How clubs work
Clubs are split into sports clubs (undō-bu), such as baseball, football, volleyball, kendo and track, and culture clubs (bunka-bu), such as brass band, art, science and calligraphy. New students try clubs for a few weeks in April (kari nyūbu) before joining.
Clubs are run by the students with a teacher as adviser. Older members (senpai) guide the younger ones (kōhai), and many friendships come from them. The goal for many teams is a tournament, such as the national high school baseball championship at Kōshien.
How much time it takes
Clubs practise after school on most days, and sports clubs often train on weekends too. National guidelines from 2018 ask for at least two rest days a week, at least one on a weekday and one at the weekend, and about two hours of practice on weekdays and three on weekend days.
The reform
Long club hours put a heavy load on teachers, and with fewer children many schools can no longer field teams. The government is moving club activities to local sports clubs and community groups. It has set the six years from April 2026 to March 2032 as the period to carry this out, aiming for nearly all weekend club activities to be run in the community. Community clubs may charge a fee.
Do students have to join?
Many schools used to make joining compulsory. Today it is usually optional, and students who go straight home are jokingly said to be in the "go-home club" (kitaku-bu).
Tips for families in Japan
- Ask about costs before joining. Sports clubs can mean uniforms, equipment, travel to matches and training camps.
- Clubs are one of the fastest ways for a new student to make friends and pick up everyday Japanese.
- Club activities can be recorded in the school report sent to high schools with an application.
Words you will hear
- 部活動 bukatsudō
- club activities
- 運動部・文化部 undō-bu / bunka-bu
- sports club / culture club
- 先輩・後輩 senpai / kōhai
- older / younger members
- 仮入部 kari nyūbu
- trial period for clubs
- 帰宅部 kitaku-bu
- "go-home club", students in no club
See also
More on School culture
- School lunch (kyūshoku) Children serve each other a hot, nutritionist-planned lunch and eat it in the classroom.
- Cleaning time (sōji) Every day, students sweep and wipe their own classrooms, corridors and often toilets.
- The randoseru and school supplies The famous leather backpack, indoor shoes, a yellow cap and a name on absolutely everything.
- School events through the year Ceremonies, sports day, school trips and festivals that mark the Japanese school year.
Sources: Japan Sports Agency guidelines on club activities (2018); MEXT plan for moving club activities to the community (2026–2031). Rules, costs and dates vary by city and school, so check with your local office or school.