Until recently, anyone could call themselves a Japanese teacher.

Training courses existed, and so did private certificates. What Japan did not have was a single national standard.

That changed on 1 April 2024. Under a law passed in May 2023, Japan introduced 登録日本語教員 (Tōroku Nihongo Kyōin) — Registered Japanese Language Teacher — the first national qualification for this profession, administered by the Ministry of Education (MEXT).

I hold it.

What It Requires

Registration is not granted for experience alone. Teachers qualify either by passing the national examination and completing supervised practical training, or — for those already working in the field — through defined transitional routes that verify equivalent training and experience.

As of 21 August 2026, 20,075 teachers were registered nationwide.

Why It Matters When You Are Choosing

You are unlikely to be able to judge a Japanese teacher's technical skill from a website. Most learners cannot — that is the nature of hiring any expert.

This qualification will not tell you whether a teacher suits you. What it tells you is that someone other than the teacher has checked the foundation: the language knowledge, the teaching methodology, the supervised practice.

Ask any teacher you are considering — here or anywhere else — whether they hold it.

Where to Check

The Ministry of Education publishes the registration system and its current figures.

mext.go.jp/a_menu/nihongo_kyoiku/mext_02668.html