Under the influence of internationalization of Japan, more and more Japanese started to live abroad. In response, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has implemented a program to dispatch teachers overseas to support the education of Japanese children living in other countries. This research paper examines the achievements as well as the challenges of this initiative. The accomplishment includes the fact that about 1300-1400 teachers annually have been sent to schools where teachers teach subject and/or Japanese language. Another contribution was the growth of these teachers who have been dispatched. In collaboration with Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, teachers’ growth was measured and found that these teachers gained intercultural and multilingual education skills, management sills (MEXT 2020). One of the challenges that this research paper focuses on is the school culture and social condition to welcome these teachers with experience of working abroad. The teachers with these abroad experiences are responsible for utilize their gained skills from their experience of working abroad even after they are back to Japan. However, Japan does not have enough capacity to fully appreciate these teachers’ perspectives on education and schools. Multiple interview research revealed that the teachers with abroad experience had hard time being adjusted to schools in Japan. The existing support programs are helpful, but what is really needed is the education for the schools and teachers who receive these teachers with abroad experience. Similarly, what has been overlooked is the education for the entire society, so that these people with abroad experience can fully contribute to reconstruct new education in Japan.

MEXT (2020). Zaigai kyōiku shisetsu ni haken sa reta kyōshi ni kakaru haken kōka ni kansuru chōsa bunseki hōkoku-sho [Report on the effectiveness of the teachers dispatched to overseas educational facilities]. https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000809689.pdf