When students enter the school building, everyone changes into indoor shoes called Uwabaki (うわばき) to keep the school clean. The shelf to keep the shoes is called Getabako (げたばこ), and it is the student’s responsibility to clean it. In recent years, some schools stopped this custom and let students wear sneakers inside the building for quick evacuation in an emergency.

Students are also responsible for serving school lunch and cleaning up. Warm lunch called Kyuushoku (きゅうしょく) is cooked at school, and students take turns serving the food and eating in the classroom. Students wait till everyone is served and say Itadakimasu (いただきます) together before eating. Food education, called Shokuiku (しょくいく), is highly valued, and students learn not to waste food. 

All students have cleaning duties every day. The scheduled cleaning time is called Osouji (おそうじ), where students clean the classroom, gardens & bathroom. 

Japanese Style Education (by MEXT)

In Japan, the dropout rate in high school is 1.5 %. Japanese students achieve scores significantly higher than the global average in international student assessments (PISA 2018). 

Calm and disciplined behavior is fostered at schools, and such behaviors of the Japanese people have been highly valued in the face of disasters by many other countries.  

School Uniform: せいふく

The majority of Japan’s junior and high schools require uniforms called seifuku (せいふく).  European naval uniform style sailor suit,(セーラーふく) for girls and gakuran(がくらん) for boys were introduced in the late 19th century. Some schools adopted blazers(ブレザー) and skirt for girls and trousers for boys. Since 2021, a growing number of schools are making their uniforms gender-neutral. Seifuku is iconic in the youth culture and appear in pop-culture. 

School clubs called bukatsu (ぶかつ) activities are an important part of Japanese middle and high school. Bukatsu teaches cooperation and social etiquette. Almost all students join at least one club. And clubs meet after and sometimes before school. Baseball(やきゅう), soccer (サッカー), basketball (バスケット), Volleyball (バレー), swimming (すいえい), tennis (テニス), badminton (バトミントン), table tennis (たっきゅう), kendo (けんどう) are popular sports clubs. Brass band (かんげんがく), flower arrangement (かどう), tea ceremony(さどう),calligraphy (しょどう) and drama(えんげき) are popular arts clubs.  

Senpai and Kouhai system

Senpai (せんぱい) means upperclassmen, and kohai (こうはい) is junior or younger person. Senpai and kouhai is determined by age and rank and the system underlies nearly all relationships in Japan. Students learn the system through clubs, student organizations. Senpai are responsible for their younger members and act as mentors or role models. Kohai are expected to treat senpai with respect.