Declining Birth Rate and Changes in the Education and Childcare Environment

「In the business areas surrounding the Group, there is a strong need to transform services in response to changes in the social structure, including the rapidly advancing decline in the birthrate and population aging and the shrinking working population.・ Cram-school industry: While facing the challenge of responding to the decline in the target population caused by the falling birthrate, the industry is benefiting from the shift toward personalized education driven by growth in the EdTech market and the expansion of government-led policies to make high school tuition effectively free.・ Language-related industry: While the industry is being stimulated by the increase in foreign residents in Japan against a backdrop of domestic labor shortages, industry realignment is accelerating as standards are tightened in connection with the transition to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's “Accredited Japanese-Language Education Institution” system.・ Childcare and nursing-care industries: As their importance as social infrastructure increases, the challenge is to address the persistent labor shortage. In childcare, demand is strong for private after-school care to address the “first-grader gap,” while the nursing-care industry is entering a major period of transition, including efforts to improve productivity through DX.」

「In the education industry, competition and industry consolidation driven by the long-standing decline in the birthrate are progressing, and the operating environment remains challenging. However, needs are becoming more diverse due to free public high school education and reforms to the entrance examination system. In businesses related to childcare and other child-rearing support services, the government's measures to address the declining birthrate have been further strengthened. At the same time, demand for nursing care services continues to expand as the population ages, particularly in urban areas.」

「In Japan, the rapid decline in the birthrate and aging of the population is leading to a shrinking school-age population and a decline in the number of children on waiting lists for childcare, while the number of older people requiring nursing care is increasing. The number of foreign workers in Japan and demand for Japanese-language study are also expected to increase.」

「In the education industry, competition and industry consolidation driven by the long-standing decline in the birthrate are progressing, and the operating environment remains challenging. However, needs are becoming more diverse due to free public high school education and reforms to the entrance examination system. In businesses related to childcare and other child-rearing support services, the government's measures to address the declining birthrate have been further strengthened. At the same time, demand for nursing care services continues to expand as the population ages, particularly in urban areas.」

「In Japan, the declining birthrate and aging population are accelerating, and the age structure is changing rapidly. For our Group, the declining birthrate and aging population, together with the diversification of social structures driven by globalization and digitalization, are viewed as important elements of our growth strategy.」

「In the cram-school business, while the school-age population continues to decline due to the falling birthrate, there is growing demand for learning opportunities that address diverse values and educational needs. Against this backdrop, the digitalization of education through online classes and the use of AI technology advanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, while industry restructuring, including entry by companies from other industries, accelerated and competition among companies intensified.」

「In the cram-school industry, in addition to responding to education system reforms, including the introduction of English as a formal subject in elementary schools, the newly launched Common Test for University Admissions, and the digitalization of the education environment under the GIGA School Initiative, education rapidly shifted online as measures were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.」

「In the cram-school industry, in addition to responding to education system reforms, including the introduction of English as a formal subject in elementary schools, the newly launched Common Test for University Admissions, and the digitalization of the education environment under the GIGA School Initiative, education rapidly shifted online as measures were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.」

「Japanese society is entering a major period of transformation due to education system reforms and advances in digital and AI technologies. In addition, the spread of COVID-19 during the consolidated fiscal year caused rapid changes in education systems across the public education and cram-school industries.」

「Social interest in education and childcare has increased due to changes in policy relating to the 2020 academic-year reforms to the university entrance examination system and the provision of free early-childhood education and childcare. Demand for services for older people also continues to expand as the aging of society advances.」

「Although the birthrate continues to decline in Japanese society, social interest in education and childcare has increased due to reforms to the university entrance examination system, the issue of children on waiting lists for childcare, and the provision of free early-childhood education and childcare. At the same time, demand for services for older people continues to expand as the aging of society advances.」

「In Japanese society, interest in education and childcare has increased due to the declining birthrate and changes in the social environment. At the same time, demand for services for older people has risen sharply as population aging continues to advance.」

「In Japanese society, social interest in education and childcare has increased due to the 2020 education system reforms and unresolved issues concerning children on waiting lists for childcare, among other factors. Demand for services for older people has also risen sharply as the aging of society continues to advance.」

「In Japanese society, social interest in education and childcare has increased due to the 2020 education system reforms and unresolved issues concerning children on waiting lists for childcare, among other factors. Demand for services for older people has also risen sharply as the aging of society continues to advance.」

「In Japanese society, social interest in education and childcare has increased due to the 2020 education system reforms and unresolved issues concerning children on waiting lists for childcare, among other factors. At the same time, demand for services for older people has risen sharply as the aging of society continues to advance.」

「In the education services industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed due to the government's education system reforms, reforms to the university entrance examination system, and rising childcare needs arising from growing social demands in recent years. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」

「In the education services industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed due to the government's education system reforms, reforms to the university entrance examination system, and rising childcare needs arising from growing social demands in recent years. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」

「In the education services industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed significantly due to the government's education system reforms, reforms to the university entrance examination system, and rising childcare needs arising from growing social demands in recent years. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」

「In the education services industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed significantly due to the government's education system reforms, reforms to the university entrance examination system, and rising childcare needs arising from growing social demands in recent years. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」

「In this industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed significantly due to changes in the education system and increasing demand for childcare. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」

「In this industry, as the birthrate continues to decline, the environment surrounding education and childcare has changed significantly due to changes in educational methods arising from growing social demands in recent years and increasing demand for childcare. Expectations for the industry in society have also increased.」