Elementary School Tablet Learning: Only 0.6% Hope for 'Full Digitalization'; About 95% Desire 'Handwriting Maintenance' | Awareness Survey of 485 Men and Women

GRAS Group Co., Ltd. operates the media outlet 'Ouchibu,' which disseminates information related to child-rearing. We have published an article detailing the results of an awareness survey on 'handwriting' in elementary school education during the tablet era. Article: https://ouchibu-navi.com/giga-school-hand-writing/

Below is a summary of the article.

Background of the Survey

In recent years, tablet devices have become commonplace in elementary schools nationwide due to the GIGA School Program. As digital learning for research and homework progresses, the traditional methods of 'handwriting in notebooks' and 'repeated practice of kanji' have come into question. While convenience has improved, concerns such as 'children stop thinking for themselves' and 'they can't remember if they don't write it down' are also heard. This survey was conducted with the aim of clarifying the reality of how parents and other adults perceive the value and challenges of 'handwriting learning' in the current era of digitalization, and what kind of learning balance they consider ideal.

Survey Overview

Survey Organizer: Ouchibu

Survey Name: Awareness Survey on 'Elementary School Education and Handwriting in the Tablet Era'

Survey Method: Internet survey (anonymous)

Target Audience: Men and women aged 10s to 60s and over nationwide. Valid Responses: 485 (210 males / 266 females / 9 others/no response)

Survey Period: July 1-3, 2026

*When quoting or reprinting the results or graphs of this survey, please be sure to cite the source as follows:

Source: Ouchibu (Elementary School Tablet Learning: Only 0.6% Hope for 'Full Digitalization'; About 95% Desire 'Handwriting Maintenance')

Only 0.6% Desire 'Full Digitalization'; About 95% Support Continuation of Handwriting Learning

First, we asked respondents what the ideal balance between handwriting and tablets would be if they could freely decide elementary school learning policies. As a result, only 0.6% of respondents desired 'full tablet (digital)' learning.

Furthermore, when asked about the general ideal amount of 'handwriting and repeated kanji practice in elementary school,' 70.3% responded 'should be maintained to some extent,' and 24.3% responded 'should be maintained or increased,' resulting in approximately 95% of all respondents supporting the continuation of handwriting learning.

Even as digitalization progresses in education, it is evident that many people feel the necessity of analog handwriting learning.

Handwriting's Biggest Merit is 'Memory Retention'; Voices Also Emphasize Practicality for Entering the Workforce

When asked about the biggest merit of handwriting learning, the most common answer was 'stimulates the brain, leading to better memory retention and improved foundational academic skills,' with 63.5% selecting this option.

In free-response comments, we received feedback such as, 'Many people around me are always using computers as adults and can read kanji but cannot write them,' and 'It's embarrassing to have messy handwriting when it matters.' It appears that handwriting is considered important not only for its educational effects but also as a practical skill to avoid difficulties when entering the workforce.

On the Other Hand, Over 70% Oppose Mandatory Repetitive Kanji Writing Homework; Concerns About 'Taskification' of Learning

While the value of handwriting is recognized, concerns have been raised regarding traditional 'homework formats.' When asked about the biggest demerit of handwriting learning, the response that significantly surpassed 'takes too much time and is inefficient (poor time-to-task ratio) (12.0%)' was 'it becomes 'just a task of filling in squares,' robbing children of their motivation and enjoyment of learning' (38.8%).

Regarding opinions on 'homework that involves writing kanji repeatedly in a notebook to memorize them,' the majority (72.2%) stated, 'It is effective, but mandatory repetition is unnecessary.' While acknowledging the learning effect of 'handwriting' itself, many people hold a negative view of teaching methods where the objective becomes 'completing the specified number of repetitions (taskification).'

Ideal Learning Balance is 'Half Handwriting, Half Tablet'

Regarding tablet learning, free-response comments pointed out issues such as 'answers can be easily copied' and 'the system's character recognition is too strict, causing children to lose their motivation to learn.' In the initial question about the 'ideal learning balance,' the most supported option was 'half handwriting and half tablet (58.6%).'

This survey result reveals that a 'hybrid' learning balance, where tablets are utilized for efficiently researching information and deepening visual understanding, and handwriting is used for consolidating knowledge and organizing thoughts, is considered ideal by many adults, leveraging the strengths of each method appropriately.

*This press release is a summary.

In the following article, we provide a detailed look at the differences in awareness regarding 'repeated practice' based on the age of respondents' children, as well as real-life experiences and opinions on 'handwriting and tablet learning' submitted by survey respondents. Please be sure to check it out.

Ouchibu (Elementary School Tablet Learning: Only 0.6% Hope for 'Full Digitalization'; About 95% Desire 'Handwriting Maintenance')

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