Young Japanese shouldn't be blamed for not studying abroad, but society needs to change so they can attend universities overseas without having to worry about their careers after they return, education minister Masaharu Nakagawa said.

"It is not really the case that young people are losing their drive to go abroad," the new minister told a group of reporters at his office in Tokyo on Wednesday.

"Everyone is interested and willing to go overseas," said the 61-year-old minister. Nakagawa is a fifth-term Lower House member elected from the Mie Prefecture No. 2 district.