Today, a Master of Business Administration, or MBA, continues to be a much sought-after qualification, with many CEOs and company presidents, especially those at U.S. and European firms, possessing MBAs.

Demand for MBA holders has been increasing in the job market. It rose 13 percent in 2016 from a year earlier, and is forecast to rise 7 percent in 2017, according to the Jobs & Salary Trends Report 2016/17, published by QS TopMBA.com.

The U.S., India and Brazil remain the world's three biggest markets for MBA jobs, as finance remains the largest single area of hiring and consulting and technology saw the greatest growth in MBA demand in 2016, according to the report.

MBA holders' salary generally rose in 2016, though the trend varies by region. Western Europe and Asia Pacific saw drops of 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively to $102,900 and $90,300 in annual income in 2016, while salaries in the U.S. and Canada were almost unchanged at $123,900, according to the report. On the upside, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa saw jumps of 48 percent, 16 percent and 10 percent, respectively to $80,900, $72,100 and $88,700.

Japan was ranked 14th in the countries with high annual incomes for MBA holders in 2016, with $80,000 on average. The top five are Singapore ($137,129), the U.S. ($130,214), France ($123,738), Australia ($122,950) and the U.K. ($119,567).

In Japan, the value of qualified people with MBAs is stressed more and more in an increasingly globalizing society.

In the past, many Japanese business professionals traveled abroad to obtain their MBAs, but there are also excellent business schools in Japan, offering programs that are second to none.

Some business schools in Japan offer highly rated MBA programs with instruction conducted exclusively, or partially in English.

On the facing page, please find some information compiled by The Japan Times on some of the quality MBA programs available in Japan.