Homework/Kanji - Schools - Explore Japan - Kids Web Japan (2024)

FAQs

Do schools in Japan have homework? ›

Elementary school pupils get homework nearly every day.

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.

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. Ph. D.

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.

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.

It is required by law that Japanese students go to school for nine years covering elementary through junior high 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.

Schools in Japan are known for their strict teachers and rules about appearance, and many of them are seen as too rigid. Each person is different and has their own distinct physical characteristics. Japanese schools should not define “natural hair” as straight, black hair.

If you venture into nearly any corporate business in Japan during the 12 o'clock hour, it's likely that you will find the workspace areas quiet and empty, with nary a worker in sight. It's widely accepted that at 12 o'clock, all work stops for an hour to allow for a proper lunch break.

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.

What grade is a 14-year-old in Japan? ›

School lunch is not entirely free in Japan, but it is subsidized by the government to keep the cost low. The price of school lunch varies by municipality, but on average it is around 300-500 yen per meal, which is roughly 3-5 USD. Low-income families may be eligible for a reduction or exemption of the fee.

Is healthcare free in Japan? Healthcare isn't free but it's relatively inexpensive. In addition to having to pay monthly premiums into the public health insurance system, Japanese citizens pay 30% of their medical bills themselves - bills that are closely regulated by the state, so that they never become unaffordable.

The majority of Japan's junior high and high schools require students to wear uniforms. The Japanese school uniform is not only a symbol of youth but also plays an important role in the country's culture, as they are felt to help instill a sense of discipline and community among youth.

Japanese students devote approximately two hours per weekday to homework, and about three hours on Sunday.

Homework: Japanese high school students do not have as much homework as American students. However, a majority of Japanese students go to “cram schools” in the evenings and weekends to prepare for the college entrance exam. They often get home as late at 10 PM.

In the United States, about 6.1 hours of a 15-year old's week are sacrificed for the sake of homework. In Asia, children have very little to complain about. Japanese students have to deal with 3.8 hours of homework per week on average while in South Korea, it's just 2.9 hours.

Japanese secondary students have a shorter summer vacation but a longer winter one than their American counterparts. On an average day, Japanese high school students attend school from 8:30am to 4:00pm and have 2 to 6 hours of homework a night, depending on the school, individual and how immersed in exam hell they are.