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Japan follows the “6-3-3-4” system, which consists of six years of elementary school (小学校, shougakkou), three years of junior high school (中学校, chuugakkou), three years of senior high school (高校, koukou), and four years of university (大学, daigaku). Before elementary school, children typically attend preschool (幼稚園, youchien) for three years.

All children in Japan are required to have 9 years of schooling—six years of elementary school and three years of junior high school. This is called “compulsory education” (義務教育, gimukyouiku). After completing gimukyouiku, students have the option of attending senior high school, although it is not mandatory. Despite this, over 97% of students enroll in senior high school. However, approximately only 40-60% of students with foreign roots continue their education after junior high school. And, I know from experience that not everyone stays in school.

Children who are, or will be, 6 years old by April 1st of the current year (before the new school year starts) are eligible to start elementary school. For example, if I were born in March 2019, I could start elementary school in April 2025. However, if I were born in April 2019, I would have to start the following year. The ages for each grade are as follows :

• Preschool (幼稚園, youchien) : 3-6 years old

• Elementary school (小学校, shougakkou) : 6-12 years old

• Junior high school (中学校, chuugakkou) : 12-15 years old

• Senior high school (高校, koukou) : 15-18 years old

For children who have just moved to Japan and have not completed their compulsory education, some schools ask parents whether they want their children to have a "foundation year" to give them more time to learn the language. However, if the parents wish for their children not to be “held back” and stay in their current grade, the children must pass a test to do so.

The school year starts in April and ends in March. It is usually divided into three terms (学期, gakki) with long breaks between each semester. As a kid, I remember having mixed feelings about the breaks… While it was great not having to go to school, they often assigned a lot of homework.

• Summer break (夏休み, natsuyasumi) :

1. After the first semester

2. Lasts about one month; the longest break

3. From the end of July to the end of August

• Winter break (冬休み, fuyuyasumi) :

1. After the second semester

2. About two weeks long

3. From the end of December to the start of January

• Spring break (春休み, haruyasumi) :

1. The last break of the school year

2. About 10 days; the shortest break

3. From the end of March to the start of April

For public schools, classes are held five days a week, from Monday to Friday. Students are usually required to be seated by 8:30 am for attendance and leave school around 3 pm. Classes are 40-45 minutes long in elementary school and 50 minutes in junior and senior high schools, with 10-15 minute breaks in between. After four periods, there is a one-hour break, followed by two more classes after lunch. Some students have extracurricular activities after school, such as clubs (部活動, bukatsudou) or cram school (塾, juku).

Navigating a new educational system can be intimidating, but understanding the structure and routines in Japan can make the transition a little easier. Whether you’re moving for school or planning to study abroad, knowing what to expect can help you feel more at home in this new environment. Stay tuned for more insights into student life in Japan as I share further tips and personal experiences in the upcoming parts of this series!