The effect of remote learning on the mental health of first year university students in Japan.

We examined the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on first-year Japanese university students' mental health by comparing current year's survey results with previous year's results. Accordingly, an online survey was conducted on first-year Gifu University students from April 20 to May 31, 2020. Study results revealed that, despite the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of "high-risk" students and the depression level were lower among the 2020 first-year students compared to previous year's students. However, the 2020 first-year students experienced high academic distress since they had to adapt to an unfamiliar e-learning environment.