Japan's young people are among the most ambitious, creative, and globally connected in the world. They are shaping global culture through music, fashion, gaming, and design. But beneath the surface of that cultural momentum, there is a quieter challenge.

Over 300,000 students in Japan are currently experiencing futoko, chronic school non-attendance. The number of missing students hit a record high for the third consecutive year. These aren't students who stopped caring. They're students the system stopped reaching. Too much pressure, too little flexibility, not enough room to be anything other than what the structure demands.

This isn't just a Japan problem. It's an everywhere problem. And it's proof that even in one of the world's most educated nations, access to learning that actually works for every student isn't guaranteed. It has to be fought for.

What's at Stake, Globally

Looking beyond Japan, the situation becomes even more serious.

According to the 2026 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, 273 million children and young people worldwide are out of school entirely, the seventh consecutive year that number has risen. Only 2 in 3 students globally finish secondary school. And in the countries where that gap is widest, governments spend an average of just $55 per student per year. In high-income nations, that figure exceeds $8,500.

This is not just a gap. It is a significant divide. And it's not going to close on its own.

The consequences follow these children for life. Every year of education a person completes raises their future earning potential. Access to education is directly linked to lower rates of preventable disease, better maternal health, and longer life expectancy. For the 220 million children currently living in crisis zones — from Gaza to Ukraine to South Sudan — a classroom is often the only safe place available to them. Education isn't an opportunity. For millions of kids, it's survival.

Read the full article about access to education by Angi Varrial at Global Citizen.