Japan

Have you ever wondered what schools were like in other countries? Well, now is your chance to find out about a school in Japan.

Miyake Elementary (Primary) School is situated in Kaminaka Town, near the Japan Sea directly north of Kyoto (map). There are 150 students in the school, with one class per year group. The average class size is 26 students (The maximum class size is 40 children in one class in elementary and junior high schools in Japan) Visit their Website

The School Day
The school timetable looks like this:

8:25 - 8:35	Homeroom (Registration)
8:40 -12:20	Classwork (4 lessons of 45 minutes with a 10 minute break in-between)
12:20-1:00	Lunch Time
1:40-1:50	Cleaning time*
1:55-3:35	Classwork (2 lessons of 45 minutes with a 10 minute break in-between)
3:40-3:55	A short homeroom

Cleaning time*
As most schools in Japan, children have to clean the school building. Children clean everywhere in the School, classrooms, teachers' room, floors, the school gate, and outside of the school.

Subjects
The children study Japanese, arithmetic, social studies, science, music, fine arts, P.E., computers and English.

The School Year
In Japan they have 3 terms. The academic year starts in April.
First term: 6th April to 20th July.
Summer vacation - about 40 days.
Second term: 1st September to 24th December.
Winter vacation - two weeks.
Third term: 8th January to 24th March.
Spring vacation - about two weeks.

Schools in Japan

School Year in England	Age	Types of Schools in Japan
Reception	5	Kindergarten 5-6 (not compulsory)
Year 1	5-6
Year 2	6-7
Year 3	7-8	Elementary school 7 – 12
Year 4	8-9
Year 5	9-10
Year 6	10-11
Year 7	11-12
Year 8	12-13	Junior High school 13 – 15
Year 9	13-14
Year 10	14-15
Year 11	15-16
	16 – 18	Senior High school

Elementary school and junior high school are compulsory.

Map of Japan

Location: Eastern Asia

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous

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Flag courtesy of ITA's Flags of All Countries used with permission.
Map courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission.