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Nijiiro: a guide for families in Japan whose child doesn’t fit the school system
Find a way oflearning thatfits your child.
School refusal, neurodivergence, or a child who is simply unhappy at school. We explain how the Japanese system works, what support exists, and what options you have, in plain English.
Start here →Where would you like to begin?
Pick the entry point closest to your situation.
Five Japanese terms every parent should know
Schools and city offices will use these words. Knowing them makes every conversation easier. Our glossary of Japanese school terms explains more than sixty of them.
Futoko
不登校 / school refusalThe official term for a child who misses 30 or more days of school a year for reasons other than illness or finances. In FY2024, 353,970 elementary and junior high students were counted as futoko, a record high (MEXT). It is common, and it is not a failure on anyone’s part.
Shusseki atsukai
出席扱い / counted as attendanceUnder Ministry of Education guidelines, a principal can count learning outside school, such as at a free school or through approved online study at home, as school attendance. It is decided school by school, so it is worth asking early.
Kyoiku shien center
教育支援センター / education support centerA public support room run by the local board of education for children who are not attending school. It is usually free, and many are small and quiet.
Free school
フリースクール / alternative schoolA private place to learn and spend the day outside regular school. Your child usually stays enrolled at their local school. Fees, style, and hours vary widely, so compare before you choose.
Tsushinsei high school
通信制高校 / correspondence high schoolA high school where most study happens remotely, with a small number of in-person days. Graduates receive a regular high school diploma, which keeps university and work options open.
Learning options beyond regular school
Compare them by cost, legal status, how often your child goes, and how your child is doing right now.
Each card opens an English guide. Where a guide points to a more detailed Japanese article, the link is marked JA; your browser’s translate feature handles those well.
Free schools and alternative schools
Costs, approach, how to visit
Education support centers
Free public support near you
Online schools
A second place to learn, alongside school
Homeschooling in Japan
How to start, attendance, next steps
International schools
Fees, admission, options outside Tokyo
Correspondence high schools
Choosing by health, needs, schedule
You don’t needthe right word yet.
No diagnosis, no school name needed. Start with whatever is worrying you most today.
First time here? →Not sure which option fits?
Answer eight questions and we’ll list the options worth considering first. It doesn’t assess your child.
Free schools, support centers, correspondence high schools, homeschooling. You’ve heard the names, but which applies to your family? This tool is for that moment.
About 2 minutes / “Not sure” is always an option / No sign-up or email
Sometimes the honest answer is “rest comes first.” The tool will tell you that, too.
Guides for families living outside Japan
For international families whose children go to school in another country.
Guides for international families in Japan
For families whose children go to, or are starting at, a Japanese school.
Five learning communities from NIJIN
Nijiiro is run by NIJIN Inc. These are NIJIN’s own schools: some replace regular school, others work alongside it.
NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY
A bilingual online international school, opening September 2027
Learn more →
Tomodachi Japan
Online Japanese classes for children aged about 5 through high school
Learn more →
NIJIN Academy JA
An alternative school with a metaverse campus and in-person classrooms
Learn more →
NIJIN High School JA
Support for students at correspondence high schools
Learn more →
After-School Project School JA
Project-based learning after regular school hours
Learn more →Why we started Nijiiro
“Nijiiro” means “rainbow colors” in Japanese. Every child has a different color, and not every child fits the shape of a regular school. We publish practical, sourced information for parents whose children learn differently, so that no family has to figure it out alone.
Nijiiro is an owned media site of NIJIN Inc. Links to NIJIN’s schools are marked PR. Read about our editorial team and our corrections policy, or go to the 日本語トップ.