Nepali Students In Japanese Language Schools: Investigating Motivations And Experiences Of Educational Mobility

Abstract

The rapidly growing number of Nepali students in Japan represents a significant yet under-researched student population in international education research. This paper investigates Nepali students` motivations for educational mobility and experiences in Japanese language schools (nihongo gakkō), key institutions for hosting international students. Drawing on semi-structured interview narratives with eight Nepali students, this study argues that their mobility signifies a new trend and greater accessibility in educational mobility, primarily driven by non-academic aspirations. The findings suggest that the motivations behind Nepali students` mobility essentially lie in the inherent dream of upward social mobility and are strongly influenced by emerging mobility infrastructures. This study aims to enrich the current scholarship on marginal student mobility by shedding light on the mobility motivation of Japan’s rapidly growing Nepali student population.