Q. At what times does school begin and end?
Children from the same neighborhood often head to school in a group.
A.
Japanese elementary and middle schools begin around eight thirty.
On Monday, at the beginning of each week, a morning assembly is held before classes begin. Everyone attends the fifteen-minute assembly, and the principal addresses the student body. On other days of the week this time is spent in making announcements and taking attendance in each classroom. After this, classes begin.
Each class lasts between 40 and 45 minutes in elementary school and 50 minutes in middle school. Students are given a 5- to 10-minute break between consecutive classes. During the morning hours there are four classes, and many elementary schools also include a 20-minute recess.
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.
After lunch it's time for recess, which is about 20 minutes long. Some schools use this time for cleaning the classrooms: The students move the desks and chairs to one side of the room, then broom and wipe the floor, clean the blackboard, and throw away the trash. Afternoon classes begin after the cleaning.
In lower elementary school classes are only in the mornings, and the children go home after lunch. But in upper elementary school and higher there are five classes each day; middle school students even attend six classes on some days of the week.
Elementary school students can choose from a wide variety of after-school clubs, which usually meet once a week. Through club activities the students have the opportunity to receive training in sports, or to deepen their understanding of subjects that interest them. Elementary school students in Japan usually leave school at around three o'clock.
Once the students enter middle school, though, extracurricular activities take on a bigger role: Some clubs meet several times a week, or even everyday, and on some days the students won't leave school until around five o'clock.
FAQs
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.
What is a typical school day in Japan? ›
All levels of schools have six periods per day, with the first period usually starting after 8:30am. In Japanese elementary school, each period is 45 minutes, while in junior high and high school, each period is 50 minutes, with a small break between periods.
Do kids in Japan get 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.
What do kids in Japan learn in school? ›
The subjects they study include Japanese, mathematics, science, social studies, music, crafts, physical education, and home economics (to learn simple cooking and sewing skills). More and more elementary schools have started teaching English, too.
Is school in Japan hard? ›
The amount of studying required in Japan is astronomically higher than what is needed in America. However, once students are in school, many find the actual classes to be far easier than the admission exams. Many high schools in Japan provide a focused education and training, whether academic or vocational.
Is Japan school 6 days? ›
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.
Can you skip grades in Japan? ›
Under the current system in Japan, students can skip grades only after completing two years of high school. The only available accelerations are to skip the last year of high school to enter a university early or skip the last year of university to enter a graduate school.
Is school in Japan free? ›
Tuition for public primary and secondary schools is free, even for foreign students. However, you will be required to cover some costs for lunches, school materials, uniforms, and contributions to the PTA. Your school should provide a detailed list of everything that your student needs.
Is school 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.
Do Japanese kids skip school? ›
It is required by law that Japanese students go to school for nine years covering elementary through junior high school. However, this requirement does not exist for children with foreign citizenship living in Japan. For this reason it is not uncommon for these children to not go to school.
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.
Do kids in Japan clean their schools? ›
In Japan, there is a tradition that the students themselves clean their schools. For just 15 minutes at the end of the day, students use brooms, vaccuums, and cloths to clean the classrooms, bathrooms, and other school spaces.
What grade is a 15 year old in Japan? ›
School levels
| Age | Grade | Educational establishments |
|---|
| 13+ | 2 (8th) | Special school (特別支援学校 Tokubetsu-shien gakkō) |
| 14+ | 3 (9th) |
| 15+ | 1 (10th) |
| 16+ | 2 (11th) |
17 more rowsPrimary general education comprises grades 1-4, from the age of 7 to 10 years. Lower secondary education takes 5 years and comprises grades 5–9, from the age of 11 to 15 years.
What is the age cut off for school in Japan? ›
In Japan, education is compulsory roughly from the age of 6 to the age of 15. The school year begins in April, so almost all children who have turned 6 by April 1 each year enter elementary school.
Does Japan go to school 7 days a week? ›
The school year in Japan begins in April and classes are held from Monday to either Friday or Saturday, depending on the school. The school year consists of two or three terms, which are separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a six-week-long summer break.
Do Japanese children go to school 7 days a week? ›
In principle, schools are operated on five-days-a-week system. In public elementary schools the time frame per class is 45 minutes. Generally, 4 classes are taken in the morning and 1 or 2 classes are taken in the afternoon. The number of classes varies by academic year.
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.
