Counseling services for international students in Japanese universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/86tkdf78Keywords:
counseling center, international student, internationalization policy, Japan, multilingual counseling, multicultural competence, service delivery frameworkAbstract
This study aimed to examine the current conditions of counseling services for international students at Japanese universities and identify challenges in improving these services. A survey was conducted among counseling centers at universities with at least 250 international students, with 63 institutions participating. Of those, approximately 30% reported changes to their support framework for international students in the past decade, and approximately half indicated that multilingual counseling services were available. In addition, the study examined the perceived challenges and measures taken in providing culturally competent services for international students. Based on these findings, this study has implications for practitioners and university leaders regarding the internationalization of student support services.
References
An, T., Yamazaki, R., Hu, S., & Onishi, A. (2021). Ryugakuseino soudanshitsuriyo-keizokuraidan ni itarumadeno process [The process of how international students come to use and continue to use student support services]. The Japanese Journal of Student Counseling, 41(3), 157–169.
Arthur, N. (2004). Counseling international students: Clients from around the world. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Arthur, N. (2017). Supporting international students through strengthening their social resources. Studies in Higher Education, 42(5), 887–894. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293876 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293876
Auschner, E., & Jiang, L. (2025). Implementing Chinese student support services at a German technical university. Journal of International Students, 15(5), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.32674/c7g6t059 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/c7g6t059
Beri, N., Thakur, K., & Kumar, N. (2025). Cross-cultural examination of social support, academic support, and well-being-A comparative study of Indian and international students. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 169–182. https://doi.org/10.32674/devfax39 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/devfax39
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), (n.d.). 2024-25 survey participation and information templates: Professionals survey participation and information template. https://www.cupahr.org/surveys/survey-participation/templates/
Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). (2023). CAS standards & guidelines international student programs and services standards. https://store.cas.edu/international-student-programs-and-services-standards/
Department of Education (n.d.) Education services for overseas students (ESOS) framework. https://www.education.gov.au/esos-framework
García, H. A., McNaughtan, J., Li, X., Leong, M. C., & Herridge, A. S. (2021). Empowered to serve? Higher education international center directors and their roles on campus internationalization. Journal of International Students, 11(3), 666–686. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v11i3.2039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v11i3.2039
Griner, D., & Smith, T. B. (2006). Culturally adapted mental health intervention: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy, 43(4), 531–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.531 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.531
Inoue, T., & Ito, T. (1998). The current condition and challenges of international student counseling: National survey of higher education institutions. The Japanese Journal of Students Counseling, 19, 22–32.
Ivanova, P., Sun, Y., Li, W., & Bista, K. (2025). International students’ loneliness and social engagement. Journal of International Students, 15(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.32674/y6hw0n78 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/y6hw0n78
Japan Association for Student Counseling (JASC). (2025). Gakuseisoudankikan guidelines [Guidelines for Student Counseling Facilities].
https://gakuseisodan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/guideline2025.pdf
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). (2025). Daigakutouni okeru gakuseishien no torikumijyokyoni kansuru cho-sa 2023 nendo [Survey on the current condition of student support services in Higher education institutions AY2023]. https://www.jasso.go.jp/statistics/gakusei_torikumi/2023.html
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). (n.d). Gaikokujin ryugakusei zaisekijyokyo cho-sa [Report on the international student enrollment survey]. https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/ja/statistics/enrollment/
Koo, K., & Nyunt, G. (2020). Culturally sensitive assessment of mental health for international students. New Directions for Student Services, 43-52. https://doi-org.utokyo.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/ss.20343 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20343
Lau, A., & Zane, N. (2000). Examining the effects of ethnic-specific services: An analysis of cost-utilization and treatment outcome for Asian American clients. Journal of Community Psychology, 28(1), 63–77. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6629(200001)28:1<63::AID-JCOP7>3.0.CO;2-Z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6629(200001)28:1<63::AID-JCOP7>3.0.CO;2-Z
Marginson, S., Nyland, C., Sawir, E., & Forbes-Mewett, H. (2010). International student security. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511751011
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). (2008). Outline of the student exchange system-study in Japan and abroad. https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/ryugaku/081210/001.pdf
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). (2019). Gakkokihon cho-sa [School basic survey].
https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/chousa01/kihon/kekka/k_detail/1419591_00001.htm
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) (n.d.-a). Global 30 project -Establishing university network for internationalization. https://www.mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/highered/title02/detail02/sdetail02/1373894.htm
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). (n.d.-b). Top global university project.
https://www.mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/highered/title02/detail02/sdetail02/1395420.htm
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). (n.d.-c). Daigakuniokeru kyoikunaiyotono kaikakujyokyo nitsuite [Status of reform of educational activities at universities]. https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/daigaku/04052801/005.htm
Mori, S. C. (2000). Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2000.tb02571.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2000.tb02571.x
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) (2021). The education (pastoral care of tertiary and international learners) code of practice 2021. https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/the-code
Nyunt, G., & Lee, J. J, (2023). A campus-wide approach-promising practices for proactively fostering international students’ mental well-being. In G. Nyunt, K. Koo, P. Witkowsky & M. Andino (Eds.), International student identities and mental well-being: Beyond the single story (pp. 130–141). STAR Scholars.
Onabule, A. I., & Boes, S. R. (2013). International students’ likelihood to seek counseling while studying abroad. Journal of International Students, 3(1), 52–59. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v3i1.518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v3i1.518
Onishi, A. (2012). Ryugakuseieno soudanshientaisei no genjyoto kadai [Present condition and future perspectives of counseling services for international students]. The Japanese Journal of Students Counseling, 33(1), 25–37.
Onishi, A. (2016). Campusno kokusaikato ryugakuseisoudan-tayouseini taioshita gakuseishienservice no kochiku [Campus internationalization and counseling services for international students: Developing culturally competent services for students]. University of Tokyo Press.
Onishi, A. (2020). Nipponni okeru tabunkani taioshita shinrienjo no kakujyu ni muketeno ikkosatsu [Developing culturally competent psychological services in Japan]. Japanese Journal of Community Psychology, 24(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.32236/jscpjournal.24.1_3
Quimby, D., & Agonafer, E. (2022). Culturally matched embedded counseling: Providing empowering services to historically marginalized college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 37(4), 410–430. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2022.2112002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2022.2112002
Roberts, D., & Ammigan, R. (2024). Supporting international students in US higher education: A theory-based approach. Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46395-2
Takahashi, A. (2012). Ryugakuseishien no wakugumiwo kangaeru: Musubini kaete [International Student Support at British Universities: Conclusion]. Bulletin of International Student Center Hokkaido University, 16, 44–50.
Veerasamy, Y. S., & Raby, R. L. (2024). Toward implementing an integrative framework for holistic international student support services across student affairs divisions. In D. L. Roberts & R. Ammigan (Eds.), Supporting international students in US higher education: A Theory-Based Approach. Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46395-2_12
Yao, C. W., & George Mwangi, C. A. (2017). Role of student affairs in international student transition and success. Journal of International Students, 7(4), I–III. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i4.180 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i4.180
Yokota, M., & Shiratsuchi, S. (2004). Ryugakusei advising: Gakushu, Seikatsu, Shinri wo ikani shiensuruka. [International student advising: How to support students with their academic, daily life and psychological needs]. Nakanishiya.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of International Students

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0












