The 3,000 assistant teachers will be sent to Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries by 2020 through a new ¥30 billion (US$296 million) 'Asia Centre' initiative, in a bid to deepen ties with the region. The centre will promote Japanese language, culture and sports, particularly in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics.

The number of international students studying at higher education level in Japan has declined for the third year running, though foreign student numbers are up in language institutions, new data from the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) has revealed.