15+ Japan School Rules That Might Surprise Foreigners

Japan is a country full of surprises and it never ceases to impress foreigners. Even the education system in the Land of the Rising Sun is quite different. The school year, for example, starts in April and ends in March, and this is not the only interesting aspect of Japanese education.

we, from awesome.club, we decided to find out a little more about school life in Japan. At the end of the article, we present a bonus proving that in this country there are very unusual school rules.

In Japan, grades 1 to 6 are the initial years of elementary school. Every school year, classes are reassembled and, in addition, there is a change of teacher, so that students have the opportunity to meet new people. During the first six years, students wear identical backpacks, called randoseru. In more conservative schools, all girls can wear red randoseru only, and boys only black. Many 1st graders wear yellow hats to be seen from afar.

In some schools, students are responsible for cleaning. After classes are over, each class cleans their room, and certain students clean the bathrooms and tidy up the playgrounds. specifically to be used indoors. If parents come to school, they also need to change their shoes for these sneakers, even if the weather is hot and dry.

After the 6th grade, students move on to high school, which lasts three years. During this period, most begin to wear mandatory uniforms. Japanese schoolgirls are prohibited from wearing pantyhose, even in the cold seasons, as schools require the use of skirts and three-quarter socks. A schoolgirl even complained about this rule to the school administration, but was told that they considered her opinion, but as she finishes her studies soon, she would have to put up with it a little longer.

Japanese schools have strict requirements regarding the appearance of students. For example, most schools forbid boys to shave their temples. Such a haircut is allowed only to teachers. Many schools forbid girls to wear makeup. In some there is even a bottle of micellar water in each classroom. If teachers see a student wearing makeup, she is invited to wash her face. In many schools, girls are required to keep their hair black and straight. If it doesn’t meet the rules, the student needs to prove that she didn’t dye it, nor curl it, presenting childhood photos and a “natural hair certificate” signed by her parents.

Complete secondary education comprises from 10th to 12th grade. To enter the 10th, students need to pass the entrance exam. The educational program for high school students is made up of compulsory and extracurricular subjects. Mandatory courses include a year-long home economics course that prepares young people for family life. In classes, they learn to cook, budget and also discuss the importance of family. Extracurricular activities include Fishing and Agriculture. In addition to compulsory studies, almost half of high school students attend pre-university preparatory courses.

In almost every school there is a monthly meeting where the principal gives a speech. Not long ago, during these meetings, students would stand, but nowadays, they just sit on the floor in a certain posture.

Some Japanese teachers assess not only subject knowledge, but also student notes. The problem is that everything the teacher says needs to be written down almost word for word. And teachers don’t usually wait for students who can’t write fast enough.

“My daughter bought an eraser at a stationery store, but at the Japanese school they didn’t let her use it, because she’s not white.”

In your opinion, which Japanese school rules can be implemented in our school system? Leave your comment!