Japanese language scholars have expressed concern at proposed plans that threaten to marginalize the teaching of Japanese at schools in England.
At issue are proposals to focus on a narrow range of foreign languages in English elementary schools and possibly remove examinations in Japanese for 16-year-olds, currently called GCSEs.
Japanese teachers and the Japan Foundation — an independent administrative agency that promotes international cultural exchanges between Japan and the rest of the world — have written to the Department for Education expressing concerns as part of the consultation process.