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English Proficency Index

Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever

• Casey Baseel
  Dec 4, 2025
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What’s behind Japan’s continuing slide down the list?

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• Japan
• (education • Education First • EF Education Eirst • English Proficency Index • linguistics • society)

• Recent Posts

  • Japan’s middle-aged fairy man character stole our reporter’s heart in a hot spring town
  • Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
  • Starbucks Japan unveils first-ever vending machine, with an exclusive coffee drink
  • Ghibli store Donguri Kyowakoku now has special frames to protect your anime art Paper Theater kits
  • New Gundam megastore announced for one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist neighborhoods

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  Today

  1. Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
  2. Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
  3. Starbucks Japan unveils first-ever vending machine, with an exclusive coffee drink
  4. TeamLab is building a new Tokyo museum, and it’s the digital art group’s biggest ever
  5. Ghibli store Donguri Kyowakoku now has special frames to protect your anime art Paper Theater kits
  6. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  7. Japanese mayors challenge each other to nighttime ninja battle, now recruiting participants
  8. New Gundam megastore announced for one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist neighborhoods
  9. How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
  10. Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan

  Weekly

  1. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  2. How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
  3. Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
  4. Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan
  5. Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
  6. New Shinkansen platform vending machine sells local-flavor treats from 127-year-old snack maker
  7. Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan
  8. New Transforming Business Card case brings anime mecha to Japanese work meetings
  9. Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
  10. Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans

  Monthly

  1. 12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
  2. 7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
  3. Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
  4. Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
  5. Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
  6. Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
  7. Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
  8. Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
  9. Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
  10. Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono

  Yearly

  1. Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
  2. Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
  3. Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
  4. Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
  5. Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
  6. Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
  7. Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
  8. Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
  9. Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
  10. Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】

• RECOMMENDED STORIES

  • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  • Japanese mayors challenge each other to nighttime ninja battle, now recruiting participants
  • New Gundam megastore announced for one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist neighborhoods
  • How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
  • Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan
  • New Shinkansen platform vending machine sells local-flavor treats from 127-year-old snack maker
  • Tokyo’s Shibuya puts up new posters asking visitors to use recycle boxes properly
  • Roaming rubbish bin robot at Shinjuku Station solves the problem of where to put your trash
  • Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki not impressed by generative AI images, Hayao Miyazaki thinks even less of them
  • Don Quijote ear cleaner sucks, and was criticised by customers, but is the new version any better?
  • Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
  • Japan’s middle-aged fairy man character stole our reporter’s heart in a hot spring town
  • New Transforming Business Card case brings anime mecha to Japanese work meetings
  • Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan

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