A famous gamer made a splash on February 8th when he announced he planned not to go to school this coming school year. The YouTuber, Tarou, has a following of 184,00 people who tune in to watch him play Fortnite (which he plays competitively) and other games. He says he made the decision after consulting with his parents about needing to balance Fortnite competitions and YouTube with exercise, school, and sleep.
Here’s the thing, though: Tarou is 12 years old. He and his parents have decided he should delay entering middle school for a year after he graduates elementary.
Tarou isn’t the first YouthTuber to make that decision. In 2017, YouTuber Yutabon, then age eight, decided with his parents to stop going to school because he didn’t see the sense in doing homework. (He ultimately decided to go back in 2023.)
Record school refusal numbers in Japan
These two YouTubers aren’t alone. A record number of kids in Japan are deciding they need to take a break from school life. For some, the break is a permanent one.
A report from Asahi Shimbun in October 2024, using data from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), found 346,482 cases of school refusal among elementary and middle school students in 2023. That number reflects absences due to mental or societal issues, like bullying, and excludes students with illnesses and households in financial distress.
That was a 47K+ person increase over the previous year and the first time the number ever exceeded 300,000. It was the 11th year in a row that number had increased.
While bullying is a factor in some instances, cases of school refusal are increasing as the number of reported bullying incidents are declining. Indeed, the data from MEXT shows that bullying is still a significant factor. Both students and guardirans list bullying at the reason for school refusal in 26.2% and 29.2% of cases, respectively. (Sadly, only 4.2% of teachers cited it, indicating many schools are still blind to the bullying problems in their midst.)
However, bullying wasn’t the most cited factor. Most students (76.5%) cited depression or just a general “unease.” Others (70.3%) said they’re exhausted and can’t wake up in the mornings, while others (68.9%) said they just don’t feel well. 50% expressed qualms about their ability to complete homework.
Some students cited reasons touched on by our past posts about Japanese schooling. 38.6% said they didn’t feel school uniforms suited them or they had issues with school lunches. 42.3% cited an addiction to games or smartphones as issues.
Local governments respond
Authorities fear school refsual puts not only these kids’ futures at stake but could negatively impact Japanese society as a whole. In response, local governments are providing more support for students having a hard time with attendance.
The city of Toyama, for instance, is dedicating 22,450,000 yen (USD $150K) to creating dedicated rooms for students who have school refusal experience. It already has such a room in 17 schools and plans to expand the program to 36 more.
Meanwhile, Tokyo has been creating “challenge schools,” alternative schools aimed at former school refusal kids. Students at these schools can discover and set their own goals, giving them more flexibility and freedom than a traditional classroom. Tokyo metropolis has six such schools, with a seventh opening in April 2025.
The national government is also helping out. In November 2024, Japan’s Children & Families Agency annnounced it was allocating 800 million yen (USD $5,347,000) to addressing bullying and school refusal. Much of this money will be provided as support to local school districts, like Toyama, to implement more aggressive strategies.
Tip This Article
We’re an independent site that keeps our content free of paywalls and intrusive ads. If you liked this story, please consider a tip or recurring donation of any amount to help keep our content free for all.
What to read next
Japan’s Booming Death Business: ENDEX, The End Of Life Exhibition
Japan’s rising death rate is good business For ENDEX: The End Of Life Exhibition. We discover that it’s more than just Hello Kitty urns!
Why Post-Death Divorce is Popular in Japan
Why do some people – particularly women – go out of their way in Japan to divorce their spouse’s families after death? Learn why shigo rikon has been on the rise since the 1980s.
Moga: Japan’s “Modern Girl” of the Taisho Era
She was a symbol of prewar prosperity – and controversy. How the “modern girl” of Japan’s roaring 1920s defined a new path for women.
