Keimei Gakuen's international-student entry for April 2027: who may apply, and the interview parents join

Keimei Gakuen Junior High (啓明学園中学校, Akishima, Tokyo) is a private school that runs an international-student entry (国際生入試, kokusaisei nyūshi) alongside its general exams. Its April 2027 guidebook (募集要項) sets out who may apply and what happens, including a short online interview that a parent attends with the child.

Who may apply

All of these:

1. Born from 2 April 2014 to 1 April 2015.
2. Able to commute from the parents' home (保護者のもとから通学が可能).
3. Understands the school's educational policy.
4. At least one of:
   • enrolled at an international school in Japan for two years or more (国内インターナショナルスクールに２年以上在籍);
   • living in a multilingual environment (多言語環境にある者);
   • a foreign national who can stay in Japan legally for a year or more (１年以上合法的に滞在できる外国籍の者).

The guidebook does not define "multilingual environment". Ask the school's international education centre (国際教育センター, kokusai_info@keimei-std.jp) whether your family's situation counts.

A child in any of these situations may not take the school's English one-subject exam and is told to take the returnee or international-student exam instead: a year or more at a school abroad and due to return, or back within three years; two years or more at an international school in Japan; a multilingual environment. The two- and three-subject exams and the aptitude-test exam stay open to them.

Dates and places

Step	When
Online application	Sun 10 Jan 2027, 9:00 – Wed 20 Jan 2027, 16:00
Papers by simple registered mail (簡易書留)	must arrive by Thu 21 Jan 2027
Pre-interview (online)	Mon 25 – Wed 27 Jan 2027
Exam	Tue 2 Feb 2027, assemble 8:30 (gate 8:00)
Results (online only)	Tue 2 Feb 2027, 21:00 – Thu 4 Feb 2027, 16:00

Places: 5, boys and girls together. Exam fee ¥27,000.

The pre-interview with a parent (プレインタビュー)

Before the exam every international-student applicant has a pre-interview (プレインタビュー). The child and a parent join it together, online by Zoom, for about 20 to 30 minutes. The school asks about the child's past schooling and language environment (これまでの学習歴や言語環境など). The guidebook says it is not an exam, but it is required. You book it from the link in the email that confirms the fee payment.

The guidebook gives the topics only, not a list of questions. A practical way to prepare is to have the facts in front of you: the schools your child attended, the language of teaching at each, and the languages used at home.

The exam itself

	English type (英語型)	Foreign-language type (外国語型, the language the child studies in)
Essay in that language	English, 40 minutes	that language, 40 minutes
Japanese	essay, or a test matched to the child's Japanese, 40 minutes	the same
Interview (child)	English and Japanese, about 10 minutes each	Japanese, about 10 minutes; some questions may be in the other language

For a child aiming at the international English class, the English-type interview is also the placement test. A child who passes may still be placed in the semi-international or general English class.

Papers to send

• Application form (printed after applying online).
• International-student history form (国際生履歴データ, school form).
• Transcripts or report-card copies covering grade 4 term 1 to grade 6 term 1.
• If at an international or local school: a recommendation from that school on the school's form, sealed.
• If at a Japanese elementary school too briefly for a recent report: an introduction letter (入学志願者紹介状) on the school's form, sealed.
• Optional: English test results from the last two years, awards.
• Foreign nationals: copies of a valid passport and of proof of residence status.

Paying the entry fee if you also apply elsewhere

The entry fee is ¥320,000 and is not refunded for any reason.

• If Keimei is your first choice: pay between Tue 2 Feb 21:00 and Thu 4 Feb 2027, 16:00.
• If you are also applying to another school (併願): the guidebook says to pay by 12:00 on the day after the results of your first-choice school's first round and of this international entry (第一志望校第一次募集の入試および国際生入試合格発表日の翌日12:00まで). Ask the school which date that is for your plan, and tell the school if you decline.

Not paying in time counts as declining the place. After payment the school sends an enrolment approval (入学承認書) for you to hand to the board of education where you live.

Fees and language classes after entry

The guidebook lists 2027 tuition at ¥516,000 a year, plus fixed fees and a deposit. International progress class fees are separate, for example Japanese ¥144,000, international English ¥192,000, and a heritage-language class (外国語保持クラス) ¥120,000 a year. The heritage-language classes offered are Chinese, Korean, French, German and Spanish.

If a big earthquake stops the trains

The guidebook quotes the Tokyo private-school association's policy. If a minor quake delays trains, exam times may be changed. If almost all trains stop with no prospect of restarting, every private junior and senior high in Tokyo and Kanagawa cancels its scheduled exams, and they all resume later, moved back together. Check the school's website first.

Meeting the conditions lets a child apply; it does not decide a result. Confirm everything with the school before you apply.