How remote learning and working can resolve rural depopulation in Japan

Suppose you live in a rural area of Japan and about to become a college student. The chances are that you will move to a larger city like Tokyo, Osaka or Aichi prefecture after graduating high school. The reason is clear. Because among the 782 universities in Japan today, 138 are located in Tokyo, 55 in Osaka, and 51 in Aichi prefecture (as of 2018).

Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya are often called ‘Japan’s three major cities.’ Tokyo is the capital and the most populous city, with Osaka and Nagoya (in Aichi prefecture) not far behind. Other prefectures with more than 30 universities within the area are Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka. Access to higher education in Japan is concentrating in large cities.

According to a document by the Cabinet Office, university students who live in Tokyo metropolitan area start working in the same area after graduation. And 20-30% of the students who finish college in rural areas find employment in Tokyo. Seeking higher education is the most common reason for teens to move to Tokyo. For those in their 20’s, it’s for employment. Therefore the population outflow of young people from rural areas to large cities like Tokyo is highly correlated to access to education and employment opportunities. It’s not hard to imagine young people living in large cities after graduating from college because it’s easier to find jobs with better salaries, and larger cities tend to have high liveability.

The Nippon Foundation carried out the 29th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds in early August this year. In last year’s survey, 61.3% of the respondents answered they want to live in the urban area in the future. However, the number decreased to 56.5% this year. The most common reason for those who wish to live in rural areas in the future is the ‘abundant natural environment.’ Tokyo seems like the place to be if you wish to be in the center of cultural trends. But if nature is an essential element in your life, then living in the over-populated capital is not the right choice.

Rural depopulation has been regarded as an urgent issue for many years, but the centralization of the population in Tokyo seemed endless. Unless, of course, access to education and employment can be guaranteed equally in rural areas.

The outbreak of coronavirus has definitely affected our values in life, workstyle, and our beliefs. Many workplaces are considering a permanent shift towards remote working. Most universities have also already begun to give lectures online, which suggests the possibility of students graduating universities without leaving their hometown.

As for liveability, if the population continues to grow, the situation is likely to change. If we were to discuss regional revitalization realistically, a drastic change in education and employment is indispensable. But now that we have come to know remote learning and working from home are feasible options, we may resolve rural depopulation in Japan in the foreseeable future.