Japan is facing a quiet but persistent education crisis. In the 2024 school year, a record 353,970 elementary and junior high school students were categorised as futoko, children who missed 30 days or more of school for reasons other than illness or...
“Free schools” are on the rise in Japan, as the number of k-12 students with extended absence from classrooms (futoko) continues to grow, reaching the record high of 200,000 in 2022. Often triggered by bullying, the ratio of truancy is highest in...
Six years of elementary school and three years of junior high school: nine years of compulsory education is provided at almost no cost to every child in Japan. Students spend approximately 200 days at school every year, taking 945-980 hours of...
School can be a difficult time for anyone. Students face a lot of pressure to fit in and excel academically. Japanese schools in particular are known for their strict conformity and long hours studying and participating in after school clubs. Some...