The elementary school in our neighborhood in Tokyo is called Ryogoku Elementary School. It is about a 10 minute walk from our condo and we often see kids walking there in the mornings. It is typical for kids to go to their neighborhood school here, which I love. The school is similar in size to Braxton’s elementary school back in Colorado. It has grades 1-6 (kindergarten is not part of elementary school in Japan), and has 507 total students currently attending the school.
Here is a picture of the front of the building.
For writing last week, Braxton did a research paper on what school is like for kids in Japan compared to his school. These are some of the facts he found most interesting. The average class size is 30-40 students, which is a lot more than he has in Colorado. The students eat lunch in their classroom rather than a cafeteria. In addition, they take turns serving the lunch and are responsible for cleaning up afterwards.
Backpacks and Uniforms
The kids at the local elementary wear uniforms to school. Braxton is very happy his school does not require a uniform! They also have to carry a specific backpack called a randoseru backpack (picture below). Part of their uniform includes a specific colored hat. These are worn for safety when walking to school and on outings, allowing cars to see them better. Here’s a picture from the schools website showing their uniforms. It’s fun to see kids walking to school with their little white hats and very distinct backpacks.
Another thing Braxton found very interesting, was that they have earthquake drills here. The students have to go under their desk and make sure they’re holding onto the legs of the chair. They even have a special room that has flooring in the bottom that will make it shake like there is an earthquake so they can practice.
School Calendar
The school year is split up into 3 terms. The beginning of each school year coincides with cherry blossom season to signify a new beginning!
| 1st Term | Early April – Mid/Late July | Summer Break: ~6 weeks (late July – end of August) |
| 2nd Term | Early September – Late December | Winter Break: ~2 weeks (late Dec – early Jan) |
| 3rd Term | Early January – Late March | Spring Break: ~1–2 weeks (late March – early April) |
We have walked past this school many times, and stopped at the park across the street. These pictures show the back of the school.
It’s so interesting to see what school is like in different countries. Education is highly valued within the Japanese culture and widely seen as the key to future success. I’m excited to learn about the education system in each country as we continue our journey around the world.
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We did earthquake drills all the time growing up in public schools in Washington, too! It would be so amazing if you could find a way to tour one of the schools in one of the countries you are in!
I know! Alexis really wants to tour a school.
It’s always so fascinating to me how different schools operate! It’s amazing to me they have an earthquake simulator, what!? Seems like a big expense the American schools would never pay for 😆 also love the white hats, I’ve alway heard about that, I love that you’ve seen them around!