School Options: Tokyo, Toshimaku

[pika la]

I need help planning my going to Japan to study, but I don't know anything about what I need to know. Also I'd like some idea suggestions.

I'm 16. I want to move to Japan, I have someone who I'd be able to live with for the duration.

What are my options for schooling? International School; how do they work, how do you get accepted to one?

Japanese Language School; Do they take 16 year olds? Or are they only for colleges, people who've graduated?

Normal Highschool; I'd imagine the courses would be incredibly difficult for someone coming from a really laid back Canadian schooling, no?

Not sure how long I'm even allowed to stay in the country... but I'd wanna stay for a year or 2 if possible.

Are there consultants who deal with planning this kind of thing for people? I'm very confused..,.

[Faustianideals]

Have you talked to your parents?

[pika la]

Yup. They told me to dig up information. =)

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Why is it Toshima-ku?

[pika la]

The person I'd stay with lives in Toshima ku, because.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

International school
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/pooh/pooh/inter/


http://www.columbia-ca.co.jp/e/index_e.html

[pika la]

Thanks.

Also, does anyone know where I can find a listing of the High Schools in Toshima ku?

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

It is the list of the high schools of Toshima-ku.
Can Japanese be read?
http://www.yubitoma.or.jp/tomare/to_...stu133605.html

It is the list of the high schools in Tokyo.

http://ten.tokyo-shoseki.co.jp/link/...yo1.htm#koukou

[pika la]

perfect, thanks.

what are the odds of a foreighner getting into a normal japanese school, not through an exchange?

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Refer to this for high school studying abroad.
Japan Student Services Organization
http://www.jasso.go.jp/index_e.html

帰国子女/外国人を受け入れている高校
国際基督教大学高等学校
http://subsite.icu.ac.jp/hs/
啓明学園
http://www.keimei.ac.jp/english-v.html
都立国際
http://www.kokusai-h.metro.tokyo.jp/indexe.htm

東京都教育委員会
http://www.kyoiku.metro.tokyo.jp/

The reference site of this information
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/komachi/rea...00116.htm#0001

[epigene]

The links Nagashima-san posted are good, and I'll just chip in my two cents:

First, I want you to know that international schools (based on American/Canadian/British curriculum and taught in English) are easy to get in for you BUT are very expensive. Tuition alone costs around US$20,000 a year, maybe more. Besides that, you need living expenses. If you can afford it, this is the easiest way to stay in Japan, but I doubt whether it will help you tremendously in learning Japanese language and culture. Depending what kind of people you associate, you may end up going home with just a spattering of Japanese.

There are Japanese schools that accept foreign students and give special Japanese language classes for them to help them get along with school life. The tuition is relatively cheap--I don't remember exactly, but around US$2,000?? a year. (Fees vary by whether the school is public or private. The best public school for foreigners is Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School. There are many private schools you can check out from the links.) However, you are not qualified to apply for admission at these schools unless you have a long-term visa. Who are you planning to stay with? If the person is a relative, you can apply for a visiting-relative visa, I think. The visa status is very important for these schools and an issue that must be ironed out before application. You cannot go to these schools on a tourist visa.

Japanese language schools are different, because they are vocational schools. For these schools, you must apply for admission at one of them. After being approved, you can apply for a "shugaku" student visa and enter Japan.

The best alternative, as suggested in many other threads in this forum is coming to Japan on a student exchange program. There are many high school exchanges organized by private organizations and by government bodies. You should check this one out, too.

The most important factor here is the person you're staying with. If the person is Japanese and only an acquaintance, you should ask the person to consult the local Toshima-ku government office for ways in which you can apply for Japanese schools. There may be ways I don't know of. If the person is a relative (and Japanese citizen), you have great chances to enter Japanese schools with foreign student admission quotas.

HTH!

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

epigene-san arigatou gozaimasu

Since my command of English was insufficient, it was not able to explain.


This opportunity was able to investigate the high school in Japan.

My nephew will take an entrance examination for a high school next year. However, it does not think earnestly.
It is deplorable.

[pika la]

Wow, that's helpful.

The person I'm staying with is just a close friend of my parents. I'm planning to go to Japan for a week or two in the summer, and go look around at the schools and arrange how I can study ^^

She phoned the schools and they said I could go there but I'd still need an entrance exam ><; Wouldn't that be hard... sicne we learn different things? And still they'd have the here equivilant of "ESL"? kind of thing? So they have a different exam?.. Cuz I'd need fluent Japanese for that no...

[epigene]

Hi pika la,

If you're getting into a high school with foreign student quota, they will have a special curriculum for students like you and there will be other students like you. So, not to worry...

Hope everything turns out well for you!

I think Nagashima-san is thinking likewise.

[pika la]

Thanks so much. I think I've picked (with help of the friend) which I want to go to.
http://www.hosho.ac.jp/toshima.htm

what do you think? So... what should I do about overlapping school? They start in April, I start in September... I'd want to go there for grade 11. (Right now in 9) So that would be next april.. but I'd still be in grade 10 ><; For the last term. What is the best solution?

[epigene]

Pika la,

Personally, I recommend that you look around more schools, since you're planning to come this summer. (Make sure you visit the schools early in July rather than August, because you won't be able to see much student activity at that time.) High schools in Japan are varied in academic standing and specialization, and you should choose one that best fits your needs.

I don't know the school shown in the link. It does appear to be conveniently located in Ikebukuro. It was originally a commercial school (for students who expect to take on jobs after high school) and has expanded into "regular" high school curriculum. I don't see any arrangement for students without Japanese language capability, so I have a feeling you should check further into that. I also have a sneaking suspicion that a school of this background has rigid school rules--I'm just guessing, so you must look into that, too.

There should be many more schools available for you to check. Also, I recommend you not to stick to the Toshima-ku area. Many high school students commute on trains for quite long distances to the schools of their choice, rather than going to schools close to home. You'll get used to commuting very easily, and this way you get a broader range of choice.

I still recommend Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School, which is located close to Shibuya. It is about a 20-minute ride on train. The school is relaxed and free, with school rules not overly rigid, but still with a good academic curriculum. If you have your parents' friend as guardian and is able to get a long-term visa, I think you should give this school a try. Your parents can write the school in English for inquries here.
http://www.kokusai-h.metro.tokyo.jp/indexe.htm
Note: This school accepts student in both April and September. Foreign students are required to prove that they had a valid, long-term visa, certificate of graduation from junior high school (or equivalent) and write an essay in Japanese or English. The quota for foreign nationals is small, so you better hurry!!

Another alternative in Toshima-ku is Rikkyo High School, a high school affiliated to Rikkyo University, founded by an Episcopalian and known alternatively as St. Paul's. Christian schools tend to be freer and relaxed than most other private schools. Because of its international background, they very likely have arrangements for special Japanese language study for you. You should inquire with them also.
http://www.rikkyo.ne.jp/grp/ike/

Another school that came up to mind is Myojo Gakuen in Kichijoji. An American acquaintance of mine and his Japanese wife had their child enrolled in this school, although the boy eventually went on to international school and then to college in America. This is also about 20 or 30 minutes away from Ikebukuro. This is a very laid-back, free school.
http://www.myojogakuen.ed.jp/high/high_index.html

Once again, look around more and don't be so concerned about sticking to Toshima-ku. Have your parents' friend make phone inquiries into schools like these. Because there are many, many schools in Tokyo, you should look for a school that is best suited to what you plan to do in Japan and what direction you plan to take in the future.

As for overlapping/repeating grades because of the transfer, you may have to accept that, since you don't have the Japanese language capability of Japanese high school students and were taught a different curriculum. Maybe the adjustments will work in your favor (moving you up to your appropriate grade) when you return to your home country (Canada?).

Good luck!

[pika la]

Is it possible to graduate there? Like stay for the last two years?

[pika la]

Another problem I'm having.. is that I don't have anythign really I'm looking for in a school. What is there to look like, all the high schools are the same here.

How should I select one then? (And how can you tell if they're private or public?)

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

2005年度の高校受験案内より
豊島学院高校(Toshima Gakuin High school)
合格の目安は偏差値53点
1年男子355名　女子292名
2年男子191名　女子160名
3年男子249名　女子149名
制服　あり年5回服装検査
持ち物　学校指定以外認めない。携帯は構内使用禁止　 アルバイト　原則禁止　バイク　登校時禁止
大学進学率　平成15年　大学40% 短大5%　専門学校32%　就職5%　その他浪人18%
主要大学合格実績　明治大1 青山学院大3 立教大1 中央大1 明治学院大1　国学院大1 日本大4
東洋大7 駒沢大1　専修大1 大東文化大7　東海大2　亜細亜大1　帝京大9　国士舘大 1　工学院大2
芝浦工業大1
学費　3年間　2,040,000円　

国際高等学校　(kokusai High school)
合格の目安は偏差値64点
主要大学合格実績
東大1　京大1　東外大7　学芸大3　芸大1　都立大3
早稲田大18　慶応大28　上智大25 ICU2 津田塾大15 明治大8 青山学院大26
立教大9 明治学院大8　中央大30 法政13 学習院大5 東京女子大6 日本女子大1

都立高校学費　3年間 約558,000円

明星学園高等学校(Myoujou gakuen High school)
合格の目安は偏差値61点
1年男子88名　女子165名
2年男子83名　女子161名
3年男子83名　女子125名
制服　なし
持ち物　自由　アルバイト　自由　バイク　禁止
大学進学率　平成15年　大学40% 短大10%　専門学校17%　就職1%　その他浪人32%
主要大学合格実績　筑波大1　東京芸大2 東京芸術大1　東京都立大2 早稲田大3 慶応大2
上智大1 東京理科大6 津田塾大1 明治大4 青山学院大8 立教大4 中央大4　法政大4
日本女子大2 学習院大3　成城大2 明治学院大4 国学院大1 日本大8 東洋大3

学費　3年間　2,340,000円

[pika la]

So different high schools have different speacialties?

Like some are for tech stuff, medical, etc? I think I read that on one of them...How do I know what type I want to go go, and which schools deal with that and what not?

(Thanks for sticking through with this for me and helping so much!)

[epigene]

Hi again,

Yes, there are schools that focus on engineering or vocational training such as bookkeeping but most "normal" high schools (called "futsu-koko") have regular, all-round curriculum. Schools that are oriented to vocational training are called "shogyo-koko" (commercial high schools).

As long as you choose a "futsu-koko", you will be taught a regular curriculum. However, my concern for you was the school's ability to deal with a foreign student like you. That is why I am suggesting choosing a school that regularly accepts foreign students, which means they have special Japanese language study course for students like you.

I am also concerned about the degree of freedom granted to students at each school. This is especially important for students coming from countries where rules are minimal.

To find schools, there are high school entrance examination guides sold at bookstores in Japan. It covers every high school in Tokyo, explaining what kind of school each one is and and how preparations must be made for Japanese students to enter. That's all in Japanese, so your parents' friend in Toshima-ku must be the one buying and reading it.

The difference between private schools and public schools is basically that public schools are cheap. Based on what Nagashima-san posted above (thank you, Nagashima-san!!), Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School tuition is about 558,000 yen (about US$6,000) for three years (grades 10, 11 & 12 in your country). For Toshima Gakuin High School you mentioned (which is private school), it is 2,040,000 yen (about US$20,000) for 3 years. Myojo Gakuen High School tuition is also around US$20,000 for 3 years. This also private school.

Your chances of entering a normal high school is high for private schools, because there are more schools accepting foreign students. Public schools do not accept foreign students unless they are long-time residents in Japan and already are capable of study alongside Japanese students. Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School ("kokusai" means international) is the exception to the rule. As the name suggests, it was founded especially for cross-cultural understanding and study of foreign languages and cultures. That is why it has a special quota for foreign students. I'm pushing this school because it is cheap and "international." The basic curriculum is taught in Japanese and most students are Japanese, but there is a small percentage of foreign students enrolled each year. Japanese students enrolled in this school are higher-than-average academic performers because the entrance examination is tough for them. This is totally different for foreign students--entrance is made very easy. The only hurdle here is that you need to get a long-term visa in Japan. They also accept students in April and September--that is why you need to inquire now, rather than wait until summer. I'm pretty sure you or your parents can email the school (address found on the link in the earlier post) to inquire them what exactly is needed for entrance.

I'll give you an outline of the info Nagashima-san posted:
Toshima Gakuin High School:
Academic ranking: Average
Enrollment: about 630 in 1st year; 350 in 2nd year; 400 in 3rd year
Uniform: Yes, with uniform inspection 5 times a year
Personal belongings: Only those allowed by school; no cell phones; no part-time work; no motorcycle riding to school
Students going to colleges: 65%
* My comment on this school: Do you see that the number of students differ sharply between first year and second year? That means a lot of student drop out of this school. That's a bad sign.
Also, students in this high school rarely get to the top-ranking universities.

Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School
Academic ranking: Higher than average
A sizable number of the students enter top universities after graduation from this school.
* My comment: Public schools don't publish information like enrollment, etc. However, it is clear that this is one of the better public schools in Tokyo.

Myoujou Gakuen High School
Academic ranking: Higher than average
Enrollment: About 250 in each grade (two thirds are girls)
Uniform: None
Personal belongings: Free; part-time work allowed; no motorcycle riding to school
Students going to colleges: 82%
A small number of the students enter top universities after graduation.
* My comment: As I said before, this school has minimal rules and is very laid-back. Still, many go on to college.

I know it's confusing. It's confusing enough even for Japanese students looking for high schools to enter. Maybe you can start with having the person in Toshima-ku call Myojo Gakuen High School in Kichijoji and Kokusai High School right away about entrance to these schools. (Remember, Kokusai High School accepts inquiries in English, so your parents or you can email the school, too.)

[pika la]

Thanks!! After reading that, I found a private school is probably better. Can you tell me a but about this school? : http://www.junshin.ac.jp/

From what I gathered this would be good... and it has an english program. I don't mind that it's an all girls school ^^ I'd actually like that better. What do you think of it?

I couldn't read it all.. but I think it said that the the fee was 388, 000yen a year? or was it entrance fee? or.. I'm not sure, can you see for me?

[pika la]

(I was actually hoping for a school with lots of restrictions and less freedom. I want to be a little stricted. ^^; I'm weird like that. Though as it is..... I go to THE LEAST strict school in my city, it's pretty great. But I think it'd be helpful to have some dicipline.)

[epigene]

Hi,

The standard for "free" and "strict" is different in Japan. Schools that are "less strict" in Japan is actually about "average or even strict" in the US (maybe Canada, too).

Anyway, the girls' school you mentioned shows you can get in with just visa, certificate and academic report from your school in Canada and essay. (The same with Kokusai High School.) The 388,000 yen is ONLY money to enter to the school. This is charged when you are approved for admission and is non-refundable, even if you decide not to enter the school. Tuition is charged separately and is probably around 2,000,000 yen for 3 years (or around 700,000 yen a year). There is also charge of 20,000 yen just to take the entrance exam. (Kokusai does not need entrance money because it's public. Its charges are 20,000 yen for entrance exam and tuition charge of about 200,000 yen a year.)

The charges for entrance exam, entrance money and tuition for Junshin are average for a private school.

[pika la]

Thanks. So including all fees (entrance, exam, 1 year) what would be the full cost for my first year there (2nd year Senior). (And after that, what would the second year cost? (3rd year senior))