Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
From ritual tea ceremonies and graceful gardens to the world's first high-speed train and modern skyscrapers, Japan is an innovative society steeped in ancient culture. The Japanese people work hard but keep active and entertained, participating in activities like kendo (Japanese fencing), kabuki (theater), and even baseball. No wonder Japan is one of the most popul;ar study abroad programs.
As an AFSer, you'll have an unparalleled opportunity to dive into Japanese culture and live with a host family while attending a local high school. Japanese society places high value on education, so your academic experience will be rigorous. You will probably wear a school uniform, which AFS will help you purchase secondhand if possible. Be ready to get peddling, as most students commute to school on bike, often several kilometers a day.
Your local chapter may organize activities throughout the course of your study, which may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Japan. Also, over the course of your program, AFS staff and volunteers will meet with you at orientations to evaluate your experience and help with your cultural adjustment.
Language
Japanese is the official language of Japan.
The ability to speak Japanese is not a prerequisite for the program but a year or more of formal study is strongly suggested. We highly recommend that you learn as much Japanese as possible prior to departure.
Host Family & Community
You can be placed anywhere in Japan, yet most placements are located in suburban and rural areas. About 50% of placements are in rural areas, 40% are suburban placements, and the remaining 10% are urban.
Host families in Japan, like all AFS host families worldwide, are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
The Japanese
Japanese people do not call attention to themselves; they try to blend in and are notably polite. Teamwork, cooperation, industriousness, loyalty and consensus are core Japanese values.
Family is the foundation of Japanese society, bound by a strong sense of position, obligation and responsibility. Early on, Japanese children learn to forgo personal gain for the benefit of the group as a whole, and to value group harmony. Seniority is respected, and Japanese children are taught to hold their elders in the highest regard. Parents tend to keep a close eye on their children’s behavior, and high school students are rarely allowed to go out after the evening meal.
Because the country’s major cities are among the most crowded in the world, living space is limited. Even in tight quarters, though, Japanese homes manage to blend ancient customs with contemporary conveniences. Some families sleep on futons, sit on cushions and eat at low tables. When one enters a Japanese house, they leave their shoes at the doorway and will wear slippers provided by the host. Only socks or bare feet are allowed in the rooms with tatami floors (straw mats). There are even special slippers just for using the bathroom.
Teens
Japanese teens devote themselves almost entirely to schoolwork and extracurricular clubs that fall into two general categories: sports (baseball, soccer, judo, kendo, track, tennis, swimming, softball, volleyball, rugby, etc.) and culture (English, broadcasting, calligraphy, science, mathematics, yearbook planning, etc.). Clubs meet nearly every day for about two hours. Japanese teens also enjoy going to movies or shopping as a group on weekends.
Meals
Food is art in Japan, and your host family will most likely prepare some amazing meals. The Japanese diet consists largely of rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, fruit, meat (mostly pork and chicken) and seafood. Meals are eaten with chopsticks. Rice and green tea are part of almost every meal. Nowadays, Western style dishes are also served.
Those who request special foods, prepare separate food for themselves, or raid the refrigerator are frowned upon.
AFS Japan doesn’t accept strict vegetarians, so please be flexible in your dietary restrictions; acceptance to the program will depend on the availability of families willing to host students with dietary restrictions.
It is illegal for people under 20 years of age to drink or smoke in Japan.
Host School
In Japan, the school year begins in April and ends in March. This means that if your program departs in the fall, you will arrive in Japan in the middle of the school year and you will be enrolled in the second term of the year. If you depart in the spring, you will begin the first term of a new school year.
Most public schools have classes five days a week. Schools start 8:30am and end at 3-3:30pm. Each class averages 35-45 students. Some private schools also have classes on Saturday mornings. Schools have mid-term and final exams.
School uniforms are required and the volunteers in your host community will try to help you find a second hand uniform from a local "uniform bank.” If you are not able to find one second hand, please budget $500-$1000 to purchase a new uniform.
Colored or dyed hair is not allowed at school. Boys must keep their hair cut short and be clean shaven. Tattoos and piercings are unacceptable in the school setting.
The most common way to commute to school is by bicycle so be prepared to ride several kilometers each day if necessary.
Check out the Host School FAQ (.pdf).
Travel
You will receive a Travel Notification email about 6 weeks prior to international departure with your international flight itinerary and detailed instructions for when to arrive at the Gateway Orientation site in Los Angeles. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In Los Angeles, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Tokyo.
International airfare is included as part of the Tuition, but you will be responsible for providing your own transportation to the Gateway City.
Your Arrival
After the Gateway Orientation in Los Angeles, you and your fellow AFSers will travel together to Tokyo, the capital city, where AFS staff and volunteers will be waiting for you at the airport. After a 2-3 day arrival orientation, you will take a bus (or plane if you’re hosted in the far north or south) to your host community and meet your host family. Your host family may come to pick you up at the orientation site.
Your Return
Right before your departure, there will be a final AFS orientation to prepare you for the return home. You will then fly from Tokyo back to Los Angeles with the other AFS students who were living in Japan.
Orientations & Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the locally held Pre-Departure Orientation, the Culture Trek online orientation, and the national Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize your AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
Arrival Orientation
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka depending on your placement. This will be a 2-3 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
Mid-Stay Orientations
After about a month, you will have another orientation, organized at the local level. This will last for a day or so and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you are participating in a year program, you will also be offered a 1-2 day mid-stay orientation about halfway through your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first half of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp a few weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include get-togethers or excursions to other cities or regions in Japan. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are not included in the tuition.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- Be within the age range upon departure (located in the ‘read more’ drop-down)
- Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
- Have a U.S. passport at the time of application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the program end date.
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Participation Notes
Strict vegetarianism will not be accommodated by AFS Japan.
High school graduates may be considered for program participation if they meet the eligibility requirements. Graduates must be motivated to participate actively in school and extra-curricular activities and comply with the high expectations of Japanese high schools.
The ability to speak Japanese is not a prerequisite for the program, but a year or more of formal study is strongly suggested.
