Subjects and credits
High schools work on credits rather than fixed hours. Each school sets its own timetable within the national curriculum, and students need at least 74 credits to graduate.
What they learn
- Japanese
- Modern Japanese and language culture, including classical texts.
- Mathematics
- Mathematics I and A: quadratic functions, trigonometry, data analysis, probability and geometry.
- Social studies
- Geography and modern history in the new "Comprehensive" courses, and civics ("Public").
- English
- English Communication I and Logic and Expression I.
- Informatics
- Informatics I, compulsory since 2022: programming, data and networks.
School life this year
- Choosing a club and settling into a longer commute, often by train.
- The school festival (bunkasai) and sports festival.
- Deciding between humanities and science tracks for year 2.
School life guides
Not sure of the grade? Try the grade calculator →
Based on Japan's School Education Act and guidance from the Ministry of Education (MEXT). Local rules and dates vary, so check with your city or school.