Japan is facing a deepening crisis of the shortage of teachers, which has become more severe than four years ago. The issue primarily affects its public education system, making it harder to maintain the quality of education. Several policy-making bodies are evaluating the root causes, and possible long-term solutions are being explored, including initiatives to attract more graduates to the profession and improve working conditions for the existing workforce.

Education holds a significant place in Japanese society. The teacher shortage issue is causing great concern among parents, educators, and policymakers. Very high educational standards are highly valued in Japan, so any factors that could deteriorate the quality of education, such as teacher shortages, receive major attention from the public and government.

Unlike in Japan, the US and EU countries typically address teacher shortages with a variety of strategies including increasing teacher salaries, reducing class sizes, and offering incentives for teachers in high-demand fields like science and mathematics. However, they also face difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, similar to the problems seen in Japan.