* The system varies between different states. The Fundamental Law of Education in Japan was introduced in 1947, changing the educational system to the 6+3+3+4 structure. Compulsory education in Japan is known as 義務教育 (ぎむきょういく) and consists of the 6 years of elementary school plus the 3 years of junior high school – ages 6-15. […] A good read on the Japanese school system: http://gakuu.com/japanese-school-system/ […]. As before, a first year student would be 大学一年生 (だいがく いちねんせい) or just 大1 (だい いち). Although there are similarities with Japanese schools and western schools such as with uniforms, exams, and grades, there are also several aspects of Japanese schools that may be surprising to many visitors to the country. Ages 11 to 12. Have an adventure on Gakuran.com, Chapter 1 Postscript: The Boy Who Dived | de's journal. This is because it starts at the same time as "middle school," however, in the US "middle school" is sometimes called "junior high school" instead. The Japanese education system is a three-part system which begins at age six, and usually continues to age eighteen. As you can see from the above charts, most Japanese school children begin their primary education when they enter elementary school at age 6. © 2020 Gakuu - Learn Real Japanese. Here we have made an easy to understand comparison between the ages and grade structures in Japan and other countries. Enter your email to receive Gakuu updates. Various types of media also use the Japanese school year system to break children up into groups. Chuugakkou 中学校 The chuugakkou 中学校 in Japan has no real equivalent in the United States school system. In Japan, Elementary school starts at the age of 6, Junior High at the age of 12, and High School at the age of 15. One-day weekends were the norm for Japanese schools until 1992, when the government began phasing out Saturday lessons as part of a national push for a more relaxed educational system. Japan is also highly invested in early education, with young children often starting preschool around 2.5–3 years old. Almost all Japanese children attend some form of pre-school, either kindergarten (yochien) or education-based daycare centres (hoikuen). If your child has difficulty in accepting the Japanese grade which matches their age, you can also ask the school to change the grade to a lower grade. There are various classes from Ikebana and ceramics to piano and ballet, so why not partake in a new cultural and artistic experience and learn something new with your kids? Most students continue to get a high school … A first year university student would usually be 18 years old (providing they enter university immediately following high school). Students in the first year of elementary school are referred to as 小学一年生 (しょうがく いちねんせい) or usually just 小1 (しょう いち). Formal education in Japan began with the adoption of Chinese culture, in the 6th century AD. This could change your child's grade when you move to Japan from another country. Log in to see the rest of this lesson. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In 1886, the modern elementary school system started as compulsory education. Currently updates are on ... Kuro: So is this site dead then? Shōgakkō (小学, Elementary school) from 6 to 12. Learning Japanese online has never been easier. The Japanese educational system was reformed after World War II. I was considering signi... Black Clover Episode 34 Review: Light Magic vs. As you might guess, we label students in the same manner as before, so a first year student in high school would be 高校一年生 (こうこう いちねんせい) or just 高1 (こう いち). For more information, please read Japanese education system and which school is the best for your child. Scholar officials were chosen through an Imperial examination system. Secondary: Junior (Lower) Secondary School: 7–9 : 12–15: 3: Also known as chuzhong (初中)in China. Though preschools are not compulsory and not free, more than 90% of Japanese students attend them. Or ‘Pre-School’. All Rights Reserved. >> List of international schools in Tokyo, >> Enrolling in a Japanese public school and materials you need to prepare, The Comprehensive Guide for Living in Tokyo, Introduction to the Best Expat Areas in Tokyo to Live, A List of English-speaking Japanese Language Schools in Tokyo. Something I’ve always wondered about (and that this post reminded me of): is there a big difference in usage between 中学校 (ちゅうがっこう) 中学 (ちゅうがく) (as well as 小学校、小学, etc.)? Elementary school sixth year. There are a lot of great free online materials for learning Japanese online and they are perfect for self-study. Misc. A child born from 2nd April onwards would have to enrol in elementary school the following year when they are closer to 7 years old. The first one is created for children from two months of age. If you go to a theme park, rides often restrict children of certain school years from riding, whereas in Western countries usually the age is specified. The second one is aimed at those who reached three years. Compulsory education in Japan lasts from the 1st grade of Elementary School to the 3rd year of Junior High School (9 years in total). Many students also continue on to university. Finding a babysitter in Japan isn't as simple as it may have been in your home country. School is typically divided into five cycles: Yōchien (幼稚園, Nursery school) from 3 to 6 years old. You can also find a list of what the ages for compulsory education in each country is and how to use that information choose a grade in Japan. Following elementary education at kindergartens and day-care centers, children move on to primary schools, where they complete 6 grades in preparation for junior high. What sort of usage were you thinking of? The importance of education is established at an early age in Japan. The Japanese School System Society Culture Jan 11, 2016. In Japan, the school year starts in April and ends in March. The rise of the bushi, the military class, during the Kamakura periodended the influence of … In this article we cover some of the best learning websites, apps, and tools for studying Japanese. Foreign children/students can also have the option to enroll in a Japanese public school, however it's not mandatory that they participate in the Japanese compulsory education. Immediately before and during World War II, state education was used as a propaganda tool by the Japanese fascist government. There are 6 years of elementary school. In this lesson then, let’s take a look at the ages corresponding to different school years, as well as the different types of school. The Fundamental Law of Education in Japan was introduced in 1947, changing the educational system to the 6+3+3+4 structure. That's not all! There are many kinds of language support in Tokyo. Children who were born between April 2nd and April 1st of the following year are placed within the same grade. Buddhist and Confucian teachings as well as sciences, calligraphy, divination and literature were taught at the courts of Asuka, Nara and Heian. Primary Schools in Japan Overview Japanese primary school lasts for six years. Today virtually all elementary education takes place in public schools. It is exactly yochi-en where studying of hiragana, a Japanese syllabic script, starts. There are 3 years of junior high school. There are two main types of preschools in Japan: hoiku-en and yochi-en. Here is a list of English-speaking Babysitters in Tokyo along with a list of companies that specialize in housekeeping and babysitting services in Tokyo. In Japan, children go to school alone (or in a group), healthy lunches are prepared at school, children clean the school themselves, no accessories are allowed to be worn, and so on. In Japan, the school system is generally called the ―6-3-3-4 year system,‖ which expressly places primary school education as the foundational stage of the entire school system. In order then, here are the main types of school you’re likely to encounter. In contrast to 保育園 above, 幼稚園 are officially recognised as a type of school under the School Education Law, and mainly provide a more structured education for children aged 3-5 years of age. Classes in Tokyo for English speakers interested in Arts and Culture are available for any level and age. But contrary to China, the system never fully took hold and titles and posts at the court remained hereditary family possessions. Resources – How to Go About Learning Japanese: […] http://gakuu.com/resources/ […]... Michael: Thanks for the question. For more information please refer to Guidebook for Starting School published by Ministry of Education in Japan. Often used as day care centres by parents who cannot look after their infant children (0-5 years of age) full time due to work or other circumstances. There are certain things done in Japanese Public Schools which may be quite different from the school customs you are familiar with in your home country. The current system includes six years of elementary school, three years of Lower secondary school, three years of upper secondary school and, finally, four years of higher education.