School Grade and Age Structures in Japan

Poste date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022

The education system and structures vary from country to country. Here we have made an easy to understand comparison between the ages and grade structures in Japan and other countries. You can also find a list of what the ages for compulsory education in each country is and how to use that information choose a grade in Japan. Japan is also highly invested in early education, with young children often starting preschool around 2.5–3 years old.

How to choose a school grade by age in Japan

In Japan, the school year starts in April and ends in March. Children who were born between April 2nd and April 1st of the following year are placed within the same grade. This could change your child's grade when you move to Japan from another country.

If your child has difficulty in accepting the Japanese grade which matches their age, you can also ask the school to change the grade to a lower grade. This usually happens when a foreign child enrolls in a Japanese public school because it is hard for them to understand everything in Japanese.

Compulsory education in Japan lasts from the 1st grade of Elementary School to the 3rd year of Junior High School (9 years in total). Foreign children/students can also have the option to enroll in a Japanese public school, however it's not mandatory that they participate in the Japanese compulsory education. International schools in Japan follow the system of each country however, Japanese public schools and private schools follow the same system. For more information, please read Japanese education system and which school is the best for your child.

Comparison between the Age and Grade Structures in Japan and other countries

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Age	Japan	Australia	U.K.	U.S.A.
	Apr - Mar	Jan - Dec	Sep - Aug	Sep - Aug
3-4	Kindergarten	Kindergarten	Nursery	Nursery
4-5	Kindergarten	Kindergarten	Reception	Pre-K
5-6	Kindergarten	Prep Year	Year 1	Kindergarten
6-7	ELMN 1	Year 1	Year 2	Grade 1
7-8	ELMN 2	Year 2	Year 3	Grade 2
8-9	ELMN 3	Year 3	Year 4	Grade 3
9-10	ELMN 4	Year 4	Year 5	Grade 4
10-11	ELMN 5	Year 5	Year 6	Grade 5
11-12	ELMN 6	Year 6	Year 7	Grade 6
12-13	JHS 1	Year 7	Year 8	Grade 7
13-14	JHS 2	Year 8	Year 9	Grade 8
14-15	JHS 3	Year 9	Year 10	Grade 9
15-16	HS 1	Year 10	Year 11	Grade 10
16-17	HS 2	Year 11	Year 12	Grade 11
17-18	HS 3	Year 12	Year 13	Grade 12

Education System in Japan

School Year: From April to March
Grade Division: Children born between April 2nd and April 1st of the following year are placed in the same grade.
Elementary School: ELEM 1 to 6
Junior High School: JHS 1 to 3
High School: HS 1 to 3
Compulsory Education: From Elementary School to Junior High School

For more information please refer to Guidebook for Starting School published by Ministry of Education in Japan.

Education System in Australia

School Year: From the end of January or beginning of February to December
Primary School: Prep Year to Year 6 or 7
Secondary School: Year 7 to 10, or Year 8 to 10
Senior Secondary School: Year 11 to Year 12
Compulsory Education: From Prep Year to Year 12

For more details, please visit Australian Government - Department of Education.

Education System in U.K.

School Year: From September to August
Primary School: Year 1 to 6
Secondary School: From Year 7 to 11
Secondary School or College: From Year 12 to Year 13
Compulsory Education: England: Age 5 years to 18 years; Scotland and Wales: Age 5 years to 16 years; Northern Ireland: Age 4 years to 16 years

For more details, please visit UK government information website.

Education System in U.S.A.

School Year: From September to August
Elementary School: Grade 1 to 5 (5-3-4); Grade 1 to 6 (6-2-4) (6-6); Grade 1 to 8 (8-4)
Junior High School: Grade 6 to 8 (5-3-4); Grade 7 to 8 (6-2-4)
High School: Grade 9 to 12 (5-3-4) (6-2-4); Grade 9 to 12 (8-4); Grade 7 to 12 (6-6)
Compulsory Education: Age 5 years to 18 years (from Kindergarten to Grade 12 - K12)