“My son studying in Japan? That’s not possible!”
That was the immediate reaction from the mother of John, a high school junior in California. His parents had reached out to discuss US college options — ideally ones with strong study-abroad programs in Japan. Born into a mixed-language household (his mother is Japanese), John had limited exposure to the language, and his parents had always assumed he would attend college in the US. But as we talked, it became clear that his interest in Japan went far beyond Pikachu and sushi. He had a genuine passion for Japanese architecture — centuries-old wooden structures, temples, and the craftsmen behind them.
That’s when I asked: “Have you considered applying to colleges in Japan directly?”
His mother’s response was immediate: “Japanese is such a difficult language. He could never keep up well enough to pass the entrance examination. I’ve heard applicants even have to write an essay on the spot — in Japanese.”
It’s a reaction I hear often. As college tuition continues to rise in the US, more families are exploring options abroad — Canada, the UK, and increasingly, Japan. What many don’t realize is that a growing number of Japanese universities now offer English-taught degree programs that require no Japanese proficiency at all.
For families where the child holds a Japanese passport but has limited Japanese ability, this can be confusing. Many assume that English-taught programs are reserved for ryugaku-sei — international students without Japanese citizenship — and that their own child, as a Japanese passport holder, is ineligible. Others, like John’s mother, believe that any student with Japanese citizenship must compete in the same rigorous entrance examination as Japan-educated peers. And even families who are aware of the kikoku-sei juken (returnee entrance examination) don’t realize their child won’t qualify. Eligibility is typically limited to students who lived abroad because a parent was posted overseas by their employer, which means students who chose to study abroad, attend boarding school, or who hold US citizenship or permanent residency are generally not eligible.
These are understandable assumptions, but they are misconceptions. In fact, if your child is a US-educated student with Japanese heritage, the path to a Japanese college may be more open — and more familiar — than you think.
English-based degree programs at Japanese universities use a holistic admissions process and admit students for a fall start, separate from the standard Japanese academic calendar, which begins in April. This admissions track is open to both kikoku-sei students and ryugaku-sei applicants from abroad. Importantly, students with dual Japanese and American citizenship are eligible for this path. For a closer look at how ryugaku-sei status is determined, please refer to my earlier post, “Am I a ‘Ryugakusei’ or am I not?”
The holistic admissions process will feel familiar to any family who has navigated US college applications. Japanese universities typically require a GPA, a personal statement, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, and standardized test scores. One notable difference: while many US colleges have moved to test-optional policies, Japanese universities still require SAT or ACT scores. It is also worth noting that Japanese colleges do not ask for the kind of personal narrative essay students write for the Common Application. Instead, applicants write goal-oriented essays, more closely aligned with the “Why this college?” supplemental essays used in US admissions.
One more practical point families often overlook: English-based programs in Japan typically close applications in January, well ahead of the spring entrance examination season that many Japanese families use as their mental calendar. This means the process needs to begin during junior year — not senior year.
Adding Japanese colleges to your child’s list may be more manageable than you expect. In future posts, I will walk through specific programs, deadlines, and what a strong application looks like. Stay tuned — and if you have questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch.