are japanese high schools like what they portray in anime

by Dr. Jasen Kessler III 4 min read

Japanese high schools in anime are full of good looking people. They all have perfect hair, no acne, and have perfect bodies. This is obviously not what real life high school is like. High school students in reality are awkward physically, still growing into their bodies and personalities.

Full Answer

Is school life in Japan similar to what is portrayed in anime?

- Quora Is the school life in Japan similar to what is portrayed by high school animes like Chihayafuru? Originally Answered: Is Japanese high school life really similar to how high school life is pictured in anime? Not in the slightest. For example, everyone is around 15 or 16 years old, not 24.

What's it like to go to high school in Japan?

Japanese high schools are depicted in anime as being drama-filled bastions where student councils wield absolute power, and parents are a non-entity. But as the Eat Your Kimchi duo found out this week, things are a little less exciting in real-life Japanese high-schools.

Do Japanese schools have school uniforms?

Japanese schools can be quite strict about clothing and personal expression. In the average anime, students wear some version of a school uniform. Most Japanese schools do have a uniform for students. But, real school uniforms are far less fashion-forward than what you see in anime.

Do Japanese high school students live by themselves in real-life?

Japanese high school students DON'T live by themselves in real-life! For some reason, high-school anime depict many students who live by themselves. In real-life though, this never happens, whether it was in Japan or Canada where Simon and Martina are from, and it all stems from logistics - why would a student live by themselves in the first place?

Are Japanese high school like anime?

The highschool scenes are like the actual real life japanese schools. But the colored hair in anime is not the same because students have to have the same uniform and black colored hair. For other types of animes it does go off of real life events or scenarios.

Do Japanese schools look like in anime?

In anime, you might see students hanging out with their friends, eating snacks, and chatting in their classrooms. Unfortunately, real Japanese schools are much more strict and many students do not have as much time as you may think for cliques and other things similar to what you might see in anime shows.

What is Japanese high school really like?

They spend an average of two hours per day watching television, half an hour listening to the radio, an hour reading casually, and less than half an hour in social relations with peers outside of school. Japanese adults tend to perceive high school students in many ways as large children instead of young adults.

Do schools in Japan teach anime?

There Are Many Schools in Japan Where You Can Study Anime! Apart from Anime production companies, Japan has many schools where you can study Anime as well, and there is an extensive range of creators across the country.

Do Japanese high schoolers actually live alone?

No, this is actually a thing! While it's not EXTREMELY common, it's definitely not unusual for Japanese high school students to live alone, away from their family.

Are schools strict in Japan?

The students in Japanese schools are generally better behaved and there are far fewer discipline problems than in the United States. Studies have also shown that Japanese students on average spend about one-third more time learning each class period than American students do.

Do Japanese schools let you wear makeup?

In some high schools in Japan, the dress code may be strict, with teachers checking students' uniforms meticulously, even nail and hair length! Also, don't wear makeup, nail polish, or piercings at school; keep those for when you let your hair down on the weekend.

What grade is a 15 year old in Japan?

Comparison between the Age and Grade Structures in Japan and other countriesAgeJapanU.S.A.11-12​ELMN 6Grade 612-13JHS 1Grade 713-14JHS 2Grade 814-15JHS 3Grade 912 more rows•Jan 25, 2022

Is dating allowed in Japanese schools?

Education In Japan. Dating is forbidden at all of the junior high schools, and most parents and teachers believe that few junior high school students date. Parents, teachers, and students alike agree that dating does not play a part in the lives of the vast majority of junior high students.

Is Japanese high school hard?

Japanese students study very hard in high school, so they can pass the entrance exams to get into a reputable national or private university. Once they get into their dream college, things become more relaxed as they are almost guaranteed to graduate.

Are student teacher relationships common in Japan?

The Japanese student/teacher relationship is a very strong one. Most schools are fairly small, so each classroom of students has a single teacher that follows them through their career at the school. This teacher is held almost as responsible for the children as a parent would be, both in and out of school.

Which school in Japan has the best uniform?

1. 北海道松前高等学校/ Matsumae High School in Hokkaido. This school uniform has a pink ribbon as its charm point. The shape and color are unique compared to other schools.

What are the uniforms in Japanese schools?

Japan is well known for its uniform culture. Japanese schools can be quite strict about clothing and personal expression. In the average anime, students wear some version of a school uniform. Most Japanese schools do have a uniform for students. But, real school uniforms are far less fashion-forward than what you see in anime. You won’t find any student sporting pastel skirts or garish colored plaid pants. Uniforms lean toward the conservative. Knee-length skirts and subdued colors like navy, black, or beige are most typical. The variety of uniforms is also not as wide as what you see portrayed in anime. There are a few basic uniform types. Blazers with pants or a skirt, sailor-style uniforms, and the gakuran – black uniform with a high collar are the norm.

What are the most common uniforms in anime?

Knee-length skirts and subdued colors like navy, black, or beige are most typical. The variety of uniforms is also not as wide as what you see portrayed in anime. There are a few basic uniform types. Blazers with pants or a skirt, sailor-style uniforms, and the gakuran – black uniform with a high collar are the norm.

What is an anime trope?

Often anime characters will have some identifying accessory or style. A silly amount of jewelry or wild hair color is a common anime trope. While it gives the character personality it’s not that realistic. Such expressions of individuality in a Japanese school are rarely tolerated.

Why are school clubs important?

School clubs are a major commitment for the average student. Lack of sleep and falling behind are common complaints brought on by club schedules. Many schools have a variety of clubs, sports, academics, art, culture, and band clubs are common.

Is Japan full of high school students living on their own?

High school students living on their own. Anime may leave you with the impression that Japan is full of high school students living on their own. Although not unheard of it is far less common than anime might have you believe.

Do Japanese teachers have to be superheroes?

A teacher need not be a superhero to take that extra step. Home visits are standard practice for Japanese teachers. In fact, homeroom teachers are very involved in their students’ home lives. It’s not only house calls. Teachers often take responsibility for their student’s behavior in and out of school.

Do Japanese students travel home?

Even then students will usually travel home on a regular basis. Most Japanese parents keep close tabs on their children. Sometimes anime does get it right, well almost…. There are a few things you might encounter in a Japanese school that also appeared in anime.

What is the student council in anime?

In anime no one is cooler or more highly revered in high school than the student council. They are are held at a higher prestige, respect, and hold actual authority over other students. While in reality this is just not true at all.

Is anime like real life?

There is one statement that stands to be true about many aspects of society, "Anime isn't like real life." This applies to many situations, as Japanese animation features an ultra glorified, extreme, or sometimes ridiculous version of real life. With the recent spike in popularity of slice-of-life series, many shows show an "ordinary" student in a "normal" Japanese high school. But the high school setting shown in these shows and movies are seen by some as what it is really like to live in Japan, but according to real life Japanese students, that is far from the truth.

Do high school students live alone?

1. That Some High School Students live alone. In anime you see high school characters who are either orphaned by their parents, or has a rough home life and lives by themselves in their own apartment. However this in extremely rare in real life. Just like in the United States, it is unlikely that a student in high school will have their own ...

Do students go up on the roof?

The roof provides a chance for a beautiful backdrop of serene clouds or epic rain. But according to real life students, students never actually go up on the roof .

1. Japanese high school students DON'T live by themselves in real-life!

For some reason, high-school anime depict many students who live by themselves. In real-life though, this never happens, whether it was in Japan or Canada where Simon and Martina are from, and it all stems from logistics - why would a student live by themselves in the first place?

2. The student council actually has very little power in real-life

Despite student councils being depicted as power-wielding entities in anime, real-life high-school student councils actually hold very little power.

3. Those classic roof top moments? Never, ever happens!

Some classic high-school anime moments always take place on roof-tops, for some reason, but don't expect those moments to ever happen in real-life because high-school roofs are always locked!

4. There really aren't that many good-looking people in real-life high-schools..

For some reason, nearly every high-school student is super good-looking in anime. But in real-life, the unfortunate truth is that students are far from the chiseled-Adonis' seen on TV. High-school is a time where students are still growing and losing their baby fat, so don't expect anyone to be a ripped athlete like you see on " Yuri on Ice ."

How to listen

SBS PopAsia is streaming live 24/7 on digital radio. Catch Eat Your Kimchi 's radio show at 10pm (AEST) every Monday.

Why do anime have to be set in a school?

But on the other hand, it also makes it impossible to give your characters much privacy for solitary reflection, intimate conversations, or other such impactful story beats.

Is anime real life?

But as we’ve seen in the past, anime and reality can sometimes be very different things, and that’s true for anime and real-world high schools as well.

Do anime characters have their own apartment?

Whether because their parents died, remarried, or moved overseas for work, many anime protagonists have their own private residence, which helps to facilitate regular clandestine visits from flirtatious members of the opposite sex. But in reality, you’re about as unlikely to find a high school student with his or her own apartment in Japan as you are in the U.S. or any other developed Western country. “Unless it’s in a boarding school dormitory, I’ve never seen or heard of an actual high school student living on their own,” said one respondent.

What is the anime industry known for?

The anime industry is known for churning out a lot of "slice of life" comedy and drama series, and they often take place in a high school. This isn't an accident; many anime viewers are high school themselves, so this academic setting is relatable and familiar. But that doesn't have to make for stale, routine storytelling.

How many witches are there in Yamada Kun?

12 Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. Now we get a harem anime, and not only that, but a set of seven magical girls, as the name suggests! As expected, this anime packs all kinds of high-voltage high school hijinks, and it all starts when Ryu Yamada trips and knocks over his classmate on the stairs.

What is the series after the rain about?

After the Rain is actually a quietly uplifting series about healing and self-confidence.

Where is the Hojo series set?

This comedy shojo series is set at Ouran high school , where the female lead, Haruhi Fujioka, accidentally breaks a valuable vase. To make things right, she joins the host club, where handsome boys reside, and she is thrust into what's known as a reverse harem.

Is Whiplash a high school comedy?

This high school comedy is truly wacky and insane, even by anime standards! You never know what you'll get with each episode of this whiplash anime, and none of the characters are as simple as they look. Except possibly for Yuuko, who mostly reacts to the lunacy around her (and struggles to study, too).

Is Koro Sensei cursed?

This is no ordinary high school. It may not be cursed and there 's no body-swapping or gambling, but there is a big yellow alien, Koro-sensei. He is an invader who wants to doom the entire Earth, but he also wants to teach.

Who is the girl in Toradora?

5 Toradora! This high school comedy stars the tiny but tough girl Taiga Aisaka, who has a serious reputation for kicking butt. Meanwhile, she ends up in a surprise friendship with Ryuji, who certainly looks scary, but in reality wouldn't harm a fly.