Japanese School Life: The Daily Routine, Events, and Notices
Japanese schools ask parents to take part more often than many families expect. This guide walks through a typical school day, the events across the year, the meetings you will be invited to, and where to find school notices in your language.
A typical school day
Lessons run Monday to Friday. There are usually no classes on Saturdays and Sundays. One lesson is usually 45 minutes in elementary school and 50 minutes in junior high school.
School lunch
Most elementary and junior high schools serve school lunch (kyūshoku, 給食). Students usually serve the food and clean up themselves. Parents pay for the lunch. If your child cannot eat certain foods for health or religious reasons, talk with the homeroom teacher.
Cleaning time
Students clean their own classrooms and school grounds, sharing the work in groups. This is called sōji (掃除), and it is part of the school day.
Club activities
Students who want to can join sports or cultural clubs (bukatsu, 部活) after school.
The school year
The school year starts in April and ends in March of the next year. It is divided into two or three terms.
- Summer vacation: about 30 to 40 days, from late July to late August
- Winter vacation: about two weeks, from late December to early January
- Spring vacation: from late March to early April, between school years
The school sends home a report card (tsūchihyō, 通知表) on your child's studies and school life.
Events across the year
| Event | What happens |
|---|---|
| 入学式nyūgakushiki · entrance ceremony | April. Celebrates new first-year students. Parents of first-year students attend. |
| 健康診断kenkō shindan · health checkup | April to June. Height, weight, eyesight, and other checks, and an exam by a school doctor. |
| 授業参観jugyō sankan · class observation | Parents visit to see how their children are doing in class. |
| 運動会undōkai · sports day | Often in the second term. Races, relays, ball games, and dances, with classmates cheering each other on. |
| 修学旅行shūgaku ryokō · school trip | Usually for the top grade. The whole grade travels together for several days. |
| 卒業式sotsugyōshiki · graduation ceremony | March. Celebrates the students finishing the top grade. |
Meetings for parents
- Parent-teacher meeting (hogoshakai, 保護者会): teachers and parents share information about school and home life.
- Individual interview (kojin mendan, 個人面談): a one-on-one meeting with the teacher. It can also be a three-way talk with your child.
- Home visit (katei hōmon, 家庭訪問): the homeroom teacher visits your home to talk about your child's life at school and at home. Some schools do not do this.
The PTA
Most schools have a PTA, a group of parents and teachers who work together to support the school. Activities include outdoor programs for parents and children and safety guidance for walking to and from school.
Health and safety at school
Regular health checkups are required by law. They include height, weight, eyesight, hearing, and exams by school doctors such as an internist, an eye doctor, an ear, nose, and throat doctor, and a dentist.
Schools also take part in an accident insurance program for students. Parents pay part of the cost.
School notices in your language
Schools send home many letters about events, health checkups, and things to bring. If a letter is hard to read, ask the school. MEXT also runs CASTA-NET (kasutanetto, かすたねっと), a site where you can search translated school documents and a multilingual glossary of school words.
Turn a school notice into a question for the teacher
These are practice examples, not an actual school notice. Show the teacher the letter and the part you want to check. The Japanese and romaji below are original CCN question examples.
1. A notice says 持ち物 (things to bring). You are unsure what your child needs.
English: What should my child bring?
日本語: 子どもは何を持っていけばいいですか。
Romaji: Kodomo wa nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.
2. A form says 提出期限 (submission deadline). You cannot find the date.
English: By when should I submit this form?
日本語: この書類はいつまでに出せばいいですか。
Romaji: Kono shorui wa itsu made ni daseba ii desu ka.
3. An invitation says 個人面談 (meeting with the teacher). You need language support.
English: Could we have an interpreter for the meeting?
日本語: 面談に通訳をお願いできますか。
Romaji: Mendan ni tsūyaku o onegai dekimasu ka.
4. You want to discuss something your child finds difficult.
English: I would like to talk about how my child is doing at school. When would be a good time?
日本語: 学校での子どもの様子を相談したいです。いつがよろしいですか。
Romaji: Gakkō de no kodomo no yōsu o sōdan shitai desu. Itsu ga yoroshii desu ka.
An interpreter is a request: ask the school whether one is available and whether there is a fee. Use the school's answer to confirm dates, items, and arrangements.
Next, practise asking a question: open Classroom Talk and choose Lesson 3, “Asking Questions”. This existing audio lesson practises classroom questions; it does not record the parent examples above. Lessons 1–3 need a free account; Lessons 4–10 need Full Access. A later lesson may remain locked until the previous lesson is completed. Greeting offers audio practice without registration.
Read the existing guide to notices and translated school documents or choose another school guide.
Japanese words you'll see
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 給食 | kyūshoku | School lunch. |
| 掃除 | sōji | Cleaning time. |
| 部活 | bukatsu | After-school clubs. |
| 学期 | gakki | School term. |
| 通知表 | tsūchihyō | Report card. |
| 授業参観 | jugyō sankan | Class observation day for parents. |
| 保護者会 | hogoshakai | Parent-teacher meeting. |
| 個人面談 | kojin mendan | One-on-one meeting with the teacher. |
| 家庭訪問 | katei hōmon | Teacher's visit to your home. |
Questions families ask
Do parents have to go to school events?
Parents are invited to several events, such as the entrance ceremony, class observation days, and parent-teacher meetings. They are a good chance to see your child's class and talk with the teacher.
Can I get an interpreter for a meeting with the teacher?
Ask the school. MEXT's guidebook notes that interviews with teachers and educational counseling can be arranged with an interpreter when needed.
My child cannot eat some foods. What should I do?
Tell the homeroom teacher. Schools ask parents to consult them when a child cannot eat certain foods for health or religious reasons.
Where can I find school letters in my language?
MEXT runs CASTA-NET, a site where schools and families can search translated school documents, such as letters about health checkups, enrollment, and disasters.
Sources
This guide is based on information published by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Events and their timing differ from school to school, so check the calendar your child's school gives you.
- MEXT: Guidebook for Starting School (就学ガイドブック), English edition, April 2015
- MEXT: CASTA-NET (かすたねっと), multilingual school documents
Practice the Japanese your child hears in class in Japanese Talk: Classroom Talk.