International Schools in Japan - Special Advertising Section

Japan, Inc., Jan, 2003 by Stuart Braun

You're moving to Japan to work Great, but what do you do about your family's educational needs? You might be surprised to learn that Japan is home to numerous multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-purpose and globally competitive educational institutions that allow expatriates, multicultural families and Japanese families returning from living overseas to learn in a truly international educational environment.

Schools K-12

From kindergarten to primary, secondary and post-secondary education, Japan is endowed with a plethora of options for international schooling. Whether the size of the school, denomination, gender make-up, sporting facilities, teacher-child ratio, accreditation, staff qualifications, entrance grades, music programs or computer facilities are important to you--and of course, these factors will depend on the age of your child and the length of your stay--you will be sure to find a school to accommodate your needs in Japan.

One of the biggest concerns among newly arrived families in Japan is finding a school that will, in addition to giving your child an important introduction to Japanese culture, allow students to make the transition both from and to schools in foreign countries. Chia Ura, Director of PAL International School, a kindergarten in Tokyo, says PAL aims to alleviate such a common and understandable source of anxiety. Although our prospective students and families usually have a limited time to stay in Japan (2-3 years on average), the parents are naturally concerned about many factors in their child's educational environment. They don't want their child to fall behind their peers in their home country. They also want them to learn something about Japanese culture and Japanese language whilst in Japan," she says.

PAL is one of a number of international schools in Japan where only English is spoken but where the rudiments of Japanese culture are built into the curriculum. "Our school is based on a firm Japanese educational philosophy established by three of the founding members who have more than ten years of experience," continues Ura. "In all classes, only English is spoken, but sometimes we do use Japanese songs or games. Also we do the alphabet, mathematics, and lots of academic study on a daily basis. Prospective students and families choose our school because they can have a 'cross-cultural experience' ," she concludes.

Among early childhood schools, alternative educational methods that focus less on the academic and more on the practical and social growth of the child might be preferred. In this regard, several Montessori schools in Japan offer diverse educational choices. Kodomo no le, or Children's House, is one of the oldest and most highly respected Japanese Montessori schools in Tokyo and was founded nearly 30 years ago by current director and Head Teacher, Kuzuko Hotta. Children's House provides complete Japanese immersion within a Montessori framework and a unique opportunity for children to work and play within an innovative Japanese environment. Most importantly for foreign nationals, all children are welcome, regardless of language ability. In addition to the core curriculum, the teaching program includes art, music and physical education to ensure the focus is not only on the child's cognitive and academic environment, but also his/her emotional, physical and social development.

Though PAL, modeled around Japanese educational philosophies, and Children's House, offering alternative education methods, are representative of Japan's educational diversity, western-style schools, with accreditation from foreign institutions, are a common route for newly arrived expat families who want to maintain the same school environment for their children. St. Mary's International School, for instance, is a typical elementary and secondary boy's school catering to 950 boys from 65 different countries. "The diverse cultural, academic and religious backgrounds of our students culminate in a special spirit of understanding," explains Unryu Haku, Development Manager at St Mary's, of a school that successfully fuses Western education methods into a polyglot teaching environment. St Mary's, along with the American School in Japan, which offers an American-style curriculum for students from age 3 to grade 12, is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). St Mary's also has ac creditation from the ECIS (European Council of International Schools), while ASIJ's early childhood program is the only preschool program in Tokyo to have accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

St Mary's is typical of a number of international schools in Japan that ensure your child's preparation for university by operating according to the strict standards of accrediting associations such as the International Baccalaureate, which forms part of an advanced college preparatory study program. Even at Children's House, all teachers are Montessori Teacher Training certified by Sophia University. International schools in Japan are also mostly affiliated with the JCIS (Japan Council of International Schools), a body established to promote continuity between staff, teachers and administrators working in the international schools community.