School Education Act

Custodians (meaning a person who has parental authority over a child (or if there are no persons who have parental authority; a guardian of a minor); the same applies below) have the obligation to have their child receive a nine-year general education, as prescribed in the following Article.

Custodians have the obligation to enroll their child in an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a special needs education school from the first school year that begins on or after the day following the day that the child reaches six years of age, until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches twelve years of age; provided, however, that when a child has not completed the program of an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a special needs education school by the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches twelve years of age, the period is to be extended until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches fifteen years of age (when the child completes the program during that period; until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child completes the program).

Custodians have the obligation to enroll their child in a junior high school, the upper course of compulsory education school, the lower course of secondary education school, or a junior high school course of a special needs education school from the first school year that begins on or after the day following the day on which the child has completed the program of an elementary school, the lower course of compulsory education school or an elementary school course of a school for special needs education until the end of the school year that includes the day on which the child reaches fifteen years of age.

Necessary matters regarding the demand for performance of obligations referred to in the preceding two paragraphs, and other matters regarding the performance of such obligations, are to be prescribed by Cabinet Order.

Pursuant to the provisions provided for in paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article, with regard to children whose custodians are obligated to enroll them in a school (referred to below as "school-aged child" or "school-aged student") but who are deemed to be unable to be enrolled in the school due to health impairment, incomplete growth development, and other unavoidable circumstances, the municipal board of education may postpone or exempt the custodian of such children from the obligation under paragraph (1) or (2) of that Article, as provided for by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Municipalities must provide necessary assistance to custodians of school-aged children or school-aged students who are found to encounter difficulties in receiving education for economic reasons.

A person who employs school-aged children or school-aged students must not prevent the relevant school-aged children or students from receiving compulsory education due to such employment.

The general education that is provided in the form of compulsory education is to be provided with the aim of achieving the following objectives, in order to realize the purposes provided for under Article 5, paragraph (2) of the Basic Act on Education (Act No. 120 of 2006):

promoting social activities inside and outside school, and fostering an attitude of proactive participation in shaping society, and contribution towards the development of it based on a spirit of autonomy, independence and cooperation, normative consciousness, fair judgment and public spirit;

promoting nature-based experiential activities inside and outside school, and developing a spirit of respecting life and nature, and an attitude of contribution towards the preservation of the environment;

fostering a proper understanding of the current state and history of our country and homeland, fostering attitudes of respecting traditions and cultures and loving our country and homeland which nurtured them, while also cultivating of attitudes of respecting other countries and contributing towards peace and development of an international society through a proactive understanding of foreign cultures;

developing fundamental understanding and skills regarding matters necessary in daily life included in the roles of family and home, clothing, food, housing, information, and industry;

becoming familiarized with reading, and developing fundamental abilities for properly understanding and using Japanese Language necessary for daily life;

developing fundamental abilities for properly understanding and processing quantitative relationship necessary for daily life;

developing fundamental abilities for scientific understanding and processing of natural phenomena in daily life through observation and experimentation;

developing habits necessary for a healthy, safe, and happy life; developing physical strength through exercise, and promoting harmonious mental and physical development;

developing fundamental understanding and skills regarding art forms, including music, art, and literature which brightens and enriches daily life;

developing fundamental knowledge and skills regarding employment, an attitude of valuing labor, and an ability to make career choices for the future in accordance with individuality.