They say education is the foundation of order — and since Nipponese and American societies are different in many way , it may not surprise you that aspects of the two countries ’ educational systems are like shabu and cheese . To find oneself out just how different learning your first rudiment ( or あいうs ) can be in the U.S. and Japan , canvas up on these nine matter that are commonplace in Nipponese public shoal , but probably would n’t fell in America .
1. Dress Code
While only about20 percentof public school in the U.S. need uniforms , nearly all Japanese public school students suit up from junior high shoal on . The traditional uniform is a high up - collared , black , military - style cause for son and a beribboned straw hat blouse and pleated skirt for missy ( lamentable noblewoman , there ’s no pant option ) . These as - see - in - anime styles are still the norm for middle school students , but the gamey school day uniform is gradually being supplant by the tartan skirts and trousers with ties typical of Western parochial schools . Besides regulating article of clothing , shoes , and backpacks , many Nipponese junior-grade schools impose rigorous Bachelor of Arts in Nursing on make-up , nail polish , hairstyles , and even eyebrow grooming that would make the medium American teen flinch . Perhaps the most eye - opening aspect of Nipponese school wearing apparel codes , though , is thatuntil the nineties , these mortifyingburuma(bloomers ) were the standard girls ’ PE uniform .
2. No Janitors
You wo n’t find a janitor in any Japanese school . Instead , tireless students and teachers roll up their sleeves and spend a few minutes every day mop the story , clapping eraser , and even scrubbing the toilets . Which think that educatee would n’t woolgather of putting gum under their chair or doodling on the desks—‘cause they know they ’ll just have to clean it up themselves .
3. No Substitutes
exit 30 teenager unsupervised in a schoolroom would be the stuff of nightmares in an American high schooltime , but that ’s precisely what happens when a teacher calls in sick in Japan . Nipponese junior-grade schools rarely use substitutes ; rather , student are desire to study quietly and severally .
4. The Sasumata
Even in a body politic as safe as Japan , schools have to make themselves for the possible action of a violent intruder . insert thesasumata : an aluminum terminal with two slue prongs at one end which is adapt from an ancient samurai artillery — and encounter today hanging in schooling all across Japan . The idea is to use the tool to trap the trespasser ( who is hopefully not carrying a hit man , which would be highlyunlikelyin Japan anyway ) .
5. Kancho-ing the Teacher
If thesasumatadoesn’t work , there ’s always thekancho . A favorite japery among unproblematic and kindergarten students , all foreigners fare to Japan to learn English are duly warned about gettingkancho’d . How it works : kid buckle their precious little hands together , gallop the pointer fingers , then aim them powerful at the unsuspecting teacher ’s butthole .
6. Lunches
Forget PB&J , it ’s hot lunch every day at Japanese elementary and next-to-last high schools . Students and teachers forgo cafeterias , instead eat on all together at their desk in the schoolroom . Everyone eats the exact same meal , which is prepared by tiffin ladies and do by student who take spell serve up out the rice , Pisces , and soup to their schoolfellow . And because waste is a expectant no - no in Nipponese civilization , schools are known for enforcing 100 percent membership in the Clean Plate Club , requiring even the pickiest of eaters to finish every last bite .
7. Greetings
Greetings are an integral part of Japanese finish , and school is no elision . At the beginning and terminal of each class , scholar stand and greet the instructor , then bow down in unison . Many high school day also bring a little of thedojointo the schoolroom with a briefmokuso , ( closed - eyes meditation ) to allow for student to center themselves before class .
8. Saturday School
One - daylight weekends were the norm for Nipponese school until 1992 , when the government begin phase out Saturday example as part of a national energy for a more relaxededucational scheme . Despite this , many school boards ignored the change and retain to carry extra lessons on Saturdays — and almosthalfof all Tokyo elementary and junior high educatee still spend at least one Saturday morning a month doing math alternatively of watching cartoons .
9. Summer Bummer
Nipponese scholar do get a five - workweek summertime vacation ( about half as long as America ’s ) , but calling it a “ break ” might be a stint — unlike in America , the Japanese summer break is veracious in the middle of the school year , and though school is technically out , scholarly person and teachers will still typically come to shoal almost daily for guild activities . Even elemental school day scholarly person are assigned a legendarily brawny summer homework mail boat .
Nipponese - mode pedagogy seems to run for them ; the latest OECD spherical math and sciencerankingsplace Japanese high schoolers at one-quarter in the world , while students in the U.S. have slipped to 28thplace . So though we belike wo n’t find American pupil scour the bathroom floor while wear out a pair of bloomers anytime soon , Saturday school may be worth considering .
