AboutTai Yamanaka Expertise I can answer questions regarding Japanese business culture, business etiquette, corporate society, as well as provide know-how on how to research industries, corporations and communicate with business contacts.
Experience I have over 20 years of experience working in Japanese corporations as well as for American corporations doing business with Japan. I have served as a representative as well as a go-between for American and other corporations with Japanese businesses, industry and scholarly associations as well as government agencies
Expert: Tai Yamanaka Date: 7/5/2007 Subject: Japanese School System
Question I've been wondering this for quite some time now: How long is the Japanese school year? What season/month does the school year start and end? And what about their vacations, how long are they?
Answer Hello Livi,
Thank you for your question.
The easiest way to answer is to provide you a list of the actual dates.
The Japanese school year starts on April 5. On this day, we have the entrance or beginning-of-year ceremony. This is the day that the beginning of the first semester begins.
We have a series of national holidays called "Golden Week" in Japan, which runs from April 29 to May 5, and school children get those days off also.
On July 21, summer vacation starts.
On August 28, summer vacation ends. This is the beginning of the second half of the first semester.
Autumn vacation is from October 6 to October 10.
October 11 is the beginning of the second semester.
Winter vacation is from December 22 to January 7.
The second half of the second semester begins on January 8.
March 19 is the graduation ceremony for those who are graduating.
March 24 is the end of the school year for all other students.
I hope this helps.
Please let me know if I can help with additional question.
