An explanation of the Japanese education system, including a number of links to further information, is available at http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/educ/01.html.

Chiba International Center publishes a school guide and a compilation of translations of typical letters from schools in multiple languages:

• English: school guide, compilation of letters
• Chinese: school guide, compilation of letters
• Portuguese: school guide, compilation of letters
• Spanish: school guide, compilation of letters
• Korean: school guide, compilation of letters
• Thai: school guide, compilation of letters

Types of schools

• Nursery: Not compulsory. Any child from age zero up who meets certain conditions (mostly about the parents) can enroll.
• Kindergarten: Not compulsory. Any child who is at least three years old on April 2 can enroll.
• Elementary school (age 6–12): Compulsory for all children who are 6 years old or above on April 2.
• Junior high school (age 12–15): Compulsory.
• Senior high school (age 15–18): Not compulsory. Enrollment follows competitive entrance examinations.
• Junior college (2 years): Admission by entrance examination.
• University (4 years): Admission by entrance examination. Medical, dental, and veterinary courses take longer.
• Graduate school: It normally takes 2 years for a master’s degree, and 3 or more years after that for a doctorate.

The school year

The school year begins in April and ends in March. There are vacations in the summer, winter, and spring. Educational institutions at all levels are administered by national, prefectural, and municipal governments, as well as by private organizations.

Enrolling in a Japanese school

1. If you want your child to go to a public school, kindergarten, or nursery, apply at the Board of Education office in your city hall. If you want your child to go to a private school, for example an international school, contact the school directly. The city hall needs to be told about this too, because education for children aged 6–15 is compulsory.
2. When your child is accepted at the school, set up automatic payment of school lunch fees from your bank account. (In Japan, school lunch fees are compulsory up to junior high school.) If it is a private school, set up automatic payment of school fees. These payments can usually be made from the same bank account as your salary is paid into, but some schools require you to have an account at a bank that they specify.
3. Buy school uniform, school bag, indoor shoes, sportswear, and other necessary items, at the shops specified by the school. Textbooks are free for the years of compulsory education.