Have you ever wondered how schools work in Japan? What is the Japanese educational system like? In this guide, we will see facts, curiosities, and rules about schools in Japan. Get ready to dive into Japanese culture!
The Japanese are famous for their culture, education, honesty, safety, technology, and intelligence. A large part of this is the result of a good education in Japanese schools. The Japanese educational system is quite differentiated and unique.
Like any country, the Japanese educational system has its flaws. Even so, Japan always competes for the top positions in the education ranking against Finland, Sweden, and South Korea.
All schools are paid, even public ones; those who have difficulty paying are helped by the government, and the tuition fees are based on the family’s condition. The Japanese education system highly values hygiene, punctuality, cooperation, and teamwork.
Table of Contents
The school year in Japan
Let’s start by talking about the school year in Japan. When does it start? When are the vacations in Japan? What events and school festivals happen during the school year? Do the Japanese go on field trips? Let’s find out now!
Everyone is required to study for 9 years, 6 years in “Shougaku” (primary) and 3 years in “Chuugaku” (secondary). Classes in Japan last approximately 6 hours, depending on the schools; there are also extra activities such as clubs or sports. There are no classes on Saturdays and Sundays.
Although higher education is not mandatory in Japan, approximately 94% of middle school students go on to higher education. Higher education institutions are paid and more expensive, including public ones, which represent approximately 76% of students.
The school year starts on April 1st
On April Fool’s Day, the Japanese start studying, where they are usually welcomed with an entrance ceremony called nyuugakushiki. This is the most beautiful time to study because the cherry blossoms are blooming. There is also a closing ceremony.
Around April and May, teachers visit the students’ parents. The goal is to meet the parents, understand the family environment, and check for possible problems that students face outside of school. Parents also tend to visit their children at school a few times a year.
Read also: Hanami Guide – Enjoying the Flowers in Japan
The academic year in Japan has 3 trimesters and vacations
From late December to January, the Japanese have two weeks of vacation. From the end of March to April, there are two more weeks of vacation, and during July and August, they have summer vacations that can last up to 40 days. This does not include holidays and Golden Week.
The school year is divided into three periods:
- Ichigakki – April to July – with summer vacation in July lasting from 30 to 40 days;
- Nigakki – September to December – with winter vacation in December lasting only two weeks;
- Sangakki – January to March – with spring vacation in March, and then the new school year starts again in April;
School events, festivals, and field trips
Japanese schools have their festival where the school is open to everyone, and students prepare a kind of fair and performances for visitors. There are also events called Undokai where students compete against each other, in addition to other sports championships and theaters.
It is common for schools to organize field trips, picnics, camping, and even international trips with students. Some field trips can be simple, like to a castle or park, while others can be in the mountains with several days of accommodation.
Read also: Undokai – School Sports Day in Japanese Schools
Curiosities about Japanese classes
Among the Japanese subjects are Japanese language, social studies, science, mathematics, music, arts, health, and physical education, as well as different classes like home economics and industrial studies, moral education, and citizenship.
Exams are not a priority, no grades and no failure
During primary school, students do not receive a report card with grades; they receive a notice table called tsuuchihyou. In this table, you find various information about the student’s performance.
Throughout the year, they are taught to have manners and good behavior. There is no failure; if a student performs poorly, they go to recovery. Only in high school is there an exam that is very important in the lives of the Japanese.
Upon entering high school, students need to take tests to determine which school they will attend, and when going to college, they need to do the same. Some even spend the entire third year preparing for this entrance exam.
There are clubs and extracurricular activities
Students are required to choose an extracurricular subject in some clubs managed by the students themselves at school.
These clubs include activities such as sports, music, art, culture, cooking, computer science, and any creative idea with the school’s permission.
Duration of classes and breaks
Each class lasts on average 45 to 50 minutes, with a short break in between. There are individual study classes where students have the freedom to study alone. Students usually study in the same classroom.
Curiosities about students in Japanese schools
Students in Japanese schools need to be well-mannered. At the beginning and end of classes, a responsible student says Kiritsu and makes the other students stand up and bow to the teacher as a sign of respect.
They also bring and serve their own food. It is common to have cafeterias in high school, but in other years, students snack in their own classroom. Parents usually prepare Obento (lunch boxes) with an artistic touch for their children.
In Japanese schools, especially in high school, some students are ridiculed and suffer from Ijime (bullying), causing depression and sometimes even suicide; this is one of the major problems that occur in Japanese schools.
Read also: Ijime – Bullying in Schools in Japan
Children go to school alone at the age of 6
Besides the safety that the country offers, this is a way for children to gain responsibility and become independent. They usually go in groups, wearing a yellow helmet to identify themselves, and some streets are often closed to cars during these times.
In elementary school, they use a standard backpack called Randoseru
Children use this beautiful and sturdy backpack during their first years of school. They are expensive and are often passed down from generation to generation. They are very durable, practical, and stylish.
It was designed not to stress the spine, as elementary school students walk in groups to school. Despite the high cost, these backpacks have become fashionable and are mandatory in some traditional schools.
Students are responsible for cleaning the school
Cleaning is usually divided into groups, and each group is responsible for a specific area. Some may clean the classroom, bathroom, pool, gym, and other school facilities, in addition to serving their own meals.
Sometimes students even clean outside the school or in the neighborhood. From elementary school, they are trained to take care of their own cleanliness. In some schools, students need to take care of plants or animals.
Uniforms are mandatory in most schools
In most Japanese schools, uniforms are mandatory. Instead of a simple shirt with a logo, each school has its own uniform that differs and has its own style. Schools that do not require uniforms are rare.
These Japanese uniforms are usually in a sailor style. Boys wear suits, and girls wear skirts. There are winter, summer, gym, and swimming uniforms. In elementary school, not everyone wears uniforms, but they wear helmets on their heads.
Rules of Japanese Schools
Now let’s see some rules and things that are prohibited in schools in Japan. It is worth remembering that things change over time and that each school differs from one another. Therefore, everything is quite relative; some schools are more liberal, and others are stricter.
Most of the rules we will see are for students in Chugakko and Kokou (12-18), but we will not specify which ones belong to each year or which schools have such rules. Do not think that all schools have such rules.
Appearance rules
In addition to the uniform already mentioned, here are some rules regarding appearance:
You cannot change your natural appearance. For example, dyeing your hair, wearing makeup, using colored contact lenses, plucking eyebrows, painting nails, and others.
You cannot wear any jewelry or accessories of any kind. For example, necklaces, rings, watches, earrings, etc. Of course, there are exceptions and some permissions within this area.
You cannot wear a bright colored sweater or coat over your uniform during winter. Only colors like gray, navy, black, and neutral. All of this will depend on your school.
Boys cannot have long hair or a very large beard. Wearing socks is mandatory. A girl’s bangs cannot extend beyond her eyebrows. Certain alterations to the uniform, such as shortening, painting, or changing the color, are not allowed.
And remember that these rules do not apply to all schools, and there are many more rules aimed at maintaining a good appearance for students and the school.
It is worth noting that these rules apply outside of school when wearing the uniform. However, not everyone follows the rules; most girls tend to shorten their skirts when they are outside of school.
School rules
At the beginning and end of class, students stand up, bow, and greet. Students must bring their own meals; the sale and consumption of certain foods and processed products are not allowed.
Students cannot bring manga to school. Cell phones should not be used at school. If a student is absent, parents must call to inform the reason. Participation in a club (sports, literature, music, etc.) is mandatory.
The school does not allow students to do certain types of work or have jobs. Sometimes it is common for a student close to graduating to participate in part-time jobs or gigs called baito.
Some schools even prohibit students from going to an arcade or karaoke without their parents’ presence. Sometimes it is even forbidden to sleep at friends’ houses. Students must be home before curfew (10:00 PM). Students cannot take extra classes or cram school without informing their teacher.
It is not allowed to do anything that would embarrass the name of the school or the student, including having intimate relationships with someone. It is worth remembering that many students do not adhere to these rules.
There are many other rules that do not exist in schools in other countries like ours. Do not think that due to so many rules, the Japanese educational system is perfect; many things go unnoticed by teachers or are ignored, there are many cases of bullying, and the Japanese are not as obedient and perfect as some think.
Other curiosities about Japanese education
- Education in secondary schools and universities is always paid, even public ones have some fees;
- All Japanese schools have lockers for shoes and require appropriate footwear inside the premises;
- The main subjects in Japanese schools are: Mathematics, Language Studies, Social Sciences, Crafts, Music, and Physical Education;
- Mandatory education in Japan is 9 years; although high school is not mandatory, over 70% of students graduate from college;
- The Japanese education system highly values hygiene, punctuality, cooperation, and teamwork;
- Students receive homework during vacations;
- Some students go to school even on weekends to participate in club activities;
- In all schools, there is a nutrition specialist responsible for the students’ food and diet;
- In university, students are free to choose any subject they like. College is considered the best time of life for some;
- In addition to traditional subjects, Japanese students need to learn something traditional like Japanese calligraphy and poetry;
School system in Japan
The Japanese educational system is similar to the American system, but it has its significant differences. The educational system is divided into 5 parts as shown in the table below:
| Age | Grade | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | Kindergarten (幼稚園 Yōchien) | |
| 4-5 | ||
| 5-6 | ||
| 6-7 | 1 | Elementary School (小学校 Shōgakkō) Compulsory Education |
| 7-8 | 2 | |
| 8-9 | 3 | |
| 9-10 | 4 | |
| 10-11 | 5 | |
| 11-12 | 6 | |
| 12-13 | 1 | Middle School (中学校 chūgakkō) Compulsory Education |
| 13-14 | 2 | |
| 14-15 | 3 | |
| 15-16 | 1 | High School (高等学校 kōtōgakkō, abbr. 高校 kōkō) |
| 16-17 | 2 | |
| 17-18 | 3 | |
| 19… | — | University – College Daigaku (大学寮): Average duration of four years. |
Just like in Brazil, in elementary school, one teacher teaches all subjects for each class, which has an average of 30 to 40 students. In addition to classroom lessons, students have extracurricular activities and practical classes in laboratories. In high school, students have several teachers, and some even have classes in different rooms.
VIDEOS ABOUT SCHOOLS IN JAPAN
Watch some videos below that show a little about what Japanese schools are like:
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