FAQ

Is YES an international school? When was it established?

Yes, YES Yokohama and YES Odawara are bilingual Japanese–English international schools. YES Tokyo mainly serves as a “place of belonging” for children who cannot attend regular school. The Yokohama campus opened in 2016, the Tokyo campus in 2018, and the Odawara campus in 2025.

Do you also have a junior high division?

Yes, both the Yokohama and Tokyo campuses have junior high divisions.

Why did a science writer start an international school and a project for school-refusing children?

When my daughter was born, I realized the importance of child-rearing and human resource development. Ten years ago, there were very few schools in Japan offering inquiry-based learning suited for the AI era. That is why I decided to create a school that treats Japanese, English, and programming languages as three equally important languages. Having experienced both being a returnee student and school refusal myself, I have continued the school-refusal project as a form of social contribution (supported by your generous donations).

I heard Mr. Takeuchi is opposed to junior high entrance exams. Is that true?

In the AI era, many advanced countries have already abolished paper-based exams that only test rote-memorization skills—because AI can take over that role. Japan is also expected to gradually move away from admissions based solely on paper tests and deviation scores. As a science writer and educator, I speak out about these global trends and the future of education. That said, Japanese students currently still face paper-test entrance exams. Therefore, I also share ideas on how students can avoid becoming passive, instruction-waiting individuals due to exam cramming, and instead carve out their own futures.

About YES Yokohama

What is a bilingual school?

A bilingual school provides education in two (or more) languages. At YES, the ratio of Japanese to English classes is about 50/50. For example, we have math taught in Japanese and math taught in English. This gives students many advantages, such as being able to follow classes smoothly if they go on to universities overseas.

What are the benefits of a bilingual school?

By the end of Grade 6, children acquire language skills comparable to native speakers of both Japanese and English. They can continue to Japanese schools or easily study abroad in English-speaking junior highs, high schools, and universities. As adults, working abroad also becomes much easier. In short, bilingual education greatly expands life options and tends to raise students’ self-esteem.

Are there any disadvantages?

Yes. Japanese is among the most difficult languages in the world, requiring mastery of hiragana, katakana, and over 2,000 kanji characters. As a result, by the end of Grade 6, bilingual students may be somewhat behind monolingual Japanese students in kanji knowledge. However, most catch up during junior high and high school.

What paths have YES graduates taken?

Past graduates have attended both regular Japanese schools and overseas schools, including:

Hiroo Gakuen Koishikawa JHS, AG Course (all-English program, excelling academically)
Morimura Gakuen (advanced as a scholarship student)
International College of Technology (all-English program, soon to study abroad in New Zealand)
Oozora High School (short-term study abroad in Los Angeles and Vancouver)
N High School (an online school leveraging digital networks)
Orange County School of the Arts, Visual Arts Conservatory, California, U.S.A.
King George Secondary School, Vancouver, Canada (IB Middle Years Programme)
Clayburn Middle School, near Vancouver, Canada

Since AI will translate everything in the future, isn’t being bilingual unnecessary?

For business English, yes—AI translation will dominate online communication, and in real meetings earphones may remove the language barrier. However, in classrooms or workplaces abroad (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, etc.), you cannot expect everyone to wear translation earphones for your sake. Therefore, being bilingual will become even more valuable and rare.

Besides that rarity, are there other future benefits of being bilingual?

Yes. Knowing two or more linguistic and cultural frameworks allows students to view Japan and the world from multiple perspectives, fostering both critical global awareness and deeper love for their homeland.

Are most teachers and students Japanese?

About 80% of the students are Japanese nationals and 20% are foreign nationals. Teachers are roughly 40% Japanese and 60% English native speakers.

Which countries are the English native teachers from?

Initially only from the U.S., but now also from the U.K., Australia, India, and China (one teacher earned a master’s degree in computational science at Texas A&M University, U.S.A.).

Is YES a gifted school?

Yes and no. Yes—several gifted students are enrolled, and we group classes by ability. For example, a math-talented child may study above grade level. No—YES also serves students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, who either join classes with peers or receive one-on-one instruction. In short, YES nurtures both gifted and support-needing students, always striving to develop each child’s individuality and strengths.

Is YES advantageous for Japanese entrance exams?

For regular junior high entrance exams without English, students are disadvantaged because their native-level English is not considered. For high school exams, advanced English is a big advantage, but rote-memorization subjects like math and Japanese can be a disadvantage. However, YES offers “inquiry-based exam prep” classes, where students creatively “cook” exam problems. This fosters adaptability for tricky questions and develops applied skills valuable for life.

Is YES advantageous for admissions in English-speaking countries?

Yes. In English-speaking countries, paper-test entrance exams like Japan’s are almost abolished. For example, U.S. universities do not use Japan-style one-shot paper tests. In the AI era, many advanced nations now emphasize inquiry skills—critical thinking, creativity, and execution—over rote memorization. Since YES has been practicing inquiry-based learning for ten years, we believe our students are very well prepared, and indeed, we already have results in admissions to overseas junior highs and high schools.

Is it really okay not to memorize? Do students still learn kanji and multiplication tables?

Yes—basic memorization skills are essential. Students do learn kanji, vocabulary, grammar, multiplication tables, etc., often using drills. But at YES we do not stop there: we emphasize applying that knowledge to develop higher-order thinking skills.

Are there any other considerations?

Yes. YES Yokohama is a free school, not a government-recognized “Article 1 school” under the Ministry of Education. To obtain formal graduation qualifications, students must also enroll in their local public school; the exact procedure varies by municipality. However, thanks to support from the city, all YES Odawara students automatically gain recognized graduation status without additional procedures.

We are relocating to Japan. Can my child learn Japanese as well as English?

Yes. We have supplementary classes for students who have never studied Japanese.

My child comes from a Japanese-only kindergarten (or transfers mid-year to YES) and has no English. Is that okay?

Yes. We offer English supplementary classes, so even beginners with zero English experience can adapt.

My child comes from a Japanese-only kindergarten (or transfers mid-year to YES) and has no English. Is that okay?

Yes. We offer English supplementary classes, so even beginners with zero English experience can adapt.

My child comes from a Japanese-only kindergarten (or transfers mid-year to YES) and has no English. Is that okay?

Yes. We offer English supplementary classes, so even beginners with zero English experience can adapt.