Language schools struggling to survive as virus keeps students out of Japan

With the coronavirus pandemic choking social interaction and global travel, many of the nation's approximately 800 Japanese-language schools are struggling because new students have not been able to enter Japan. Since private schools basically rely on tuition fees, they are facing an existential crisis, people familiar with the matter say. Enrollment at Japanese-language schools halved to around 50,000 from about 100,000 in March due to graduation and other reasons, including coronavirus restrictions, they said. Japan has banned the entry of people from 100 countries and regions as part of efforts to curb the pandemic. According to the Justice Ministry, students can enroll in a Japanese school for up to two years.