• Japan's government urges universities to support students impacted by Harvard's enrollment restrictions.
• The University of Tokyo plans to accept affected foreign students temporarily.
• A US judge has halted the enforcement of the ban while its legality is evaluated.
• Education Minister Toshiko Abe calls for measures to prevent disadvantaging international students.
• The situation has sparked concerns among students regarding their study statuses in the US.

Japan's government has officially called on its universities to assist international students affected by a recent US policy barring Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. Education Minister Toshiko Abe stated that universities are requested to explore opportunities to accept students who may lose their positions at Harvard due to the Trump administration's move, which also revokes the school's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, threatening international students' legal status in the US, according to aa and scmp.

The University of Tokyo has indicated its intent to accept international students affected by the ban, drawing on its experiences from a prior initiative aimed at supporting students displaced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This plan includes access to housing, financial assistance, and language tutoring, according to trtglobal and indiatimes.

Concerns among students regarding their educational status in the US have heightened since the US government's announcement. Many are uncertain whether they will be able to complete their degrees at Harvard, further complicating the situation for thousands of international students. A US judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of the ban while its legal status is being reviewed, providing some relief amid the turmoil, as noted by trtglobal and aa.

In a broader context, Japan’s initiative reflects both a diplomatic effort and an opportunity to enhance its academic profile. Scholars posit that accepting students from elite universities like Harvard could raise educational standards in Japan while showcasing the nation's willingness to provide a robust academic environment for talented individuals globally, as commented by experts in scmp and indiatimes.