Enrolling in High School
The information provided here is also contained in a publication called the “High School Enrollment Guidebook for Non-Native Speakers of Japanese,” which was compiled by the Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa.
See the Guidebook for further details.
The Guidebook is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Tagalog at the Foreign Resident Information Center of the Ward Office.
The publication is also available in Indonesian, Vietnamese, Khmer, and Lao.
To obtain a Guidebook in these languages, contact the Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa.
Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa
Tel: 045-942-5202
The Different Types of High Schools
Kawasaki City has both public high schools, established by Kawasaki City and by Kanagawa Prefecture, and private high schools.
There are also three different time schedules to choose from: daytime classes, nighttime classes, and correspondence courses, which do not require the student to attend every day.
The high school correspondence course system is designed for individuals unable to attend school on a daily basis because they are working, or for other reasons.
The Advantages of Graduating from High School
Individuals graduating from high school qualify to take examinations for universities, junior colleges, and career colleges.
Also, in looking for a job, graduating from high school provides you with more opportunities, since many companies are looking to recruit high school graduates.
Taking the High School Examination
Individuals 15 years of age or older who have graduated from junior high school in Japan or overseas qualify to take high school entrance examinations.
Students may enroll upon passing the entrance examination.
The tests are administered around January-February.
In principle, applicants who have graduated from a junior high school in another country are required to have had nine years or more of schooling in order to enroll in high school in Japan. However, special consideration may be given depending on the country where the individual attended school previously. For details, contact the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.
School Services Section
Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education
Tel: 045-210-8251
Special High School Entrance Exams for Foreign Nationals
Arima High School, Kanagawa Sogo High School, Tsurumi Sogo High School, Hashimoto High School, Hibarigaoka High School, and Yokohama City Yokohama Commercial High School offer separate examinations for foreign nationals who have resided in Japan for a period of less than three years.
The examination consists of English, Japanese, mathematics, and an interview. Hiragana is printed alongside the kanji on the test questions.
If your child was older than a fourth-year elementary school student in Japan when he or she first arrived in Japan, you may request the following special provisions:
- To have the time allotted for the test extended (from 50 minutes to a maximum of 70 minutes)
- To have hiragana printed alongside the kanji
The procedure is to have the applicant’s homeroom teacher at their junior high school makes the request to the principle. The principle then makes a request to the high school for which the student wishes to apply.
Individuals that have graduated from junior high schools abroad must bring the Certificate of Registered Items (or other proof that they are living with a parent or guardian in Kanagawa Prefecture) to the Kanagawa Prefecture Board of Education by the beginning of January.
Go together with someone who speaks Japanese.
For details, contact the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.
School Services Section
Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education
Tel: 045-210-8251
Workshops for Non-Native Speakers of Japanese on High School Enrollment
There are workshops providing information on how to enroll children who are non-native speakers of Japanese in Japanese high schools, as well as other pertinent information on attending high school in Japan.
These are conducted annually by Kawasaki City and by the Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa.
The workshops conducted by Kawasaki City cover topics such as entrance examinations required to enroll in Kanagawa prefectural high schools, as well as information on life as a high school student, costs involved, and more. Senior high school students offer additional information at request.
For details, inquire with your child’s junior high school, or with the Kawasaki City Comprehensive Education Center.
Curriculum Section
Kawasaki City Comprehensive Education Center
Tel: 844-3725
Interpretation services are offered at the workshops provided by the Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa.
The 2005 seminar was given in Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao, English, Korean, Tagalog, and Indonesian.
For further details, contact the Multicultural Education Network of Kanagawa.
Tel: 045-942-5202
Counseling Services on Child Education
Child education counseling services are available in Mandarin, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, both by telephone and in person, at the following location:
Counseling Services on Education for Foreign Residents of Kanagawa
Place:
Information Corner,
Yokohama Association for International Communications and Exchanges
Yokohama International Organizations Center 5F, Pacific Yokohama 1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku Yokohama 220-0012, Japan (a three-minute walk from Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line)
Tel: 045-222-1209
Services available on: First/third Wednesdays and second/fourth Saturdays of every month, 14:00-17:00.