Language Business Market in Japan: Key Research Findings 2017
Research Outline
- Research period: April to June, 2017
- Research target: Foreign language schools, publishers, manufacturers of electronic dictionaries, software makers, e-learning businesses, correspondence education service providers, makers of language study materials, and such service providers as overseas-education arrangement, and interpretation/translation.
- Research methodologies: Face-to-face interviews by the specialized researchers, surveys via telephone/FAX, and literature research
<What is the Language Business Market?>
The language business market in this research indicates the following 14 categories of foreign language class markets: 1) Foreign language classes for adults, 2) Foreign language classes for children/infants, 3) Pre-schools, 4) Deployment of teachers to kindergarten/day-care centers for children, 5) Textbooks, 6) Self-learning language hardware/software, 7) Electronic dictionaries, 8)Textbooks of English conversation classes for children/infants, 9) Correspondence education, 10) E-learning, 11) Software, 12) Language exams, 13) Overseas-education arrangement, 14) Interpretation/translation business. Note that markets of 12) language exams, 13) overseas-education arrangement, and 14) interpretation/translation business are defined here in the category of “Peripheral Business.”
Summary of Research Findings
- Language Business Market (Major 14 Categories) in FY2016 Achieved 849.8 Billion Yen, 102.7% on Y-o-Y Basis
Size of the language business market (total of 14 categories) in FY2016 rose to 849.8 billion yen, 102.7% of that of the preceding fiscal year, based on the sales of the businesses. In addition to continuous steadfast sales from the previous fiscal year regarding the services for children (i.e., Foreign language classes for children/infants, Preschools, Deployment of teachers to kindergarten/day-care centers for children, and Textbooks of English conversation classes for children/infants), the e-learning market have been prosperous, attaining double digit growth. The translation/interpretation business market, defined here as “Peripheral Business” in the entire language business market, has also continued being stable.
- Language Business Market (Major 14 Categories) in FY2017 Projected to Achieve 868.2 Billion Yen, 102.2% on Y-o-Y Basis
The entire language business market (total of 14 categories) for FY2017 is projected to achieve 868.2 billion yen, 102.2% of the size of the preceding fiscal year. Because of English becoming the required subject at elementary schools together with the reforms at university admission system, increasing number of children is likely to learn English, so that the services for children including foreign language classes for children/infants, pre-schools, deployment of teachers to kindergarten/day-care centers for children, and textbooks of English conversation classes for children/infants can expect favorable sales. This is likely to lead the entire language business market to remain robust.
- Table 1: Transition of Size of Language Business Market by Category
