EDUCATION IN JAPAN

Japanese Kindergarten (Yochien) begins in a few weeks. Are you prepared? Your yochien will have provided you with a list of items to hand-make, purchase and label. However, there are a number of items not highlighted that your kids will need daily throughout their years in yochien. Here are necessary items to purchase …

The Tsuchiya Randoseru (ランドセル) is one of Japan’s most respected names in leather goods. For more than 50 years, the Tsuchiya Bag Co., Ltd has meticulously handcrafted high quality, original randoseru. In 2015, to mark its fiftieth anniversary, the company launched a collection of randoseru for working adults – the Otona Randsel Randoseru, which …

Thinking about applying for Japanese Kindergarten? If so, now is the time to attend kindergarten open schools and apply! It is now application and interview season for private yochien (Japanese Kindergarten) for April 2021 entry.  Please note that most kindergartens release their application forms and relevant school information the first …

Japanese Elementary School begins in April. Are you prepared? Or will your child attend in the coming years? We`ve listed what you need to know, information schedules and a general school supplies list to help you prepare. What you need to know: *Elementary School Selection Procedure for Meguro Ward. Please …

Japanese Elementary School (shogakko) begins in a few weeks. Are you prepared? Your elementary will have provided you with a list of items to purchase and label. However, there are a number of items not highlighted that your kids will need daily throughout their years in elementary. Here are necessary items to purchase …

Here are some helpful apps, podcasts, and ideas to help parents survive as schools are closed for many globally in March, this month! If you have additional ideas, please add below. Click here for Tokyo & Yokohama OPEN & CLOSED Attractions due to Coronavirus (COVID-19),    OR   here for KYOTO …

Prime Minister Abe announced that all schools in Japan should close effective Monday, March 2nd, 2020, until April 2020. Here is a list of International School’s decisions. We will update as details are announced. If you have information on your international school please leave a comment below. If you are …

If you are a mom or dad to Japan, here are some great Japan Parenting Groups and Resources you should know. Some of the groups are purely online support groups; other have offline events and meet-ups. There are over 30 parenting groups on this list which includes special interest groups …

We have gathered some of the top Tokyo International Schools’ Calendars for Winter 2020 (January to July 2020) in an attempt to help simplify planning. We often hear from other parents and organizers of community events that all the international schools’ schedules being different causes may headaches. Hoping readers find …

October marks the beginning of Japanese Elementary School application distribution, setsumeikais (briefing sessions) and open school. If your child is 6 years old now is the time to start applying for Japanese Elementary School for the April 2020 start. Note Japanese public schools are broken out by zones and availability. …

As a parent educating my children in the Japanese school system I was thrilled to attend the `Educating Your Child in a Non-Native Language` seminar at the Tokyo American Club. This seminar organized by Betsy Rogers, an American longtime Japan resident with experience of school systems in the US and Japan and …

If you have a child entering kindergarten to early elementary and are considering applying to an international school, you should check our Tokyo Internationals Schools Open Houses and Tours overview. If you are applying for the Fall of 2020 you need to visit schools in September and October, apply by …

Looking for Tokyo English Classes for Multi Cultural Kids? If you are a parent educating your child in the Japanese School system supplementing English reading and writing at home can be a challenge. There are numerous English language schools in Japan so it`s not difficult to find the best English …

Guide to Navigating the Japanese Hoikuen System If you are planning to return to work after taking some time off to bond with your little one, you are more than likely weighting the daycare (保育/ほいく/hoiku) options available in Japan. You’re perhaps also well aware of the daycare shortage the nation …

Here is a comprehensive and updated (August 2016) list of Tokyo International Pre-schools by area.  There are over 40+ schools on this list so the best way to start your research is by neighbourhood and then review each schools website and social media links to learn a bit about the …

I thought preparing for Japanese kindergarten (yochien) was overwhelming. In hindsight, it`s a breeze compared to the responsibilities given to Yochien mothers once school begins – especially as a foreigner. This is my experience, as well as some tips, for surviving the first two months as a yochien mom. If …

Are you ready for Japanese kindergarten? Sharing our experience and tips for preparing for Japanese school. Every kindergarten requires parents to make a number of handmade bags. You can make them yourself, purchase some on Amazon Japan or find some talented moms to make them with the exact dimensions for …