Nipponica

Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, is using subsidies to encourage high school students to study abroad, hoping to develop international talent and improve understanding in a territory with a major American military presence.

Okinawa prefecture's study-abroad program has sent 670 or so students overseas to date and is recruiting 30 for fiscal 2026, with programs to 13 countries and regions, including the U.S., Italy, Argentina and Taiwan.

The program lasts one year. The prefecture fully subsidizes participation fees, including tuition and homestay-related expenses.

This is a great program for Okinawan students and is a step ahead of many schools in mainland Japan. I think students would benefit from greater exposure to the rest of the world and if Okinawa can do it, other prefectures can as well.