TOKYO (Realist English). The number of Japanese elementary and junior high school students absent for 30 days or more hit a record 353,970 in fiscal year 2024, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous year and the 12th straight annual rise, according to a new survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
The figure represents 3.9% of all students nationwide. Absenteeism cases rose 5.6% to 137,704 in elementary schools and 0.1% to 216,266 in junior high schools.
MEXT attributed the increase partly to a growing awareness among parents and guardians that children should not be forced to attend school if they are struggling emotionally or socially.
Among the total, 42,978 students were studying through alternative education centers or free schools, while 13,261 pursued remote learning at home. However, 135,724 children were not receiving any professional support, such as counseling or academic assistance.
The report also found a surge in bullying cases, which reached a record 769,022 across elementary, junior high, and high schools — a historical high for Japan. Of these, 1,405 incidents were classified as “serious”, involving either physical harm or long-term absence from school.
“The growing number of recognized bullying cases reflects more proactive identification efforts by schools,” the ministry said, while acknowledging that the rise in serious cases remains “a deeply concerning situation.”
Elementary schools accounted for 610,612 bullying incidents, followed by 135,865 in junior high schools, 18,891 in high schools, and 3,654 in special needs institutions. Nearly 84% of schools nationwide reported at least one case.
In addition, cases of violence among students surged 18.2% to a record 128,859, and 490 serious bullying incidents were not identified as such until they escalated.
The ministry also recorded 413 student suicides, of which eight were directly linked to bullying.
Officials say the findings underscore an urgent need for enhanced mental health support, stronger anti-bullying programs, and more flexible education models to respond to Japan’s changing social and emotional landscape for young learners.
