Keio Schools and University

In Tokyo, I got a chance to visit Keio Girls and Boys school and Keio University. Keio is the school that we have an exchange with from NCS and St Albans. My host was Akiko, one of the 3 girls that was on the exchange to NCS back in March. Keio, like NCS, is a private school in Tokyo and is expensive for Japanese standards, about $17000/year. In Japan in the main cities, like Tokyo, private schools are becoming more competitive and popular as the quality of public schools are becoming not as good as they had been and as they are in the more rural areas. Entrance exams are specific to the private schools you apply to and also specific to the Universities you apply to. Like STA and NCS, the Keio Girls and Keio Boys schools are seperated, and are actually on totally different campuses. There are 2 boys schools, 1 girls and 1 coed in the Keio name. And then the University, which also has 4 campuses.

Keio Founder Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901)

Born during the sakoku period of Japan's isolation from the West, he was passionately devoted to educating his juniors, and wrote several treatises on the value of human rights, equality, and freedom, ushering in a new age in Japanese thought. Fukuzawa's portrait has been used on Japan's largest denomination bill since 1984. This new ten-thousand yen note was denoted to the University by the Bank of Japan in November 2004. He remains to be one of the most popular historical figures in Japan. Interesting that someone who is the founder of modern education in Japan is considered a hero!

Keio Girls and Boys Schools

The Keio Girls and Boys schools, as I said before, are on seperate campuses. The Keio system starts at 1st grade, but most students enter in at the Junior High or High school times, as public Elementary schools remain well maintained. Something I have observed about all the schools I have visited is that the facilities themselves are in need of "sprucing up". They all seem to have been built in the 50s after the war and having been restored since. The Girls school is the only one that is in downtown Tokyo. It was built on the grounds of a former Shogun residance. There isn't much to the school, It is one building and the tennis and basketball courts are on the roof. It does have a lovely garden however. The Boys school, of course, has a ton of space and many different athletic buildings, including Japanese fencing which I got to witness! They use bamboo swords! Very neat.

Something that is interesting about the schools is that they are tied to Keio University. So you are guaranteed entrance into Keio when you attend the Boys/Girls/Coed school. However, you must apply to what program you want to be in, and if there isn't enough room in that program you can't attend that year. So for instance, if you wanted to apply to Med School, you would have to get a space. There are also program specific exams at each university. So there is no SAT and no Common App! People don't tend to apply to so many Univesities as they do in the States because that means many different tests!

Also, students in the High School and University take about 8-10 classes instead of 4-6 like at NCS and Universities. So, if you take Biology, you only have 1 or 2 times a week for a couple of hours each time. But you also take many levels of Biology, so you probably take it in 10th and 11th. And come exam time, you will take about 8 exams! I have to say, this is the one main thing that I don't like about the school system. This I guess is in line with what I like, where concepts are taught deeply. However, there is something to be said about having a class multiple times a week instead of once.

Keio University, one of the best in Japan, seemed like any other US University, except for the fact of taking 8-10 classes. There were lecture halls, places to eat, and places to hang out. The main difference was that students in Japanese Universities tend not to live at the University but at their house. Keio to my knowledge, and to my host's knowledge, didn't have dorms. Part of that is the importance of family and living with one's family. It is not uncommon for people to live with their parents until marriage, and even after that many grandparents and parents live together and help raise the children.

All in all, I learned a lot about the school system, and I am sure I have forgotten to write something, but your questions will help me remember! Hope this was enjoyable!