Canada is the second-most popular study abroad destination for Japanese exchange students, after the United States, for the fourth year running, Study International news reported on March 23.

According to a recent study by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), about 20 per cent of students and 37 per cent of parents had Canada as their second choice.

Government data shows a 24 per cent increase in the number of Japanese students heading to Canada — a promising figure for the Japanese government which, by 2020, plans to double the number of Japanese students studying abroad compared with the 2008 figure.