International Schools in Japan - Their Major Advantages

International schools range from preschools for infants to elementary, junior high, and high schools, and these days, even people who thought international schools were irrelevant are starting to take notice of them.

In Japan, awareness of globalization is gradually increasing. As if in inverse proportion to the decline in the number of children, the cost of education per child has increased significantly, and the number of students attending international preschools (daycares, nursery schools, and kindergartens that provide care in English) with high childcare / tuition fees is increasing every year.

There are probably about 800 international preschools in Japan, but the number of international schools drops drastically from elementary school onward.

In the first part of this article, I will touch on the negative impressions and concerns that parents may have about their children attending international schools, and in the second part, I will explain the various systems, structures, and realities that will help parents to resolve these concerns one by one.

Rapidly Growing International School Industry in Japan

As mentioned earlier, education costs per child in Japan have increased significantly, as if in inverse proportion to the decline in the number of children. The number of international preschoolers with high daycare and tuition fees is increasing every year.

Reference source: 子供の減少と相反する 一人あたり教育費の増加
増えるインターナショナルスクール、専門家に聞く(日本経済新聞)

While most international preschools and kindergartens in Japan are still in their infancy, international schools themselves have a long history. The oldest international school in Japan and the oldest in Asia is Saint Maur International School in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, founded in 1872.

In recent years, international schools have been opening one after another.

Reference source: インターナショナルスクール、日本で開校ラッシュのなぜ　アジアからの留学先としても注目
(新しい教育のカタチを考える|朝日新聞EduA)

The number of international schools worldwide has increased from 6,001 in 2010 to 12,300 in 2021, according to ISC Research, a British organization that provides statistics and research on international schools.

Reference source: 【最新版】2021年 世界のインターナショナルスクール校数と生徒数 | eduJUMP! 編集部

Few International Schools After Elementary School

The number of international elementary schools in Japan is extremely small, a vast difference from the number of international preschools and kindergartens. In terms of maintaining and improving the skills developed in preschool, parents would naturally consider international schools from elementary school onward, but why are there so few to choose from?

Real and Imagined Barriers

Let's see why there are so few international elementary, middle, and high schools in Japan.

• Tuition is expensive. It is not particularly expensive compared to international preschools and kindergartens, but compared to so-called Article 1 Schools (*1), public schools, or private schools that are subsidized by private school subsidies (*2), it seems expensive, and the school has no choice but to make it more expensive.
• Fear of losing touch with mainstream Japan.If parents don’t know what goes on inside an international school, it is difficult for them to imagine making the decision to enroll their child in an international school. If they want to change schools after their child has started their schooling in an international school, will he/she be able to transfer to a Japanese school or will he/she have trouble transferring to a Japanese school? As a result, most people choose the “safe path” for their children (a regular Japanese school).
• A negative idea that they are violating school attendance obligations.
• A false perception that the student will not be qualified to take Japanese university entrance examinations.
• Is it possible to have competent foreign teachers in Japan?

*1 Article 1 School: The ten types of schools (elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, secondary education schools, universities, technical colleges, schools for the blind, schools for the deaf, schools for the handicapped, and kindergartens) are designated as Article 1 by the School Education Act. Most international schools are Non-Article 1 Schools.
*2 Private School Subsidy: Subsidies provided by the national and local governments to private school founders and students. Private schools operated by incorporated educational institutions (Gakko Hojin) are eligible, but private schools operated by limited companies are not.

• It’s difficult to provide an environment with a large play ground and gymnasium.
• It’s too costly to create an integrated elementary, middle, and high school. Although schools don’t have to be integrated elementary, middle, and high schools, parents are unlikely to send their children to an international school that does not provide schooling until the university entrance exams, therefore, schools should aim to be integrated.
• Uncertainty about how many students will enroll. If a school is already operating an international preschool and kindergarten, it's not hard to realistically consider expanding into an international elementary school by carefully planning and expanding step by step. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to make a business decision to open an international school from elementary onward.
  In addition, it would be great if the school could be an Article 1 School so that parents could enroll their children with greater peace of mind, but it is not easy to be accredited as an Article 1 School, and there are too many restrictions for an Article 1 School to operate as an international school.

Thus, there are many factors on both the parents' and the school's side that make them hesitant about international schools in elementary, middle, and high schools.
Some of these problems are real, while others are just imagined, but we need to look at each one carefully because it’s not easy for parents to make choices that will affect their children's future.

In this article, I’d like to address these issues one by one.

A Reliable System, and Facts to Dispel Worries

If the need arises, your child can transfer to a Japanese school.

If your child is in a public elementary or junior high school, your child can transfer and advance in another public school without any problems. Since both elementary and junior high schools are compulsory education, it is extremely unlikely that your child will be refused acceptance to transfer to a different school. However, from the high school entrance examinations, there is a possibility that the points they have scored will be subject to evaluation, so be sure to consider the timing of your child's school transfer after understanding the period during which your child will be subject to evaluation.
However, there are also a variety of examination formats that do not include points on their school evaluation, and an increasing number of schools have established returnee quotas for students who have attended international schools in Japan as well. There are schools that will give high marks to students who have attended international schools, so it may be advantageous for students to have attended an international school.

In addition, there may be cases where students transfer to overseas schools or enter a school overseas, in which case, having attended an international school in Japan may be an advantage. If your child is transferring from an IB school to an IB school, it will be easier for your child to catch up with the classes at a school in an English-speaking country, and since the IB is a universal program, the school will be more likely to accept the child and it will be easier for the child to integrate into the school curriculum.

Gather information on international schools.

The information provided on an international school's website may not always be sufficient. And although most schools have only English websites, there are some websites that provide information in multiple languages.

Below are websites of major international schools (integrated schools or schools that are planning to open integrated schools) that have Japanese-language websites.

• Aoba-Japan International School (Meguro-ku/Nerima-ku/Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo)
• K. International School Tokyo (Koto-ku, Tokyo)
• Canadian International School Tokyo (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo)
• Global Indian International School (Edogawa-ku, Tokyo)
• Tokyo West International School (Hachioji-shi, Tokyo)
• CGK International School (Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa)
• Makuhari International School (Chiba-shi, Chiba)
• Abroad International School Osaka (Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka-fu)
• Enishi International School (Nagoya-shi, Aichi)
• Nagoya International School (Nagoya-shi, Aichi)
• Gunma Kokusai Academy (Ota-shi, Gunma)
• International School of Nagano (Matsumoto-shi, Nagano)
• Linden Hall School (Dazaifu-shi/Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka)
• Okinawa International School (Naha-shi/Nanjo-shi, Okinawa)

It is also a good idea to attend information sessions and school tours, and find opportunities to talk with current students and graduates of the school themselves or their parents. You may have the opportunity to speak with such people at information sessions, or you may find them on blogs or social networking sites and contact them directly.

Violation of School Attendance Obligations (for Japanese Nationals)

International schools are generally Non-Article 1 Schools, and therefore, in the case of a child of Japanese nationality, it is technically a violation of the parent's obligation to send the child to school (but not in the case of a foreign national). According to the MEXT, there have been no cases of criminal charges since 1956. The parents are not abandoning their efforts to provide their children with an education, but rather, they have chosen to send their children to an international school as a result of their desire for a better educational environment.

In Japan, the national government (MEXT) is leading the promotion of IB schools and has created the MEXT consortium for promotion of IB education in Japan. Since the IB has been introduced mainly in international schools, this policy is like an endorsement to international schools. But on the other hand, there is a big contradiction in the fact that the current situation, in which there is a technical violation of the school attendance obligations, has not changed.

It is assumed that the problem of violating the school attendance requirements was part of a social situation in the immediate postwar period, when the right to education was not fully guaranteed, and therefore did not take into account the diverse realities of educating of children, and we hope that this discrepancy will be corrected in the near future.

Qualified to Take Entrance Exams for Universities in Japan and Abroad

Not all international schools, but most, will qualify students to take entrance exams for universities in Japan upon graduation, as well as for universities abroad.

First, let's review the standards set forth by the MEXT regarding eligibility for university entrance examinations in Japan.

Admissions Eligibility in Japanese Universities

Eligibility for admission to Japan's universities is granted to those who have not graduated a Japanese high school in Japan or the equivalent, if any of the below cases apply. It is also granted when none applies but the prospective admittee has passed a high school equivalency exam (高卒認定試験).

1. The prospective admittee has spent 12 years or more in primary and secondary education in another country and...
- he/she has completed 12 years of school courses overseas; or
- he/she is over the age of 18 plus has passed an equivalency exam for 12 years of school courses overseas; or
- he/she has completed the courses at an officially designated overseas Japanese school; or
- he/she has completed the courses for 12 years at an international school accredited by an international accreditation body (WASC, ACSI or CIS).

2. The prospective admittee has spent less than 12 years in primary and secondary education in another country and...
- he/she has completed courses at an overseas school comparable to a high school plus completed the required university preparatory courses; or
- he/she has completed a high school equivalency exam overseas plus completed the required university preparatory courses; or
- he/she has completed designated courses at an overseas school comparable to a high school.

3. Regardless of number of years in primary and secondary education...
- he/she has obtained the International Baccalaureate (IB), the Abitur, the Baccalauréat, or the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level; or
- he/she has passed an university’s individual qualification screening plus is over the age of 18.

*"Completed 12 years of courses" means "completed the 12th year of a legitimate school education."
*"College preparatory coursework" means college preparatory coursework officially designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Reference source: Entrance Qualification for Universities: MEXT

Of course, those who have graduated from high school in Japan (Article 1 School) are also eligible for university admission.

Many international schools meet the following criteria: "he/she has completed the courses for 12 years at an international school accredited by an international accreditation body(WASC, ACSI or CIS)." (from 1 above), or "he/she has obtained the International Baccalaureate (IB)" (from 3 above).

There are currently 68 high schools (plus 8 candidate schools) in Japan that are IBDP accredited schools, which qualify for university admission, including 33 so-called authorized international schools (schools that offer the IBDP mainly in English, not Japanese) as of March 31, 2024.

Reference source: 認定校・候補校 | 文部科学省IB教育推進コンソーシアム

The international evaluation organizations, and the schools accredited by each are as follows (from 1 above):

WASC: 22 schools (as of May 24, 2024)

Reference source: WASC - Accrediting Commission for Schools

CIS: 29 schools (as of June, 2024)

Reference source: Council of International Schools | International Education Organisation

ACSI: 3 schools (as of June, 2024)

Reference source: Association of Christian Schools International ACSI

NEASC: 4 schools (As of June, 2024)

Reference source: NEASC - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

It may be comforting to know that international schools are not “out of the mainstream” options, as the system allows students to gain admission to universities even if they are, technically, in violation of the school attendance requirement. Conversely, students from schools that are not accredited, or that do not seek accreditation from organizations such as IB, WASC, CIS, ACSI, or NEASC, may have a difficult road ahead of them when considering their subsequent career paths.

In the society of the future, international schools will be an option to be considered on an equal footing with the old Japanese school system.

In fact, does choosing an international school narrow or broaden your future career options? Let's take a closer look in the next section.

Expanded Pathways to National and International Universities

Most international schools are accredited by IB, WASC, CIS, ACSI, or NEASC, which means that graduates will be qualified to take university entrance exams in Japan, but they will likewise be qualified to take entrance exams for universities abroad (not all, please check the website of each university).

As mentioned above, if you obtain the IB DP qualification, you will be qualified to apply to universities in Japan and also to universities overseas. IB qualifications are highly regarded by universities, and many major overseas universities have higher acceptance rates for IB students than those for general applicants.

Below is an overview of the IB (International Baccalaureate).

IB (International Baccalaureate)

Reference source: International education - International Baccalaureate

You might have heard that the DP, the final two years of the IB program, is very difficult, but that does not mean that students cannot obtain a DP qualification; in fact, 80% of students passed the DP in the May 2023 exam. I believe that students who have been studying in the IB for a long time will be well prepared for the IB DP.

*Our school, CGK, aims to be accredited for all PYP, MYP and DP.

English Proficiency and the Nationality of Parents

Please check each school's website for policies regarding English proficiency and nationality that parents need to be. Many international schools use only English on their websites, and all communications from the school are also in English. It seems that many schools have an English proficiency requirement for parents, and one of the criteria is that they expect parents to be able to understand communications from the school in English.

For those who are not good at English, there are also schools where it is OK if the parents can just read English, that is, if they can understand English sentences using a dictionary, etc. Incidentally, if you limit the number of international schools to those that accept Japanese communication, the number of target international schools will decrease sharply.

September Enrollment or April Enrollment?

Although the timing to start school differs around the world, September is the most common entrance month in Europe and the United States, and many international schools in Japan also follow this practice. (Actually, it's August, when summer break ends.)

If an international school enrolls students in September, the timing to move from the Japanese preschools / kindergartens, or to enter a Japanese university, will cause students to have to leave the school (drop out) or take a gap year (gap term) after graduating from the school or entering a Japanese university, which may or may not be considered an advantage.

There are a certain number of international schools that use April enrollment, and CGK International School is one of them.

Faculty Skills

Whether the school's philosophy, policies, and attitude are appealing, its important to ask if there is an environment of cooperation and respect between the staff and the management / administration? Since they are all in a position to support the students' growth, cooperation and respect are vital. Simply by improving in this regard, a school can naturally attract good teachers. If a school takes good care of these important things, it is easier to attract good faculty and staff to an international school than to a regular school, because the number of students in an international school is smaller.

In particular, in IB accredited schools, it is easier to attract and keep good faculty and staff because of the following advantages.

The Remaining Disadvantages

We have to admit the fact that tuition is high at international schools. Public elementary, junior high, and high schools are free, and private elementary, junior high, and high schools are also very inexpensive compared to international schools because they are subsidized by private school subsidies if the school is an Article 1 school operated by incorporated educational institutions (Gakko Hojin).

Another disadvantage, which is not necessarily a disadvantage, is that if students do not have sufficient English proficiency at the time of enrollment, they may be denied admission, or even if they are admitted, they may face difficulties after enrollment. In order to maintain a high quality of instruction, some schools will not accept students with low English proficiency, and many schools offer EAL (English as an Additional Language) support for students who are not proficient in English. Before enrolling in an international school, make sure your child has as good an English level as possible, and check carefully what kind of support the school offers.

Other Benefits

As a non-Article 1 school, we are not bound by the Japanese curriculum guidelines (学習指導要領) and are free to introduce foreign curricula. Incidentally, CGK International School is a non-Article 1 school, so it is not restricted in any way. Although we will have to comply with certain requirements as an IB school and when we receive accreditation from CIS and WASC, we are still able to pursue a better environment and program for our students compared to the restrictions that an Article 1 school is subject to.

CGK International School in Yokohama, Japan

Our CGK International School is the only integrated international school in Yokohama, Japan with April enrollment, which opened a preschool/kindergarten in 2016 and an elementary school in 2023, and will open a middle school in 2025 and a high school in 2028.

• Mission: Maximize Your Opportunities for Happiness in an Increasingly Global World
• Non-Article 1 School by a limited company
• Became a candidate school for the IB PYP in 2022, and an authorized school for IB PYP in 2024. In the future, we will aim for MYP and DP accreditation, as well as CIS and WASC accreditation, to create an environment that allows students to enter universities not only in Japan but also around the world.
• Parents can speak either English or Japanese.
• We value community building with parents and carefully share lessons and activities with them while holding regular information meetings for parents.
• In order to provide more people with the opportunity for an education at our school, we keep our tuition lower than that of historic international schools.
• Taking advantage of being a non-Article 1 school, we are not bound by the Japanese curriculum guidelines, but rather, we teach the skills and mindsets necessary for the future society, and actively incorporate ICT education, moral education, sex education, LGBTQ, minority education, SDGs, discussion/debate activities, and financial education.
• Students will study abroad for one year in the seventh grade.
• English proficiency is checked in the admissions process and a standard of English proficiency is set for admission. We maintain a high quality of inquiry-based learning in English and also provide EAL (English as an Additional Language) support for students who need assistance in English.
• April enrollment.
• We provide lunches for every students (which is rare in international schools).
• We aim to construct a new school building in the near future.

Study abroad for one year

Gap years are common in many countries. Taking a gap year means studying abroad before, during, or after graduation from university (before finding employment). When I lived and traveled abroad, I met many people who had taken a gap year to study abroad, and I thought it was a wonderful system.

Time spent outside and experiencing society is important to consider what you want to learn and what you want to do for a living.

With the expectation that students will have such special experiences at a young age, develop diverse viewpoints and values, cultivate independence, and act independently with purpose and goals during their subsequent school years, CGK students will study abroad for a year starting in the summer of Grade 7.

Summary

I have written at length to make it easier for those who have previously thought that international schools were irrelevant to now consider them more seriously. I hope that this article will be of some help to you and that it will help you to make the best choices possible for your child's future.