Firms Unite to Combat Japan’s Worsening School Refusal Crisis

TOKYO, JAPAN – December 26, 2025 – In a landmark move to address one of Japan's most pressing social challenges, a unique consortium of companies has announced a collaborative project aimed at supporting students affected by school refusal. Sports education leader LEIFRAS Co., Ltd., specialized high school Tachibana Gakuen, and comprehensive printing firm Matsumoto Co., Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding to create a new educational framework for a growing population of disengaged youth.

The initiative arrives at a critical juncture for Japan. While the nation grapples with a declining birthrate, the number of students unable or unwilling to attend school has surged to unprecedented levels, creating a complex social and economic dilemma that the private sector is now stepping forward to solve.

A Crisis in the Classroom

The statistics paint a stark picture of the challenge at hand. According to Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the number of children and students not attending school is projected to climb to 353,970 in fiscal year 2024. This trend has been escalating for 12 consecutive years, with the rate of absenteeism among junior high school students now at approximately one in 15—a figure that has nearly tripled since 2013.

This phenomenon, known in Japan as futoko, or school refusal, presents a profound paradox. At a time when a shrinking population makes every child’s contribution to society more vital than ever, a record number are becoming disconnected from the primary institution designed to prepare them for the future. The project's backers recognize this not just as an educational issue, but as a direct threat to the nation's future talent pool. Leifras, Tachibana Gakuen, and Matsumoto have stated their belief that the private sector has a responsibility to intervene with innovative and timely solutions where traditional systems may be struggling.

A Three-Pronged Approach to Education

The collaboration is built on the unique strengths of each partner, creating a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond conventional classroom learning. The project aims to blend physical activity, specialized psychological support, and robust operational infrastructure into a cohesive new model.

Leifras Co., Ltd., one of Japan's largest operators of children's sports schools, will contribute its extensive expertise in sports education and operational management. The company's teaching philosophy, centered on the principle to "acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate," focuses on developing non-cognitive skills like resilience, teamwork, and self-esteem. This methodology, which integrates physical and mental development, is seen as particularly valuable for students who may have lost confidence in traditional academic settings.

Providing the crucial educational and psychological backbone is Tachibana Gakuen Educational Institution. As a high school specializing in accepting students from across the country who have experienced school refusal, Tachibana Gakuen brings decades of direct experience. Guided by the founding belief that "When a child is neglected, education loses its light," the school has developed a highly regarded educational approach that has already attracted attention from boards of education nationwide.

Rounding out the partnership is Matsumoto Co., Ltd., a comprehensive printing company with deep roots in the education sector, delivering albums to thousands of schools annually. Matsumoto will provide the essential physical foundation for the project, including land and facilities in Kitakyushu City, and will oversee the project's overall execution. The company's recent expansion into cutting-edge technologies like Web3 and blockchain signals a forward-thinking mindset that aligns with the project's innovative spirit.

Beyond Philanthropy: A Sustainable Business Model

While the project has a clear social mission, its architects are emphatic that it is designed to be more than just a charitable activity. The collaboration aims to forge a sustainable business model that can meet growing social needs while establishing a solid revenue base. This dual focus on creating both high economic and social value is central to the venture's long-term vision.

"The Project marks a major innovation in our endeavors to establish a profitable and sustainable business model that delivers both social and economic value," commented Kiyotaka Ito, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leifras. "We plan to first establish a highly scalable and profitable model in Fukuoka Prefecture, followed by rapid nationwide expansion, positioning the Project as a new core pillar of our business."

Ito further elaborated on the ambitious scope, indicating that the partnership is just the beginning. "Looking ahead, the Project is not intended to remain limited to the framework of the three companies alone," he stated. "We intend to build a broader partnership to create a business ecosystem and incorporate the knowledge and technologies of diverse companies to continuously develop new, high-value-added services."

A Global Problem with a Japanese Solution?

The issue of school refusal is not unique to Japan. Similar phenomena, often termed "chronic absenteeism," are recognized as significant social and educational problems in Europe and the United States, suggesting that a successful model could have global applications.

In the United States, the situation is particularly acute. The U.S. Department of Education defines students who miss more than 10% of school days as "chronically absent," and 2022 data revealed a staggering national average of 28%, with rates in some areas exceeding 40%. Similarly, a 2015 PISA report noted that the OECD average for students who had missed at least one full day of school in the previous two weeks was 20%, significantly higher than Japan's figure at the time.

This global context provides a potential future pathway for the initiative. The knowledge and operational know-how cultivated through the Japanese project could be adapted and exported to other countries facing similar crises. Ito confirmed this global ambition, stating, "We believe the 'new business model for supporting school refusal' established through the Project will achieve success in Japan and, over time, be adapted and expanded to Western countries that also face these issues."

By combining specialized educational support with the agility and scalability of a private-sector business model, the partnership between Leifras, Tachibana Gakuen, and Matsumoto represents a bold new experiment in tackling a deeply entrenched societal problem. Its success could not only change the lives of thousands of students in Japan but also provide a blueprint for the world.