The School Year Unlike America, the business and school years in Japan start on April 1 and end in the following March. There are several breaks, notably the July-August summer break and the winter holidays. The crucial school entrance exams are administered in February. The daily routine varies little from school to school at the lower education level. Classes are broken into lessons of about an hour.
Several schools have shops where milk and sandwiches are sold.
After regular school ends in the afternoon, many children go to private school or tutors for more learning or entrance exam prepping. Also, there are sports and clubs - essential for developing social bonds that last into the working adult years. Three or four hours of homework is not uncommon for children after they come home. Finally, the children earn their well-deserved sleep at around 11 o'clock. Next semester, we will delve deeper into the education system and its significance in various anime.