Nishimachi International School
Nishimachi International School is a dedicated centre for dual-language
(English-Japanese), multicultural studies founded in 1949 by Tane
Matsukata, a family member of one of Japan's first prime ministers
and the sister-in-law to former US Ambassador Edwin Reischauer.
The school is recognized by the government of Japan and is accredited
by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
All students, more than half of whom are bilingual, are required
to study Japanese language daily. While its course structure is
American, supplementary texts from Britain, Canada and Australia
are used to educate its students.
The faculty consists of teachers from around the world, the majority
from the USA, Japan, and Australia. All teachers are fully qualified
and experienced professionals.
The school exists for those students who can benefit from its dual-language,
bicultural emphasis and are medium to long term Tokyo residents.
The following groups are fairly consistent in the school's student
body: 20% Japanese; 35% American; 20% Japanese-American; 5% Japanese-other
nationality; 20% other nationalities (predominantly European and
Asian).
Nishimachi International School offers a wide range of intercultural
activities. Students participate in English and Japanese drama productions,
exchanges with Japanese schools, community homestay programs, traditional
Japanese arts, publications and sports such as basketball, volleyball
and sumo wrestling. Nishimachi maintains a school camp in the mountains
for overnight science excursions and summer trips. In winter, students
enjoy a week of ski-school in the Japan Alps. The school year runs
from September until June. The Japanese students take supplementary
courses at the school for three weeks in summer.
The Nishimachi International School campus is comprised of five
buildings in central Tokyo, including the Founder's former mansion/residence.
The school supports a bilingual library and 100 computers for student
use.
Applicants for admission to Nishimachi International School are
screened by a committee. Acceptance is contingent upon availability
of space and the individual child's language and academic skills.
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