Overview

• A Central Council for Education working group broadly approved a summary that would introduce officially recognized digital textbooks in line with the 2030 Course of Study.
• Content reachable via textbook QR codes would come under the national textbook examination for the first time.
• Digital materials would become eligible for government-funded free distribution, with local boards selecting paper, fully digital, or hybrid formats.
• MEXT plans to submit legal amendments to the 2026 ordinary Diet and to issue guidance on use by subject and developmental stage.
• To manage administrative burden, MEXT is considering limits in examination standards, as current surveys show uneven use and teachers report both benefits and concerns.