Photo/Illutration Members of the #YourChoiceProject announce the survey results of female student occupancy of kenjinryo dormitories in Tokyo and surrounding areas on July 9 in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. (Yoshika Uematsu)

A University of Tokyo student organization is claiming a large gender gap among prefectural-run student dormitories, with more than 67 percent reserved for male students only.

The #YourChoiceProject on July 9 announced the results of a survey it took of kenjinryo dorms in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures that found a larger number of male students being accommodated. 

The #YourChoiceProject aims to expand educational opportunities for graduating high school girls who reside in rural areas. 

Prefectural scholarship associations called ikueikai operate the kenjinryo dormitories in the Tokyo area.

The dorms accept students who attend higher education institutions in Tokyo and surrounding areas from each prefecture, offering rooms with low rents.

The average rent of the kenjinryo dormitories that were covered in the survey was 32,250 yen ($200), about 50,000 yen lower than the average room rents of the same area.

The organization surveyed 52 kenjinryo dormitories operated by 35 prefectures, which were identified through local government websites or other means. 

The result was that 67.3 percent of the 52 dormitories were men’s dormitories, as opposed to 3.8 percent being women’s dormitories, and 28.8 percent were of a co-ed type.

By prefecture, 18 prefectures operate kenjinryo dormitories only for male students.

According to the survey, 2,627 male students are currently housed in kenjinryo dormitories while 689 female students are being accommodated.

Related News