Kyoto International Junior and Senior High School (Japanese: 京都国際中学校・高等学校, Kyōto Kokusai Chūgakkō Kōtōgakkō; Korean: 학교법인교토국제학원) is a Korean international school in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.[1] It includes middle and high school levels.[2] It is under the Educational Foundation Kyoto International School (Japanese: 学校法人 京都国際学園|links=no).[3]
The origin of Kyoto International Junior and Senior High School dates back to the "Kyoto Chosen Chugaku" (Kyoto Korean Middle School) established in 1947 (Showa 22) for Koreans in Japan.
Later, in 1958, it received approval from the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture under the name "Kyoto Korean School Foundation."
In 2003, the Kyoto International School Foundation and Kyoto International Junior and Senior High School were established, and it was officially recognized by the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture as an "Ichijo School" (a regular junior and senior high school). This meant that it now accepted ethnic Japanese students as well as Koreans. The school officially opened in 2004, marking a fresh start.
Since then, the school has strengthened its linguistic education aiming for trilingual proficiency in Korean, English, and Japanese, enhancing its characteristics as an international school with the educational goal of fostering "true global citizens."
While being an "Ichijo School" in Japan, it is also recognized as a "legitimate school" by the Republic of Korea, allowing students to obtain high school graduation qualifications from both Japan and South Korea.
It is noteworthy that the lyrics of the school song are in Korean, which is very rare for a Japanese "Ichijo School."
As an "Ichijo School," the educational curriculum follows Japan's learning guidelines, and all classes are conducted in Japanese using approved textbooks, except for subjects in English and Korean taught by native speakers.
There are approximately 45 students per grade. The school has dormitories for students, and there are exchange students from all over the country.
In the spring of 2019, out of the graduates, 38 went on to Japanese universities or vocational schools, and 2 went to study at universities in Korea (1 to Korea University and 1 to Sookmyung Women's University).
As of March 2021, out of a total of 131 students in the entire school, there were 93 Japanese students and 37 Korean residents in Japan. Among the Japanese students, 40 were members of the baseball club.
As of July 2021, out of a total of 136 students, there were 69 female students and 67 male students, with 59 of the male students being members of the baseball club.
The high school's baseball club has had great success. In 2021, they made consecutive appearances in the Spring and Summer Koshien tournaments, achieving a nationwide best of 4 in the latter.
Japanese international schools in South Korea: