Can you go to a Japanese school if you are not that Japanese?

Question

I'm white but I'm really interested in learning the Japanese language and cutlture, so would I be able to go to a Japanese school although I'm not Japanese?

Can you go to a Japanese school if you are not Japanese. * Minus the that, sorry.

Answer 1

I don't know about public school, but private schools difinetely accept foreign exchange students. For public schools, I have seen non-Japanese there, but getting them to take you will be difficult as you will get caught in overly complicated burocratic system of Japan....

There are plenty of private schools in Japan that accepts "exchange" students. Now, "exchange" doesn't really mean 1 to 1 exchange.... It just means, they accept students from foreign country to study for one year.

Are you at highschool level, college, or something else?

You must be aware, though, everything is conducted in Japanese. Of course, if you are at highschool level or lower, as a foreign student, you will not be expected to be able to read or write in Japanese. If you are enrollign in colleges, high degree of language comprehension is required.

The most difficult part of the whole process is to find the prospective school. The only way I know how to do this, is to find a school in US that has Japanese exchange students from Japan. Then ask the school what organization refered the student to them, then work backwards.

Good luck.

P.S. responding to "discrimantory" comment by one of the responders... US is pretty much an only country where public services are offered to non-tax paying visitors for free of charge. In most other countries, many services are reserved for citizens or legal residents only. It is not a matter of discriminations. It is the matter of needing to be there rightfully before services are rendered.

Answer 2

That would all depend on what the Japanese government has to say about it. You'd need to have the proper visa to enter and stay in the country.
Being a foreigner living in Japan, I don't think that you'd really want to go to a regular Japanese school in japan. The education system here sucks (i work in the field) and school life here is really hard on the students. You'd probably experience a lot of bullying from other students, and worst of all, in Japan students frequently kill other students IN and off of school grounds.
If you'd like to come to Japan to learn the language and culture, try a homestay first. Or, get yourself into a place the the "American School In Japan" (not only for Americans)

Answer 3

If you know Japanese and/or live in Japan, sure. Or if you do an exchange program.

Though it's uncommon, black and white children do attend Japanese schools because they and their families live in Japan and it'd only make sense for them to do it. You wouldn't be denied, but you'd certainly get attention by being different (and not the good kind, either).

Answer 4

I don't know about going to school, but there are culture exchange programs out there that let you go stay with a host family in Japan for a week or more and learn some of the language and culture. I don't know much about them, but I've had a friend that went to Japan with one, and they had a lot of fun. Like I said, though, I don't know where you would go about contacting such or program or how much it would cost, but they do exist.

Answer 5

I am sure you can if you pay enough. There are schools that will cater for both. If they don't allow non Japanese then it is discriminatory

Answer 6

I imagine so... and I have this strange, vague feeling I know you... if you don't know who I am then ignore me. haha.