While the school year begins in September throughout most of the United States, the Japanese school year begins in April. Students enter elementary school the first April after their 6th birthday. A typical classroom has about 30 students and they study Japanese which includes shodo (Japanese calligraphy), math, science, social studies, physical education and the arts. After 6 years they go onto Middle School which lasts for 3 years and then to High School which is another 3 years. Because getting into a good Middle School and High School is very competitive, most Japanese get after-school tutoring (juku) in a variety of subjects. Students begin taking English classes in Middle School since it is a required subject.

Uniforms are very popular - navy blue jumpers and white blouses for the girls and button-up jackets and slacks for the boys. Most students walk to school which are usually located right within their own neighborhoods.

The school day begins with an assembly and classes throughout the day last for about 50 minutes. Lunch is usually brought from home and eaten in the classroom. A Japanese boxed lunch (obento) is the most popular and it contains rice and a combination of side dishes including fish, pickles, vegetables and condiments. After lunch, there is a brief recess, then students return to class. Although school is over at about 3 PM, many join after-school clubs which meet until about 5 PM.

Japanese students usually have a lot of homework and are given assignments to do over vacations, as well. Summer vacation begins in July and lasts about 6 weeks, Winter vacation takes place the last week of December and the first week of January and Spring break takes place over “Golden Week” from April 29th through May 5th.


Abacus / soroban

Soroban (abacus) is Japan’s first computer. It was developed in China more than 1000 years ago and introduced in Japan in the middle of the 16th century. The soroban is still popular even in the computer age. It is still part of the regular primary school curriculum and it is estimated that each year, over 3 million Japanese take the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual soroban proficiency test.