Japan’s education ministry is considering adding new courses to its technical colleges or kosen, focusing on fields such as agriculture, manga, and animation.
A report by The Japan Times said the ministry aims to develop talent across a broader range of industries.
In Japan, technical colleges—known as kosen—offer five-year higher education programs to students who have graduated from junior high school, with a focus on strengthening practical skills, particularly in engineering.
The report noted that the ministry oversees 58 national, public, and private technical colleges that currently offer industrial courses such as mechanical and electrical engineering.
The ministry is now revising its curriculum to include new options, particularly in agriculture and content-related industries.
It added that Aichi and Shiga prefectures are preparing to establish new technical colleges, while some local governments are considering converting agricultural high schools into technical institutions.
For now, the ministry is expanding subsidies for personnel costs to raise salaries for kosen teachers, in a bid to attract and retain skilled professionals.
The report also said the ministry plans to seek increased funding for the program in the 2027 national budget.
