The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency released "Results of FY2024 Entrepreneurship Education Program Implementation" in August 2025, providing a comprehensive analysis of national entrepreneurship education promotion achievements and challenges through systematic survey research.
Program Scope and Educational Framework
This initiative aimed to foster entrepreneurial spirit (entrepreneurship) among next-generation youth through systematic entrepreneurship education programs targeting elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities/graduate schools nationwide. FY2024 implementation covered educational institutions across all 47 prefectures, reaching 2,847 schools and engaging 156,789 students through structured curriculum integration.
The program encompasses four educational levels with age-appropriate content: elementary level focusing on creativity and problem-solving skills development, middle school level introducing basic business concepts and community engagement, high school level covering business plan development and market analysis fundamentals, and university/graduate level providing advanced entrepreneurship theory and practical venture creation experience.
Implementation Results and Performance Metrics
Program participation showed significant growth with elementary schools recording 89.4% completion rates across 1,234 participating institutions, middle schools achieving 92.1% completion across 856 schools, high schools reaching 87.6% completion across 612 schools, and universities/graduate schools maintaining 94.3% completion across 145 institutions.
Student engagement metrics demonstrated strong positive outcomes with 78.2% of participants expressing increased interest in entrepreneurship, 65.4% developing enhanced creative problem-solving capabilities, and 43.7% indicating concrete future business venture considerations. Teacher feedback surveys revealed 91.5% satisfaction rates with curriculum materials and 86.3% confidence in continued program implementation.
Regional Distribution and Collaboration Networks
Geographic distribution analysis shows concentrated activity in metropolitan areas with Tokyo Prefecture leading at 287 participating schools, followed by Osaka (198 schools), Kanagawa (176 schools), and Aichi (142 schools). Rural participation reached significant levels with average participation rates of 67.8% in municipalities with populations under 50,000.
Collaboration networks involved 1,456 external organizations including local chambers of commerce, startup incubators, regional banks, and successful entrepreneurs serving as mentors and guest speakers. Industry partnerships contributed 234 million yen in program support through facility provision, expert participation, and scholarship funding.
Program Innovation and Future Development
Notable innovations include virtual reality business simulation experiences, AI-powered business plan evaluation tools, and cross-regional student collaboration platforms enabling nationwide entrepreneurship project partnerships. Digital learning platforms accommodated remote and hybrid learning needs, maintaining program continuity despite geographic and scheduling constraints.
Assessment results indicate successful achievement of core objectives including enhanced entrepreneurial mindset development, practical business skills acquisition, and strengthened connections between educational institutions and business communities. The program demonstrates significant potential for expanding Japan's entrepreneurship ecosystem through systematic educational foundation building.
Future development plans include expanding program reach to vocational schools, integrating international collaboration components, and establishing long-term graduate tracking systems to measure entrepreneurship program impact on actual business creation and career trajectory outcomes.