Foreign students in Japan face big hurdles entering public high schools

Despite government guidance, many institutions offer no help with entrance exams

20230106N Japan foreign students

Foreign students in Tokyo take a class to prepare for their high school entrance examinations. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)

EUGENE LANG, ATSUKO SANO and ALINE SAUVEGRAIN TANABE, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/OSAKA -- Nearly three-quarters, or 73%, of Japanese public high schools have no framework for accepting foreign resident students, putting them at a serious disadvantage in visa status and work opportunities, a Nikkei survey shows.

Compulsory education in Japan runs only through ninth grade -- the final year of middle school. More than 99% of students still go on to high school or vocational school, with high schools giving entrance examinations like those of universities.

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