As an English teacher living in Japan, I often find myself comparing the Japanese school system to the American high school system. Japanese schools are known for having a unique and strict approach to education, something that many Americans may find difficult to adjust to.
Recently, American TikTok creator Hito Bito (@hito.bito) shared a video titled “Things about my school in Japan that could send Americans into a coma”, which highlighted the differences between the two school systems. According to Hito Bito, all students are required to change from outdoor to indoor shoes as soon as they enter the school. Furthermore, Japanese students are expected to serve themselves their lunch, clean their trays, and clean the entire school from top to bottom every day. Additionally, Japanese schools have a very strict dress code, which includes no dyed hair, no piercings, and no makeup.
The video has since gone viral, garnering over 15 million views and thousands of comments from fascinated viewers. Many praised the school for its emphasis on cleanliness and responsibility, while others expressed a desire to attend school in Japan.
Rules implemented in Japanese schools have made headlines in the past for being overly strict. In 2017, an 18-year-old Japanese woman filed a lawsuit against the Osaka prefecture government after a school forced her to dye her naturally brown hair black. Meanwhile, a private high school faced backlash in 2019 after students were forced to kneel and bow to their teacher during an assembly.
It is clear that the Japanese school system is very different from the American high school system. While some may find the rules and regulations to be too strict, it is undeniable that the Japanese school system instills a sense of responsibility and cleanliness in its students.
