American School in Japan

An American Curriculum with International Breadth

ASIJ follows a U.S. college-preparatory curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12, enriched by the international context of its Tokyo location. The curriculum covers the full range of academic disciplines — English language and literature, mathematics through AP Calculus BC, the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics), history, economics, psychology, computer science, and the visual and performing arts — all taught in English.

22 Advanced Placement Courses

At the High School level, ASIJ offers 22 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, placing it among the most AP-rich international schools in Japan. Course offerings include AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics (multiple levels), AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, AP Economics (Macro and Micro), AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language, AP Chinese Language, and AP Studio Art. Additionally, through the Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) partnership, students can access university-level coursework for transferable credit.

University Placement Outcomes

ASIJ's college counselling programme is highly regarded. Graduates matriculate at leading universities across the United States (including Ivy League institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT, as well as Duke, UC Berkeley, and the University of Chicago), the United Kingdom (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, and UCL), Canada, Australia, and Japan's top national universities. Approximately 40% of graduates in recent classes have enrolled at universities ranked in the global top 100, and typically 5–10 students per year gain places at Ivy League or Oxbridge institutions.

World Languages

ASIJ recognises that linguistic competence is central to global citizenship. Japanese is compulsory at the Elementary level, and Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are offered as electives through to Grade 12, providing university-level preparation in multiple world languages. The school's student newspaper, Hanabi, notes that Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese represent the three pillars of ASIJ's world language programme — reflecting both the school's Tokyo setting and its aspiration to prepare graduates for globally mobile careers.

A School Born from Necessity

The American School in Japan traces its origins to 1902, when a small group of American missionary families in Tokyo needed a place to educate their children. Classes began modestly at the YMCA in Kanda and at Episcopal Mission facilities — an informal arrangement that nonetheless planted the seed for what would become Japan's oldest and most respected international school.

Early Growth and Identity Formation

Through the 1910s and 1920s the school relocated several times, reflecting both its growing student body and changing circumstances in pre-war Tokyo. The pivotal moment came in 1921, when ASIJ opened a dedicated campus on reclaimed land in Shibaura and formally adopted the name The American School in Japan — an identity that has endured for over a century. This marked the transition from an informal community arrangement to a recognised institution.

Post-War Resilience and Expansion

Following World War II, ASIJ re-established its presence in Tokyo and grew steadily alongside Japan's post-war economic renaissance. The school's reputation attracted distinguished visitors: Crown Prince Akihito attended the 75th anniversary celebrations in 1977, and U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush (1990) and George W. Bush (2004) visited the campus — a testament to ASIJ's prominence in the Tokyo diplomatic and expatriate community.

The Modern Era

ASIJ's centennial in 2002 was a milestone moment, celebrated with events that looked both backward at its heritage and forward to its future. In subsequent decades, major capital projects transformed the Chofu campus: a 570-seat proscenium theatre, a dedicated Early Learning Center (ELC) in Roppongi for ages 3–5, and the Creative Arts Design Center (C.A.D.C.) with five design and technology labs. The Chofu campus now spans 14.33 acres (approximately 58,000 m²), offering facilities described as among the finest of any international school in Japan.

Continuity of Mission

Despite all the physical and institutional growth, ASIJ's core purpose has remained constant: to foster inquisitive, independent learners who are empowered to make a difference in the world. From a single rented room in 1902 to a two-campus institution with nearly 1,700 students representing 59 nationalities, ASIJ's history is a story of a community that consistently invested in the future of its children.

The Core Mission

At the heart of everything ASIJ does is a clearly articulated mission: "fostering a community of inquisitive learners and independent thinkers, inspired to be their best selves, empowered to make a difference." This is not merely marketing language — it shapes curriculum design, hiring decisions, extracurricular programming, and the physical design of learning spaces.

Inquiry-Based and Personalised Learning

ASIJ's pedagogical approach is rooted in inquiry. Rather than delivering content for passive absorption, teachers at ASIJ are trained to pose questions that provoke deeper thinking, encourage students to construct their own understanding, and develop skills of analysis and synthesis that transfer across disciplines. This philosophy is reinforced by small class sizes (averaging around 17 students in the early years and 20 in elementary) and a favourable student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 7.4:1.

Personalisation is a second pillar. ASIJ recognises that students arrive with different backgrounds, learning styles, and goals. The curriculum — anchored in the American college-preparatory tradition with 22 Advanced Placement courses at the high school level — provides both rigour and flexibility, allowing students to pursue depth in subjects that matter most to them.

Core Values in Practice

ASIJ explicitly names a set of values that it seeks to instil: Integrity, Excellence, Community, Resilience, Curiosity, Global Citizenship, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. These values are visible across campus life — from the academic classroom to the 570-seat performing arts theatre, from the robotics lab to the 170+ co-curricular activities on offer.

The concept of Global Citizenship is particularly prominent. With 59 nationalities represented in a student body of approximately 1,700, international-mindedness is a lived daily reality rather than an aspirational statement. Students collaborate across cultural and linguistic boundaries from their earliest years.

Vision for the Future

ASIJ's vision — "continuing to shape the future through transformative learning experiences" — signals an institution that does not rest on its 120-year heritage but continually reinvests in what education can and should be. The C.A.D.C. maker spaces, the Reggio Emilia-inspired ELC curriculum, and the ongoing professional development of faculty all reflect this forward orientation.

The Chofu Campus: A World-Class Facility

The main Chofu campus spans 14.33 acres (approximately 58,000 m²) in western Tokyo and is consistently described as one of the finest international school facilities in Japan. For students in Kindergarten through Grade 12, daily life unfolds against a backdrop of state-of-the-art buildings and generous open spaces adjacent to a wooded park.

Sports infrastructure is exceptional: two full-size artificial turf fields for soccer and other team sports, six outdoor tennis courts, three full-size gymnasia, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a wrestling room, dance studio, and a fitness centre. Competitive athletics are taken seriously — ASIJ fields varsity teams in football (soccer), basketball, baseball, softball, swimming, tennis, wrestling, track and field, volleyball, kendo, and karate at the Kanto regional level.

Performing Arts are anchored by a 570-seat proscenium theatre — one of the largest in any Tokyo school — complemented by a flexible Black Box theatre and dedicated rehearsal rooms for band, jazz, choir, and strings. The campus also houses the Creative Arts Design Center (C.A.D.C.) with five design and technology laboratories, a robotics workshop, and STEM maker spaces that encourage hands-on experimentation.

Academic spaces include four division-specific libraries (ELC, Elementary, Middle, and High School), fully equipped science laboratories, computer labs, and a campus-wide wireless network. Multiple cafeterias serve hot meals, and outdoor performance plazas and playgrounds round out the environment.

The Roppongi Early Learning Center

The ELC in Roppongi is a purposefully intimate facility of approximately 1,736 m², designed specifically for children aged 3–5 (Nursery and Kindergarten). Its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum prioritises creative play, exploration, and early language development. The ELC features dedicated classrooms, creative and play spaces, a library, a music room, and safe indoor and outdoor play areas. Its Roppongi location makes it accessible to the many expat families living in central Tokyo, with Roppongi Station a short 5–7 minute walk away.

Daily Life and Culture

ASIJ's atmosphere is described by students and staff as energetic, diverse, and supportive. There is no school uniform — a dress code is enforced instead — reflecting a culture of individual expression within a framework of community standards. The house system creates vertical bonds across year groups, and the 170+ co-curricular activities ensure that virtually every student can find a passion outside the classroom.

Selective but Holistic

ASIJ is widely regarded as one of the most selective international schools in Tokyo. Applications routinely exceed the number of available places, and waitlists are common across multiple grade levels. Yet the admissions process is notably different from elite exam-school models: ASIJ does not administer a formal entrance examination.

Instead, the admissions office evaluates applicants on a combination of:

• Previous academic records (school transcripts and teacher reports)
• Assessments and evaluations conducted during the application process
• Interviews with students and families
• English language readiness, since all instruction is in English

The English Proficiency Requirement

English proficiency is a non-negotiable baseline. Uniquely, ASIJ requires that at least one parent be fluent in English — a policy designed to ensure that the school community (including parent communications, governance, and events) can function effectively in English. Applicants who are non-native English speakers receive EAL (English as an Additional Language) support once enrolled, but a minimum level of readiness is expected.

No Scholarships or Financial Aid

ASIJ is transparent that it does not offer scholarships, bursaries, or financial aid to new applicants. Tuition for the 2025–26 academic year ranges from ¥2,987,000 (Nursery–Pre-K) to ¥3,533,000 (Grades 9–12), with additional one-time fees including a ¥300,000 enrollment fee, a ¥1,525,000 capital levy (building maintenance fee), a ¥250,000 annual capital assessment, and a ¥50,000 application fee. Many families rely on employer (corporate) sponsorship programmes to manage these costs.

Timing and Process

ASIJ typically opens applications in the autumn for entry the following academic year (which begins in late August). Prospective families are encouraged to begin the process early, as spaces — particularly in the highly sought-after Kindergarten and Grade 9 entry points — fill quickly. The school's admissions team provides guidance on current availability through the official admissions portal.