Courses for working and retired adults in Japan are becoming more available and increasingly popular.
Showing that learning never stops, an increasing number of Japanese universities are offering learning programmes aimed at middle aged and senior citizens. The idea is to help them build on their existing experience with new skills and research opportunities and to help them consider new career paths. In 2023, there were 239 universities offering such courses, up from 183 in 2019.
For example, Rikkyo University, Ikebukuro (Tokyo) offers a general one year course for adults who are 50 years old and over, with the average age of students undertaking the course being around 63-64. The course is worth 18 college credits and there is a specialised follow up course for those wanting to undertake further study. An example lecture from the course was focused on finance theory.
Students have come to this course with different backgrounds and aims. One student, Tamaki Kubomura wanted to undertake studies to learn about artificial intelligence before finding a new role. Previously working in manufacturing, she attended lectures on sports, media art and more – giving her a range of different experiences. On what she wants to do next, Kubomura explained: “Attending lectures made me notice there are piles of social issues still to be tackled. For such purposes as helping seniors who are left behind by all the digital technology in today’s society, I want to contribute by utilizing AI skills.”
Another student, Hitoshi Masuyama had recently retired and was looking for what he wanted to do next, he also wanted an opportunity to make new friends and study an unfamiliar field. He learnt about literature and history and became interested in volunteering work and non-profit organisations: “Japanese society today lacks awareness about mutual help. I want to belong to NPOs or volunteer organizations so that I can engage in cultural promotion and international exchange.”
Have you been wanting to learn something new? Maybe this is your sign that it’s never too late to discover a new interest, skill, career or hobby!
Reference
- Tamura, N (2026) ‘Senior Japanese citizens return to university to gain knowledge, find new career, make friends’. Available at: https://asianews.network/senior-japanese-citizens-return-to-university-to-gain-knowledge-find-new-career-make-friends/ (Accessed: 11 February 2026)
