What are Japanese schools like?

The Japanese school system primarily consists of six-year elementary schools, three-year junior high schools and three-year high schools, followed by a two-or-three-year junior colleges or a four-year colleges. Compulsory education lasts for 9 years through elementary and junior high school.

How long is a school day in Japan?

In general, kids have to be at school by 8:45 am. School finishes around 3:15 pm, so they have to be in school for about six and a half hours every day from Monday to Friday. However, most kids also attend after-school clubs, and many also go to juku (cram school) in the evening to do extra studying.

Are schools in Japan strict?

Schools in Japan are known for their strict teachers and rules about appearance, and many of them are seen as too rigid. Each person is different and has their own distinct physical characteristics. Japanese schools should not define “natural hair” as straight, black hair.

How is Japanese high school life?

Like their American counterparts, students in Japan typically arrive before 9 am and stay until sometime after 3 pm. However, most students are involved with extracurricular activities or studies that extend their academic day by several hours. Once students reach high school, their day can be somewhat modified.

What does a typical Japanese school year look like?

The academic year starts from April and ends in March, having summer vacation in August and winter vacation in the end of December to the beginning of January. Japanese students consistently rank highly among OECD students in terms of quality and performance in reading, mathematics, and sciences.

Top 5 Things You Should Know About Japanese Schools

How long is Japanese summer break?

Summer vacation at most Japanese public elementary and middle schools now starts around July 20 and usually lasts for around six weeks until the end of August. In some regions like Hokkaido, though, where winters are very cold, summer vacations are sometimes a little shorter and winter breaks longer.

How long is lunch break in Japan school?

Lunch time starts at twelve thirty and lasts for about 40 minutes. At public schools, where school meals are provided, the students are responsible for carrying the meals to their classroom - where they eat - and serving portions, and for cleaning up afterwards.

Is school in Japan free?

Public primary and lower secondary schools do not charge tuition, and government tuition support makes public upper secondary school essentially free for families making below an annual income threshold. Families earning above this threshold pay tuition at the upper secondary level.

Do Japanese schools have weekends?

Is Saturday a school day in Japan? Japanese schools officially operate Monday to Friday. However, most Japanese students also engage in extracurricular activities and “cram school”, which are effectively private schools for extra study time. These activities can extend to Saturdays.

Is high school in Japan stressful?

The pressure and the stakes are high. And more often than not, the last year of high school is one of the most stressful periods in a Japanese person's life.

Can girls wear pants to school in Japan?

There is no rule that specifically states that schoolgirls can only wear skirts. However, the vast majority of schools have a dress code that requires students to wear skirts or dresses. There are a few schools that allow students to wear pants, but this is usually only for special circumstances, such as cold weather.

Do kids in Japan clean their schools?

Many schools in Japan make students clean their own classrooms and communal spaces. Some schools make mixed-age groups to encourage younger students to learn cleaning skills from older ones, who in turn help their younger counterparts.

Do kids have a curfew in Japan?

There are curfews for children but it is the responsible adult(s), and not the child, who will be penalised if they are not respected. However, children going out late at night is likely to be subject to a “protective guidance” (ho-dou) by a police officer.

Is school 7 days a week in Japan?

Public schools in Japan have classes five days a week, from Monday to Friday. There are also schools that have classes on Saturday. In junior high and high schools, there are six class periods each day, typically lasting 50 minutes for each.

Do students wear uniforms in Japan?

The majority of Japan's junior high and high schools require students to wear uniforms. The Japanese school uniform is not only a symbol of youth but also plays an important role in the country's culture, as they are felt to help instill a sense of discipline and community among youth.

Do Japanese schools have summer break?

Japanese schools have three semesters, separated by vacations. At most schools, summer vacation covers the 40-odd days from July 20 to August 31; winter and spring vacation both last around 10 days, from December 26 to around January 6 and March 25 to around April 5, respectively.

How long is Christmas break in Japan?

The break in winter is shorter than that in the summer, usually lasting for about two weeks from around December 25 (though schools in cold, snowy northern regions get a longer break). It's not quite long enough to hold school-sponsored events, and so the school closes down completely.

When Japanese people wake up?

The survey revealed that the majority of respondents in Japan, over 35 percent, tend to wake up at around 6am on weekdays, while only 0.8 percent reported to get up at 11am.

Which country has the longest school day?

Taiwan leads with the longest school day globally, clocking in at 10 hours. This extensive timeframe is indicative of the country's rigorous academic culture. Following closely is China, with students dedicating about 9 hours and 30 minutes to school each day.

What is the age of consent in Japan?

As part of revamping its laws relating to sex crimes, Japan has raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 years. The limit had remained unchanged for over a century and faced flak for being one of the lowest in the world.

Does Japan give homework?

Elementary school pupils get homework nearly every day. Often they have to do math drills and learn kanji (Sino-Japanese characters), which are an important part of the Japanese language.

Is it illegal to not go to school in Japan?

Legal Status

The School Education Law obliges parents to send their children aged seven to fourteen to primary and lower secondary education schools. High school is not mandated. Parents who violate this provision can be punished with a fine (Article 16, 17, 144).

Which country has the shortest school day?

Finland has the shortest school days! In Finland, children get a 15-minute break every 45 minutes. This equates to an average of three hours and 45 minutes of educational instruction each day.

What time do Japanese start work?

Working hours in Japan aren't dissimilar to most other countries – the day usually starts at around 9am and ends at 6pm-ish.

What age do Japanese start school?

In Japan, children typically undergo 12 years of formal education consisting of elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary education. Before beginning their elementary education at the age of 6, children have the option to attend kindergarten between the ages of 3 and 5.