Subjects and class hours
Standard yearly class periods set by the national curriculum. Schools may add more.
- Japanese 140 periods
- Mathematics 140 periods
- English 140 periods
- Social studies 105 periods
- Science 105 periods
- Health and physical education 105 periods
- Technology and home economics 70 periods
- Integrated studies 50 periods
- Music 45 periods
- Art 45 periods
- Moral education 35 periods
- Homeroom and special activities 35 periods
Source: MEXT Course of Study (2017 revision), standard class hours.
What they learn
- Japanese
- Reading the remaining jōyō kanji, analysing stories and essays, and classical Japanese.
- Mathematics
- Positive and negative numbers, algebraic expressions, linear equations, proportion, plane and solid figures, and data.
- Science
- Plants and animals, materials and gases, light, sound and force, and volcanoes and earthquakes.
- Social studies
- World and Japanese geography, and Japanese history from ancient times to the Middle Ages.
- English
- Grammar basics in all four skills, with lessons taught mainly in English.
School life this year
- New uniforms and stricter school rules.
- Joining a club (bukatsu), which often meets daily, including weekends.
- Learning senpai and kōhai relationships with older and younger students.
- Mid-term and end-of-term tests for every subject.
School life guides
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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.