NISEKO, Hokkaido -- Despite being on the brink of closing due to just nine new students, the locally operated Niseko High School has surpris...
NISEKO, Hokkaido -- Despite being on the brink of closing due to just nine new students, the locally operated Niseko High School has surprisingly improved its situation within five years, now being highly desirable with an application rate 1.5 times the number of available positions.
A high school specializing in agriculture, enrolling around 100 students, is set to become a full-time general school offering international and business-oriented education starting in the 2026 academic term.
What was the process of the miracle?
In mid-October, after all classes had concluded, a reporter from the Mainichi Shimbun visited the school and found students engaged in conversations and games in English within a classroom adorned with Halloween decorations.
This scene is part of "Niseko World Village," the foundation that supports the international education program at the newly established Niseko High School of International Studies, set to open in spring 2026. Known as the "English Village," this learning center provides students with chances to engage with English and other languages, and its location within a high school is reportedly uncommon in Japan.
The Niseko World Village started as a trial initiative three years back and was formally introduced in April 2025 following classroom upgrades. The idea is a "venue for global interaction accessible to everyone." On this occasion, six students engaged with four English-speaking adults, including an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), creating a close-knit environment for language learning — a scenario that bigger schools may not easily provide.
"I've learned to speak English by coming here daily. It's enjoyable to finally comprehend what the ALTs are saying," says Moe Kitagawa, a 16-year-old second-year student, as she looks back on her development.
Tackling youth migration and school integration
Niseko High was established in 1948 as a branch of Kutchan Agricultural High School, serving students involved in agricultural work. Nevertheless, as local children became less interested in farming and more focused on higher education, many moved to cities. The number of students fell to approximately 20 per academic year, half of the school's capacity, and dropped to nine in 2020, putting the institution in danger of being merged.
To counter this trend, the local government chose to create a full-time integrated school aimed at drawing more students and promoting higher education by expanding the teaching staff. Principal Hajime Motoya, who began his role in 2023, worked with the town to design a new direction for the school, emphasizing international education by utilizing the region's unique features.
Niseko is among the leading winter destinations globally, famous for its light powder snow, with more than 10% of its population, which is around 5,000 people, consisting of foreigners. Thanks to the World Village initiative, Niseko High has welcomed new visitors during after-school times and at various events, including students from nearby Niseko Junior High School and international community members.
Eri Kato, a team member responsible for the World Village, states, "Our goal is to create a welcoming space where individuals from within and outside the school can come together. Students visit for different purposes — studying, playing games, having informal conversations, or seeking career advice — and through these interactions, they enhance both their language abilities and global outlook."
Students also have plenty of chances to study overseas, with collaborations including YTL International College of Hotel Management in Malaysia and universities in Taiwan. Numerous students participate in study trips, exchange internships, and brief international study programs.
Carrying out changes while maintaining school operations
The strong global program has drawn students from both inside and outside the town. Pirika Kunii, a 17-year-old second-year student from the Hokkaido town of Toyako, stated, "I studied in Taiwan during middle school, and I selected Niseko High as my next step due to its extensive network of international partner universities." In 2024, she took part in a six-day study trip to Taiwan, examining the "linguistic landscape" of street signs and other displays.
"I drew a comparison with Niseko, where initiatives for multilingual signs and maintaining the natural scenery are progressing, and shared my observations. I hope to immerse myself in more foreign languages and cultures, and pursue studies overseas after finishing my degree," Prikia said with a smile.
The institution also provides training in entrepreneurship, including programs like "after-school startups," which enable students to create business concepts with the assistance of local companies, and "Niseko studies," an innovative program that examines subjects through the perspectives of sustainable development goals, science, tourism, and management.
To draw in a variety of students, Niseko High has been selected as one of the institutions that accept students via the "Chiiki Mirai Ryugaku" program, allowing high school enrollment across different prefectures.
The school's changes have attracted interest, with 58 applicants this year and an acceptance rate of 1.5 times, positioning it among the most competitive public schools in Hokkaido. The new institution aims to increase its capacity to 70 students despite the country's decreasing birth rates.
Principal Motoya outlined the goal of the rapid changes, stating, "Merely highlighting the new school's image by claiming 'This is the type of institution we have' once it opens will not attract students back. Without a significant overhaul while the school remains active, it will be pointless."
Support from the community for the new dormitory
Motoya seeks to foster in students a "sense of civic pride" — an emotion of pride and connection towards their local areas. He mentioned, "I hope that the three years they spend here will be a period for them to build affection not only for Niseko but also for the communities that are their origins. Individuals who feel this affection will ultimately contribute back to these communities. This becomes the driving force that helps prevent the decline of such areas."
The community shares this dedication to education as a way to preserve its identity. Tatsuzo Kataoka, who took on the role of superintendent at the municipal education board in 2020, emphasizes the significance of keeping the town's sole high school operational, saying, "We won't understand how vital the high school is until it's no longer there -- and by that point, it will be too late."
In response to the increasing number of students, the town government made the decision in 2024 to construct a new dormitory for the high school. The project will cost 1.2 billion yen (approximately $7.6 million), and despite receiving some financial assistance, the town still faces a heavy financial responsibility. Nevertheless, Kataoka outlined the reasons behind the support, stating, "The education board, mayor, and municipal assembly are all in agreement about keeping the school open. Many regions have had local schools shut down due to lack of cooperation from municipalities, but Niseko High School is operated by the town, which makes collaboration more straightforward."
Having served as a high school science educator on isolated islands and in small institutions across Hokkaido, he possesses direct insight into the difficulties and significance of educational transformation.
For instance, when the older child from a family with two children moves out of town for high school and the younger sibling does the same, parents frequently relocate as well. "If a town doesn't have a high school, families with kids tend to leave," he explained.
Guided by the idea that "building a community means building people, and building people means building a community," Kataoka and the town hold the view that "the efforts of Niseko High School of International Studies will contribute to Niseko's future."
(Japanese original by Karen Goto, Hokkaido News Department)
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