The internationalization of Japan is one of the pillars of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's growth strategy at a time when a shrinking domestic market is forcing more businesses to look overseas for profits.

But the fact is more than 70 percent of Japanese companies with global operations face challenges in hiring and educating a suitable workforce, according to a government survey.

Some critics point to the decline in the number of college students studying abroad as one of the reasons. Between 2004 and 2010 their numbers dwindled by 30 percent, partly, it is commonly thought, because students have become more risk-averse and the government is offering little practical support.