San Francisco Japanese School

San Francisco Japanese School (SFJS) is one of the largest extra curricular Japanese schools supported by the Japanese government outside of Japan. Over 1,700 children living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area attend our classes. The classes are held 46 days throughout the year; 36 Saturdays and 10 during a focused two week session in the summer. SFJS was founded in 1968 by the Japanese community in the Bay Area. The purpose of SFJS is to provide Japanese academic curricula in the Japanese language compatible with both local requirements and the standard educational curricula in Japan, to help children develop sufficient knowledge and abilities that would allow them to successfully transfer to a school in Japan, if their family circumstances dictated such transfer, and grow into active players in the international society. The Japanese government supports SFJS by sending three teachers (Principal and two Vice-Principals) on expat-assignments from the Japanese public school system, as well as providing financial assistance for the operation of the school. Currently there are about 1,700 children attending SFJS at our four campuses, two in San Francisco and two in the South Bay. The curricula cover grades K through 11. The educational program at SFJS is modeled after the Japanese public school system’s curriculum, suitably adapted to local circumstances by the teachers from Japan. SFJS hosts various cultural events as well including traditional sports day, start-of-the-year, and end-of-the-year ceremonies. In addition, the Parent Association organizes other events such as a fall festival, book sale, and other cultural and fundraising activities.