Japan’s Nationwide Entrance Test Sees 496,237 Applicants After Shift to Online

TOKYO, Dec 10 (News On Japan) - The number of applicants for next January’s nationwide university entrance common test has reached 496,237, the National Center for University Entrance Examinations announced on December 9th, with the figure rising by 1,066 from the previous year as applications moved to a principally online system that allows students to apply directly without going through their schools.

According to the Center, the breakdown shows 420,311 current high-school students, down 5,657 from the previous year, 71,310 graduates, up 6,336, and 4,616 applicants classified as “other,” including those who completed schooling abroad, an increase of 387.

From this year, application procedures have shifted in principle to an online format, requiring each applicant to enter the necessary information on a dedicated website set up by the Center, pay the examination fee, print their own admission slip, and bring it to the test site.

Previously, applications were submitted by postal mail, with many high schools compiling and sending the documents on behalf of students, but the new system allows applicants to register and make corrections individually, easing the verification and administrative burden on teachers.

A total of 813 institutions nationwide — including universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools — will use the Common Test, which is scheduled to take place on January 17th and 18th next year.

Source: TBS

Kyoto Raises Lodging Tax as Peak Travel Season Begins

Kyoto City significantly raised its lodging tax from March 1st, increasing the maximum charge per person per night from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 yen, in a move aimed at tackling overtourism and funding the preservation of cultural assets, even as questions remain about its impact on visitors and the local economy.

Foreign Visitors and Ex-Rescuer Pull 80-Year-Old Woman From Hakuba Crashed Car

A former emergency responder and foreign tourists worked together to rescue a woman in her 80s who was trapped inside an overturned light vehicle in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.

Tokyo Metro Begins Touchless Ticket Gate Trial

Tokyo Metro and Toshiba have launched Japan’s first demonstration test allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates without touching them by using their smartphones’ Bluetooth function.

Himeji Castle Hikes Admission Fee for Non-Residents

The admission fee for the World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, was revised on March 1st for the first time in 11 years, introducing a dual pricing system that significantly raises costs for visitors from outside the city.

Australian Girl, 8, Dies After Snowmobile Overturns in Hakuba

An eight-year-old Australian girl died after a snowmobile overturned in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture, at around 11 a.m. on February 28th, with authorities investigating the cause of the accident.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Japan’s Job Market Remains Tight, Starting Salaries Hit 400,000 Yen

With company information sessions for university students set to graduate next spring opening in March, Japan’s job-hunting season has entered full swing, once again unfolding under what is widely seen as a candidate-driven seller’s market.

Kyoto University Graduate Turns Ukiyo-e Artist

Murai Masayoshi, known professionally as Muramasa and described as a Reiwa-era ukiyo-e artist, has drawn attention for his distinctive “ukiyo-e-style portraits” that depict contemporary figures in the manner of Japan’s Edo period.

Abandoned School in Rural Kyoto Offers A Second Chance

In the Keihoku district on the northern edge of Kyoto City, a free school operating out of a former elementary school has become a sanctuary for children who struggle to attend regular classes, offering not only a second chance at learning but also a place of emotional safety for both students and their parents.

Kindergarten Teacher Wage Cuts Stir Controversy

A proposed ordinance in Otsu, western Japan, that would effectively lower salaries for public kindergarten teachers by aligning them with the lower pay scale of nursery staff has drawn strong backlash, with a citizens’ group submitting more than 8,000 signatures to the Otsu City Council chair on February 26th calling for a review of the plan.

Are Junior High School Entrance Exams Value for Money?

The financial burden of Japan’s competitive junior high school entrance exams is coming under renewed scrutiny, with a popular manga series offering a lens through which to examine whether the process delivers value for families willing to spend heavily in pursuit of academic success.

Ovulation Test Kits in Modern Japan

In recent years, awareness of reproductive health has expanded significantly across Japan.

Flat Grapes Come to Life! The Secret of Shadow & Color for Powerful Depth

In this professional critique, I demonstrate how subtle changes in shadow, color temperature, and value contrast can transform flat shapes into convincing three-dimensional form. (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

Japanese Students In Dublin | 1984

Around 16,500 students travel to Ireland each year to study English. In this report, 34 students from Immaculate Heart University in Kagoshima, Japan, spend a month in Dublin attending classes at the Language Centre of Ireland on Grafton Street , the third group from their university to do so. (TRNGL)

< 2 3 4 5 >