The 2018 Problem Caused by the Declining Birthrate and Intensifying Competition in the Education Market
First written in FY2017-Q1. 15 of 21 entries say "Restated". Latest entry: 2026-05-15.
Human Holdings moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2018, 7 years before the typical company in this theme (2025).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 4 of 14 companies on the "Worse" side.
13 other companies' latest entry also says "Restated".
- 2026-05-15RestatedEarnings
「In education for younger people, while Japan's young population is declining, motivation to learn for future career development is increasing. There is a need to develop products that capture demand from prospective learners and provide support systems focused on employment.」
While continuing to assume a decline in the young population, the company points to rising motivation to learn and the need for product development and employment support. - FY2025RestatedAnnual report
「In the full-time education business, the rate of advancement to higher education institutions is rising as Japan’s younger population declines.」
The decline in the younger population continues to be recognized as an environmental factor affecting the education business, while the rising advancement rate is also cited. - FY2024-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the education business, the expansion of the recurrent education market is expected following the government’s “Basic Policy 2023” and its strengthening of investment in people, while DX is also required to meet working adults’ demand for returning to education. In addition, amid expectations of market contraction, including the “2018 problem,” under which Japan’s population of 18-year-olds is expected to fall below 1 million in 2031, the provision of educational content addressing the diverse career paths of younger people is required.」
While indicating the expansion of the recurrent education market and the need for DX, the statement reconfirms the outlook for market contraction, with the population of 18-year-olds expected to fall below 1 million in 2031, and demand for content for younger people. - FY2024-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the education business, the expansion of the recurrent education market is expected following the government’s “Basic Policy 2023” and its strengthening of investment in people, while DX is also required to meet working adults’ demand for returning to education. In addition, amid expectations of market contraction, including the “2018 problem,” under which Japan’s population of 18-year-olds is expected to fall below 1 million in 2031, the provision of educational content addressing the diverse career paths of younger people is required.」
Against the backdrop of the expected contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate and a shrinking 18-year-old population, the need for recurrent education and support for diverse career paths among younger people is reconfirmed. - FY2024-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Amid expectations of market contraction, including the “2018 problem,” under which Japan’s population of 18-year-olds is expected to fall below 1 million in 2031, the provision of educational content addressing the diverse career paths of younger people is required.」
The outlook for contraction of the education market is described in terms of a new timing and scale, with the population of 18-year-olds expected to fall below 1 million in 2031. - FY2023-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the education industry, although the education market is trending downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the adoption of online classes prompted by COVID-19, as well as the promotion of DX in education, including the provision of individually optimized learning using learning logs under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s GIGA School Program, is required.」
The contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate, the adoption of online classes, and the need for education DX based on the GIGA School Program are reconfirmed. - FY2023-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the education business, although the education market is trending downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the adoption of online classes prompted by COVID-19, as well as the promotion of DX in education, including the provision of individually optimized learning using learning logs under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s GIGA School Program, is required.」
The contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate and the need for established online classes and education DX based on the GIGA School Program are reconfirmed. - FY2022-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the education industry, as the education market trends downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the impact of COVID-19 has led to the rapid spread of online education, while the range of work-style options, including freelancing and side jobs, has expanded, resulting in changes in customers’ learning needs. In addition, the STEAM education market, including robotics and programming, continues to expand, and demand for online home-based learning is increasing.」
The contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate, demand for online and home-based learning, and expansion of the STEAM education market continue to be cited as changes in the education environment. - FY2022-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the education industry, as the education market trends downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the impact of COVID-19 has led to the rapid spread of online education, while the range of work-style options, including freelancing and side jobs, has expanded, resulting in changes in customers’ learning needs.」
The contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate continues to be recognized, while changes in learning needs associated with online education and changing work styles are also cited. - FY2021RestatedAnnual report
「As the education market trends downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the impact of COVID-19 has also led to the rapid spread of online education,」
The contraction of the education market due to the declining birth rate continues to be recognized, while the rapid spread of online education is also cited as a new environmental change. - FY2019RestatedAnnual report
「In the education business, as the education market trends downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the expansion of the market through the wider adoption of returning to education (recurrent education), differentiation through product development aligned with the needs of the times, and development of overseas markets have become urgent priorities.」
The downward trend in the education market due to the declining birth rate is reconfirmed, with differentiation through product development and development of overseas markets presented as responses. - FY2019-Q3MaterialisedAnnual report
「In addition, enrollment at the core Manga and Game College increased, but enrollment declined overall due to the impact of the declining birth rate.」
The impact of the declining birth rate continues to be reflected in an overall decline in enrollment in the full-time education business. - FY2019-Q2MaterialisedAnnual report
「In the full-time education business, we newly opened the Kagoshima campus of Human Academy, a comprehensive educational institution, in Kagoshima Prefecture. Enrollment at the core Manga and Game College increased, but enrollment declined overall due to the impact of the declining birth rate.」
The impact of the declining birth rate continues to result in an overall decline in enrollment in the full-time education business. - FY2019-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「In the full-time education business, we newly opened the Kagoshima campus of Human Academy, a comprehensive educational institution, in Kagoshima Prefecture. In addition, following the Tokyo campus, we opened the Childcare College Childcare Studies course at the Osaka and Yokohama campuses and focused on launching courses in demand, but enrollment declined overall due in part to the impact of the declining birth rate.」
The impact of the declining birth rate continues to materialize in the form of an overall decline in enrollment in the full-time education business. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「In the education business, as the education market trends downward against the backdrop of the declining birth rate, the expansion of the market through the wider adoption of recurrent education (returning to education), differentiation through product development aligned with the needs of the times, and development of overseas markets have become urgent priorities.」
The downward trend in the education market against the backdrop of the declining birth rate is reconfirmed, with product development, differentiation and overseas expansion presented as responses. - FY2018-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the education industry, intensifying competition resulting from the declining birth rate has led to industry consolidation and stronger business alliances.」
The intensifying competition, industry consolidation and stronger business alliances in the education industry against the backdrop of the declining birth rate continue to be cited. - FY2018-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the education industry, intensifying competition resulting from the declining birth rate has led to industry consolidation and stronger business alliances.」
The intensifying competition and industry consolidation and stronger business alliances in the education industry against the backdrop of the declining birth rate are cited again. - FY2017RestatedAnnual report
「The “2018 problem,” in which Japan’s population of 18-year-olds began to decline significantly from 2018 due to the declining birth rate, and intensifying competition with rival companies have led to business diversification aimed at acquiring markets in new fields, industry consolidation through M&A and other means, and stronger business alliances.」
The “2018 problem,” intensifying competition in the education market, and industry consolidation through business diversification, M&A and business alliances continue to be cited. - FY2017-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In addition, the “2018 problem,” in which Japan’s population of 18-year-olds began to decline significantly from 2018 due to the declining birth rate, and competition with rival companies have intensified. This has led to business diversification aimed at acquiring markets in new fields, industry consolidation through M&A and other means, and stronger business alliances.」
The “2018 problem” of Japan’s declining 18-year-old population and intensifying competition in the education industry continue to be cited. - FY2017-Q2MaterialisedAnnual report
「The total number of enrolled students declined due to the declining birthrate.」
The impact of the declining birth rate on the education market is stated to have materialized in the form of a decline in enrollment across the full-time education business. - FY2017-Q1First statedAnnual report
「The approaching "2018 problem," when the domestic population of 18-year-olds was expected to begin declining sharply due to the falling birthrate, intensified competition with other companies, leading to business diversification to capture markets in new fields, industry consolidation through M&A, and stronger business alliances.」
Identifies 2018 as the point at which the population of 18-year-olds would begin to decline, and describes intensifying competition in the education market and industry consolidation as risks and changes in the business environment.