Education in Japan

 Education Overview

 The education system in Japan has some similarities to what we are familiar with in the United States, but also a lot of differences. Japanese school systems primarily consist of 6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high and another 3 years of high school. This is then followed by 2-3 years of junior college or a 4 year college. Public elementary, junior high and high school is free and mandatory.  Even some private schools in Japan are free. Similarly to the United States, a school week goes from Monday to Friday, but in Japan schools follow a 3 semester system that goes from April to March of the following year. 

Japanese Students 

In Japan classes run five days a week starting around 8:30am everyday and ending around 3pm. For Junior high and high school there are 6 class periods each day that last around 50 minutes each. Students typically eat lunch together in a cafeteria. Japanese schools do not have janitors so this means students and staff must take 15-30 minutes after each school day to clean up. Students divide into groups to clean the classrooms, hallways, yards and other common spaces.  Around  80% of high school graduates in Japan continue on to college. more than 50% of people that attend college in Japan graduate. 

In elementary school students study the subjects of Japanese, math, science, social studies, music, art, physical education and home economics. In home economics they learn sewing and cooking skills starting from a young age. Many elementary schools in Japan have started teaching English too. In Japanese schools students also learn traditional calligraphy. Exams are a very important part of the Japanese education system. Exams start in elementary school and measure how students are learning and determine what schools they will attend. Many of these subjects are similar to what is taught in the United States such as math science, social studies, PE, music and art. Home economics courses are typically offered in middle school and high school in the United States but they are usually not required. They also start teaching home economics at a much younger age in Japan. It is very interesting and unique that in Japan they teach traditional calligraphy, this is very different from what is taught in the United States. I also think it is very interesting that Japanese schools do not have janitors and instead students and staff clean! Japan's education system greatly reflects characteristics and values of people from this culture. From a young age they are taught to be self sufficient. They learn how to look after themselves and others through home economics and cleaning up the schools after each school day. Through teachings they learn to value respect and work as a collectivist culture.