Understanding international school curricula

Curriculum guide

Japanese curriculum

By Nik Higgins · Co-founder & CEO

Japanese international schools follow Japan's MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) curriculum. The system is known for academic rigour, group cohesion, and the famous "shushoku" focus on university entrance. Used by Japanese-affiliated international schools and by families wanting university access in Japan.

Ages 6–12

Shōgakkō (Elementary)

Six years of primary. Broad subject coverage delivered in Japanese, with English typically layered in from Year 5.

Ages 12–15

Chūgakkō (Lower Secondary)

Three years of compulsory lower-secondary. Prepares students for the competitive high-school entrance exams.

Ages 15–18

Kōkō (Upper Secondary)

Three years of academic upper secondary. Ends with the Common Test for University Admissions — the national entrance exam.

Japanese

University entrance culture

Japanese senior schools are famously exam-focused. Many students supplement school with juku (cram schools). For international university applications, IB tends to be more portable; for Japanese universities, the national pathway is the default.

Is Japanese right for your child?

It tends to suit families who…

• •Are moving to Japan long-term
• •Have native or near-native Japanese fluency
• •Are aiming at Japanese universities

It may be less ideal if…

• •Your child has no Japanese and is joining at secondary
• •You'd prefer a broader, less exam-heavy system
• •You want a globally uniform qualification like IB

Common questions

FAQs about the Japanese curriculum

Is Japanese fluency required? +

For Japanese national curriculum, yes — instruction is in Japanese. International schools in Japan more commonly use English-medium curricula (IB, British, American) for international families, with Japanese as a second-language subject.

How does Japanese high school compare to IB? +

Japanese high school is broader in subject coverage but very test-focused. IB is more analytical and project-based. For international university applications, IB is generally more portable; for Japanese universities, the national pathway is the default.

Find schools

Schools teaching Japanese on doris

Japanese in Japan (28)Japanese in United States (10)Japanese in China (5)Japanese in Singapore (4)Japanese in Spain (4)Japanese in Australia (3)Japanese in Italy (3)Japanese in Germany (2)Japanese in Hong Kong (2)Japanese in Jordan (2)Japanese in Switzerland (2)Japanese in Vietnam (2)Japanese in Cambodia (1)Japanese in Mexico (1)Japanese in Netherlands (1)Japanese in Norway (1)Japanese in Philippines (1)Japanese in Portugal (1)Japanese in Taiwan (1)Japanese in United Kingdom (1)