Kokusho Japanese Language School (国书日本语学校) is a Japanese language institution in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, founded in 1987 by the publisher Kokusho Kankokai. If you are planning to study Japanese in Japan before entering a university, graduate school, or vocational school — or to use Japanese in a business setting — this guide walks through the four things you need to decide: what kind of school this is, which program fits your goal, what the entry requirements and documents are, and what the costs and support services look like. Every fact below comes from the school’s official website as accessed on August 5, 2026.
About Kokusho Japanese Language School
Kokusho Japanese Language School operates in two buildings in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo — the Shimura and Azusawa campuses — and the school’s own FAQ reports roughly 348 enrolled students across both campuses and the morning and afternoon sessions as of July 2024. As a language school, it does not grant degrees; its role is to prepare students for admission to Japanese higher education or for careers that require strong Japanese. The “Kokusho” in the school’s name comes from its founding publisher, Kokusho Kankokai, which is also visible in the “Since 1987” marking on the official site.
Three structural points matter when you compare language schools. First, intake runs four times a year — January, April, July, and October — and the program length is tied to your intake: 1 year 3 months for January, 1 or 2 years for April, 1 year 9 months for July, and 1 year 6 months for October. Second, the basic eligibility requirement for international students is completion of 12 years of schooling. Third, everything from tuition to housing and living costs is planned around Itabashi Ward, a residential area of Tokyo. The school keeps classes small; the FAQ states a class cap of 20 students with an average of 15 to 17.
Programs: Academic Track and General Course
Kokusho Japanese Language School offers two main programs. The Academic Track (shingaku course) is for students aiming at Japanese universities, graduate schools, or vocational schools. The official curriculum page describes preparation for the Japan Examination for Students (EJU) and the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), practice for university entrance essays, statement of purpose writing, and interviews, plus the research-plan writing and presentation skills needed for graduate school applications. The General Course is for students who want to use Japanese in the workplace; it focuses on building all four language skills, with JLPT N1 preparation, business Japanese and polite language (keigo), and cultural understanding classes, useful both for finding work in Japan and for returning home to Japanese-affiliated employers.
Levels are mapped explicitly to JLPT grades: beginner I corresponds to N5, beginner II to N4, the first half of intermediate to N3, and the second half and upper intermediate to N2, with the advanced level aiming at N1. Class hours are 9:00 to 12:30 for the advanced level and 13:10 to 16:40 for intermediate and beginner levels, so morning and afternoon streams run in parallel. Teaching is conducted entirely in Japanese, which the school states explicitly in its FAQ. When choosing, decide first whether your goal is further study or employment: the Academic Track and the General Course differ clearly in content, JLPT targets, and post-graduation direction.
Entry Requirements: Who Can Apply and What to Prepare
The admissions page at Kokusho Japanese Language School lists four conditions for applicants: completion of 12 years of schooling, a clear purpose for studying in Japan, the basic academic ability to study at a Japanese higher education institution, and sufficient financial capacity to study without worry. Application windows are fixed by intake: for January enrollment, July 1 to the end of August; for April, September 1 to the end of October; for July, January 1 to the end of February; and for October, March 1 to the end of April. In practice, applying for the April intake means submitting documents the previous September, so planning starts about a year ahead.
The document checklist for the applicant includes: the application form, resume, and statement of purpose (on school-designated forms, handwritten by the applicant); the original graduation certificate or original certificate of graduation from the final school; a copy of the passport with all entry-exit stamp pages if there is travel history; eight ID photos taken within 6 months, sized 4×3 cm; a certificate of enrollment if currently studying at a high school or above; and a Japanese language certificate — the school requires a JLPT N4 or higher certificate, or a study certificate stating hours of Japanese study. Financial sponsor documents fall into three scenarios: if the applicant pays their own costs, a bank balance certificate in their own name, employment certificate, and income certificate for the last 3 years; if a relative sponsors, additionally a school-designated sponsorship form, a bankbook copy showing how the deposit was built up, and proof of the relationship; if a resident of Japan sponsors, tax certificates, a certificate of residence for all household members, and a family register are also required. All documents must be issued within 3 months of submission, so certificates should be timed rather than prepared too early.
Costs: From Application Fee to First-Year Payment
Fees at Kokusho Japanese Language School are charged at two points. At application, the selection fee (shikenryo) is 20,000 yen. When the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the school collects an entrance fee of 50,000 yen, annual tuition of 720,000 yen (including textbooks), a facility fee of 40,000 yen, and an extracurricular activity fee of 40,000 yen — 870,000 yen in total — plus a medical insurance fee of 10,000 yen for a one-year contract. The FAQ confirms the overall picture: the first-year payment to the school (tuition, textbooks, insurance, and so on) is about 880,000 yen, and the second year about 820,000 yen. For living in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, the school suggests budgeting 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 yen per year for rent, food, and other living costs. These figures reflect the fee table on the official website as of August 5, 2026, and are reviewed each year.
Two mechanisms affect your budget. First, the school states that the special academic advancement lectures and airport pickup are provided free of charge — already covered by the listed fees. Second, the refund rules matter if plans change: cancelling before documents are submitted to the Immigration Bureau refunds the selection fee; cancelling after submission does not; cancelling after the Certificate of Eligibility is issued and fees are paid, but before enrollment, refunds the balance after deducting the selection fee, entrance fee, and bank transfer charges; and if you cancel after receiving a visa, you must first have the visa cancelled at a Japanese embassy or consulate, then the same refund rule applies.
Application Timeline and Study Permit Process
The application flow at Kokusho Japanese Language School, as laid out on the official site, is: download and complete the forms, send the application form, resume, and other documents to the school, undergo the admissions review, receive the letter of acceptance if successful, after which the school submits the documents to the Immigration Bureau on your behalf and the Certificate of Eligibility is issued. The school notifies you of the outcome, sends the COE once the entrance fee, facility fee, tuition, and selection fee are confirmed received, and you then take the letter of acceptance and COE to a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country to obtain the visa. The school handles the Immigration Bureau liaison; your part is keeping documents complete and paying on schedule. The 2026 schedule published on the site gives concrete dates: spring term classes start April 9 after the April 7 entrance ceremony, summer term starts July 7, autumn term October 8, and winter term January 6, with the graduation ceremony on March 20, 2026.
Support Services: From Enrollment to Graduation
Kokusho Japanese Language School’s support network covers study guidance, money, housing, and work. Career and study guidance (application essay writing, interview practice) is free, while cram-school classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and graduate-school guidance cost extra. Scholarships are numerous: the school lists the Kyoritsu Maintenance scholarship at 60,000 yen per month for 12 months, the LSH Asia scholarship of 100,000 yen, the privately financed international student study incentive of 30,000 yen per month for 12 months, the alumni association scholarship of 5,000 yen, and the school’s own scholarship of 50,000 yen every 3 months, awarded on grades and attendance. There is also a guarantor program: students with attendance of 90% or above who receive a homeroom teacher’s recommendation can have the school act as their guarantor for further study — a significant help for families without a guarantor in Japan. Dormitories are available through affiliated housing near the school, the office can communicate in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Bengali, and Vietnamese, and part-time job listings are posted in-house and by email; the school also runs a paid job placement office (Oshigoto Center) and a registered support organization that continues assistance after employment. If a student withdraws mid-course, the school refunds the unused portion of tuition for unstudied terms per its regulations.
Quick Recap
Decide your goal first: further study points to the Academic Track, employment to the General Course. Check that you meet the 12-years-of-schooling and financial conditions, then work backwards from your target intake — application windows close roughly 8 to 10 months before enrollment. Keep every document within its 3-month validity window, and arrange a JLPT N4 certificate or a study-hours certificate for the language requirement. Budget for a 20,000 yen selection fee, 870,000 yen at COE issuance, about 880,000 yen for the first year overall, and 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 yen per year for living in Itabashi. All information above is from the Kokusho Japanese Language School official website as of August 5, 2026; fees, application windows, and requirements are reviewed yearly, so confirm against the current pages before applying. If you would like to map your own situation — your academic background, Japanese level, and study goal — onto the program choice, application window, and budget, our advisors on this site can help you work through the specifics.