In its drive to double the number of Japanese youths studying abroad by 2020, the education ministry has launched a campaign involving the private sector, which is eager to hire more graduates with overseas experience.

Under the campaign titled "Tobitate! Ryugaku Japan" ("Go abroad! Study Overseas, Japan"), the ministry in cooperation with businesspeople, athletes and artists, will stage a series of promotional activities to encourage more young people to seek out educational opportunities in other countries.

A special website for the campaign, to be updated from mid-November, will have content like accounts by people who have studied abroad as well as advice on what to do before leaving Japan. A Facebook page has also been created, and the ministry is planning to hold events and seminars on exchange programs in the coming months.