Japan's language-related business sales have been on the decline, falling for the fourth straight in year in fiscal 2008, according to a market research firm.
English-language schools, the largest segment of the language market, admit they are hurting from a decline in adult classes and blame the sluggish economy and the fallout from the Nova Corp. bankruptcy.
But they see some hope in the market segment for children, for whom English will become a mandatory subject in two years.