[Niyusu]

From the Japan Times:

After peaking at 47,000 in 1997, the number of Japanese studying in the U.S. has dropped nearly 30 percent to 34,000 as of 2007...

The president of the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad said the drop in Japanese stems from the growing introspectiveness among young people, who are becoming more content with staying in Japan and losing interest in the U.S.

"Young people returning from school trips abroad talk about how much cleaner and safer Japan is compared to other countries, and how much better its cuisine is," she said before the meeting.

Full article: Fall in U.S. Japanese students worrisome | Japan Times