult subjects in English could be too hard. Many teachers may also struggle to suddenly teach everything in English. Other universities, like Sophia and Waseda, are slowly making similar changes. In the past, English programs were mainly for international students, which separated them from most Japanese students.

Now, universities want mixed classrooms so they can compete globally. Important research is done in English, and using English helps Japanese universities join worldwide academic work and raise their rankings.