Amid a sharp increase in JLPT applicants, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has reportedly asked accredited Japanese-language educational institutions nationwide to consider using alternative tests for the first time.
The number of applicants for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), which is used by foreign nationals to obtain residence status in Japan, has surged, making the test difficult to administer. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has, for the first time, asked accredited educational institutions to consider using alternative tests, it emerged on the 27th. The JLPT is currently the only test that can satisfy all Japanese-language requirements, and it remains uncertain whether other tests can serve as substitutes.
The surge has been attributed in part to the government adding Japanese-language requirements for certain statuses of residence from October last year as the number of foreign residents increased. The JLPT is also used for a wide range of purposes, including employment and further education.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, annual applicant numbers have increased by several hundred thousand. The July test held this year drew 943,671 applicants in Japan and overseas, according to preliminary figures, setting a record for the month of July.
The direct scope of the request's impact and the timing of specific future measures have not been disclosed. It has been reported that delays in the government's response could affect the acquisition of residence status.