Malaysia Migration's New Trend: A Choice the Child Made Themselves

A New Direction Highlighted by a High-Profile Move

Recently, news that celebrity Ami Kikuchi had decided to relocate to Malaysia made headlines. Apparently, her humorous remark about "the condo I bought isn't even built yet" left the studio audience in surprise.

As I followed this story with interest, it brought back memories of my own family's move to Malaysia. It's been three and a half years since we settled in Penang. Our eldest daughter Hikari is now 8, and our son Zen is 6, both spending their days at a local international school.

Lately, I've noticed a shift in how people think about education migration. An Asahi Shimbun article highlighted that "the most important thing in overseas education migration is that the child themselves is on board."

Putting the Child at the Center of the Decision

In the past, education migration was often driven by parental logic. Concerns about structural risks in Japan, worries about English education, and the desire to expand future opportunities—all valid perspectives, but the child at the heart of it all was often left out of the conversation.

Now, however, the focus is shifting to whether the child themselves truly agrees with the move. This is something we've experienced firsthand in our own family.

When we decided to move to Penang, we had multiple conversations with Hikari. When we asked her—then just 5 years old—"Do you want to go to Malaysia?" her first answer was "I want to stay in Japan." But when we actually visited Penang and she saw the ocean, her face lit up instantly.

What matters after the move is whether the child feels they are there by their own choice. Whether school is fun, whether they've made friends, what they do on weekends—these everyday moments build up to create a child's sense of buy-in.

The Marshmallow Challenge: Building Thinking Skills

Recently, there was news about the IB Academy hosting a "Marshmallow Challenge" workshop for elementary school students and their parents. The activity involves building the tallest possible tower using marshmallows and spaghetti.

At first glance, it might seem like a simple craft activity, but it's actually a globally recognized program for developing thinking skills. Within a time limit, participants experiment, make mistakes, and work as a team to achieve a goal. This experience speaks to the very essence of IB learning.

At Hikari's school, similar group activities happen frequently. The other day, Hikari excitedly told me, "Today we built a bridge as a team!" Learning where failure is okay, where there's no single right answer—this is something that's hard to experience in Japan's uniform education system.

Criteria for Migration Decisions: A Family Conversation

When considering education migration, parents have plenty to think about: tuition, living costs, visas, work environment. Exchange rates are also a key factor. For instance, at 1 MYR = 38.92 JPY (as of August 13, 2026), the exchange rate shapes how Malaysian prices feel from a yen perspective.

But more important than all of that is what kind of environment the child wants to grow up in. I truly believe that choosing an educational setting that fits a child's personality and values leads to long-term success.

In our family, Hikari is energetic and outgoing, while Zen is cautious and observant. Even at the same international school, the way they've adapted has been completely different. That's exactly why listening to each child's voice is essential.

Sharing an Exit Strategy as a Family

When thinking about education migration, it's easy to focus only on success stories, but an exit strategy is just as important. If a child simply cannot adapt, when and under what conditions would the family return to Japan? Having that conversation upfront makes difficult decisions much smoother down the road.

Our family moved with the agreement that "we'll try it for one year." That year flew by, and now Penang has become our second home. But knowing we had the option to return to Japan if it didn't work out gave us the peace of mind to fully commit to the challenge.

Migration Is a Family Story

We live in an era where celebrity moves like Ami Kikuchi's make the news—proof that education migration has become far more accessible. But at the end of the day, migration is about the family. Not the glamorous relocation of a celebrity, but the daily school runs, homework help, and supporting a child through language barriers. It's these everyday moments that nurture a child's sense of conviction.

Education migration is neither parental ego nor child sacrifice. It's about a family weaving a new story together—and the protagonist of that story is, always, the child themselves.