If your little one is starting first grade this month, congratulations! “From Kindergarten To Kanji: Your Guide To First Grade in Japan” unravels the mysteries of what awaits you and your child.
From school supplies checklist to daily grind and yearly event calendar, PTA memberships and after school daycare options, I’ve got you covered! So, grab a cup of coffee (or matcha latte), get comfy, and let’s prepare for a successful journey into Japanese elementary school life.
From Kindergarten To Kanji: Your Guide To First Grade in Japan
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I’ve always wanted to supplement the motherhood & parenting section of the blog with my personal experiences as a mom of a first grader in Japan. But, I ultimately decided to wait until our first year of elementary school was officially done.
I’ll preface this post by saying it’s all based on my personal experiences and heartfelt, tearful talks with my Japanese mama tomo (mom friends). Therefore, as with all things in life in Japan, your millage may vary!
A Quick Overview of Japanese Elementary School
Your child’s elementary school will be determined based on where you live. If you have extenuating circumstances, you can file a petition to change your child’s designated school (指定校変更申立 // shi tei kou ken kou mou shi tate).
As many of you may already know, the Japanese school year starts in April. Therefore, enrollment in elementary school is open to children who will turn 7 years old after April 2nd.
This is where the concept of “hayaumare” (早生まれ) comes in, as children born between January 1 and April 1 are a nearly year younger than their classmates!
My daughter turned 6 in February 2023, but when she started first grade in April of the same year, some of her classmates were already 7 years old! Incidentally, she just turned 7, so we’ll be celebrating Shichi-Go-San this November.
The Japanese elementary school curriculum is determined by each school, according to MEXT guidelines.
In first grade, students study Japanese (国語 // koku go) mathematics (算数 // san suu), life studies (生活 // sei katsu), music (音楽 // on gaku), drawing & crafts (図工 // zu kou), and physical education (体育 // tai iku). There is also a class on ethics (道徳 // dou toku).
Your child will learn 46 hiragana, 46 katakana, 80 kanji, 2 digit addition and 2 digit subtraction in first grade.
All classes are taught in Japanese. However, some regions offer special assistance for students who have difficulty in understanding the language.
If your child did not go to kindergarten or nursery school in Japan, it may be helpful for them to attend daycare before going to elementary school.
But, the goal of public school is to ensure that all kids have the same opportunity to learn. Therefore, Japanese class will start with the basics, regardless of student’s’ backgrounds.
On the other hand, if you child has already mastered hiragana/katakana and basic math, they may think school is boring. But, they will have fun in crafting, physical education, and just discovering life as a first grader!
Communication is Key!
I mention this because my daughter would always say that school is boring when I asked about her day. Yet, when I asked my Eiken prep kids about their school day, they were eager to chat.
Funny, right?
It turns out I wasn’t asking the right questions! So, I tailored the way asked my daughter about her school day. Instead of “How was school?” I ask these questions:
- What classes did you have?
- Who did you play with today?
- What was your favorite thing about today?
- Who got in trouble today? (My girl is very talkative. I usually hear from her Gakudo friends that she was scolded for talking during lesson time!)
You Should Know…
It is still expected that moms will continue being the primary parent, especially in the first months of helping your child transition smoothly from kindergarten to first grade.
In my case, I felt so unprepared despite all my years in Japan and experience working with children. I never went to elementary school in Japan, and nearly everything was new to me and I was constantly lost.
I felt so much (internal) pressure throughout my daughter’s first term, comparing myself to Japanese moms and being jealous of couple where both parents were foreigners.
On top of that I had just started the process of separation with my ex-husband. I was constantly worried that if I screwed up, people would look at my daughter and think, “Well, her mom is a foreigner…it can’t be helped. I feel so had for her” (“Okaasaan wa gaijin dakara, shiu ga nai ne. Kawaisou dakedo...”)
So, my biggest piece of advice for foreign parents out there is to find a community, be it with your spouse, making new mama tomo, or online!
NOTE: Elementary school consists of six years in total, but in this post I’ll be talking about first grade exclusively. There’s so many things that I wished I knew before my daughter started first grade!
First Grade Prep Begins in September of the Previous Year
Yes, you read that right. Getting ready for first grade begins in September of the previous year, when your child is in their last year of kindergarten (or daycare).
August ~ September
Sometime in September (or late August, depending on municipality), you’ll receive a letter informing you of your child’s School Entry Health Checkup (就学時健康診断のご案内 // shuu gaku ji ken kou shin dan no go an nai.)
NOTE: If your child is a foreign national (that is, living in Japan with a “status of residency” and not Japanese citizenship), then you will need to go to your municipal office to enroll your child in elementary school.
October ~ December
Once the weather cools down, your child will have their School Entry Health Checkup. Checkups take place at their designated elementary school on a weekday.
This is a comprehensive health check that includes a vision, dental, and hearing check. Pending the results of this health check up, you may need to take your child to a specialist before officially starting first grade in April.
After the health checkup, you will have a brief meeting with the principal and/or vice-principal. If your child has food allergies or if you have any concerns, this is a great opportunity to bring it up.
January ~ February
Orientation or “Parent Information Sessions” (保護者説明会 // ho go sha setsu mei kai) take place on a weekday in January.
You and all the other parents of first graders will meet in your child’s classroom, meet your child’s teacher, and find out all you need to know about elementary school life. You’ll also receive a school “guidebook” (おしおり // oshiori) along with a shopping list of all materials.
Some parents may already know each other because their kids went to the same kindergarten/daycare. You may be asked to stand up and do a short self-introduction (自己紹介 // ji ko sho kai). This is a great time to get familiar with other parents who live nearby.
March
In March, your child will have their farewell lunch/party and then will officially graduate kindergarten!
Make use of the 2 weeks between the end of kindergarten and the start of first grade to make sure you’ve got all your school supplies and anything else you may have missed.
Perhaps you’d like to help your child get familiar with their route to school or pick up some extra socks and t-shirts at UNIQLO! For a list of recommended shops, please read: My 5 Favorite Places to Shop in Japan For Kids’ Clothes and Shoes
April
Your child’s entrance ceremony (入学式 // nyuu gaku shiki) marks their official debut as a first grader! Last year’s first graders, AKA, the second graders, will have a welcome speech and/or performance. The sixth graders may also greet the new first graders.
After the entrance ceremony, kids will head to their classroom and receive their school supplies, all which must be labeled and returned to school the next day. There will also be a group photo with kids, parents, homeroom teacher, principal, and vice-principal.
For tips on what to wear, check out this post: What (Not) To Wear in Japan: A Guide For Professional Women.
You Should Know…
If you are using public transportation, this is a bittersweet moment as you’ll now have to pay transportation fees! With that said, be proactive in getting an IC card registered in your child’s name! Simply bring your child’s health insurance card or My Number card when you sign up at the train station.
