Private schools in Japan forced to shake up, rebrand as enrollment falls

Yokohama, Japan -- Amidst the nation's declining birth rate, private schools are undergoing significant changes to remain viable. In the city of Yokohama, St. Joseph Gakuen, a Christian institution with a 70-year history, is transferring management to a new organization. This marks a broader transformation within Japan's private education sector.

Established in 1953 by a Catholic religious order from the United States, St. Joseph Gakuen initially operated a coeducational elementary school. Girls' junior and senior high schools were added in 1957 and 1960, respectively. However, enrollment has consistently fallen below capacity in recent years, leading the school to consider closure.

In June 2026, St. Joseph Gakuen announced that its governing educational corporation would be transferred to the Kaichi Gakuen Group, a major educational organization based in Saitama that operates schools from elementary through university across the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The transfer of management is set to take effect in April 2027, and the school will be renamed Kaichi Yokohama International, operating as an integrated elementary, junior, and senior high school. This move will expand Kaichi Gakuen's network beyond its affiliated schools in Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Ibaraki prefectures, extending into neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture.

Education journalist Toshimasa Ota notes that this trend of rebranding and restructuring is common across Japan's private education sector. He explains that this is often achieved by acquiring existing educational facilities and launching new schools within that framework, as obtaining approval for an entirely new school can be challenging.

St. Joseph Gakuen's transformation is not unique; other schools in Japan, such as Hiroo Gakuen and Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen, have also undergone significant changes, including coeducation, name changes, and curriculum reforms.

The trend of transforming traditional girls' schools is particularly notable. Osamu Yasuda of the Yasuda Education Research Institute, an expert in private school education, attributes this to historical circumstances and changing societal norms. In the past, the government placed greater emphasis on educating boys, leaving girls' education largely to the private sector.

With more women pursuing careers and the Japanese government prioritizing science and technology education, parents believe that coeducational, science-oriented schools offer a more secure path to future employment. As a result, many traditional girls' schools are transforming to remain competitive.