This report covers the FY2024 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on July 15, 2025.
The FY2024 White Paper is MEXT's annual report comprehensively describing all ministry policies. The white paper consists of two special features and Part 2 with 12 chapters, covering the broad policy areas under MEXT's jurisdiction including education, science and technology, sports, and culture and arts.
Part 1 features two important themes. Special Feature 1, titled "The Future Vision for Enhancing Japan's 'Total Knowledge': Restructuring the Higher Education System," discusses reforms and future prospects for Japan's higher education system. It examines in detail the nature of higher education and comprehensive system restructuring needed to maintain and enhance Japan's intellectual competitiveness amid accelerating globalization and technological innovation. Special Feature 2, "The Journey of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games," summarizes the achievements of the Japanese delegation at the 2024 Paris Games, the outcomes of the competition, and lessons for future sports promotion.
Part 2 details the trends and developments of policies across all areas of MEXT administration, including comprehensive promotion of education policy and realization of a lifelong learning society, enhancement of elementary/secondary and higher education, promotion of private schools, comprehensive advancement of science and technology/academic policies, realization of sports and cultural/artistic nation status, promotion of international exchange and cooperation, promotion of educational digital transformation and enhancement of ICT-based information dissemination, development of safe and high-quality school facilities and enhancement of disaster prevention/mitigation measures, progress in recovery and revitalization from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and MEXT reforms and initiatives toward administrative reform and policy planning function enhancement.
The article demonstrates that MEXT is promoting comprehensive policies to strengthen human resource development and intellectual foundations supporting Japan's future across education, science and technology, sports, and culture.