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Looking at the Japanese School System through Anime: Introduction

Twelve long years of gazing out the window.

A tradition and social mechanism that has existed for
generations.
The distinctive ambience that can only be found in the hallways
of one place.

Each year, a new cohort passes through the machine.
The creation of stress and elation come hand in hand.

New friends are made as bonds are intertwined.
And together, we all move forward.

Anime has its numerous categorizations of different genres within the medium itself. Mecha, fantasy, action, drama, comedy... ever since the 1960s, Japanese animation has been developing and expressing itself through these types of artistic entertainment, each one defining and shaping its culture. One of the most versatile and transient elements, however, would have to be anime based on or revolving around the school environment.

High school, middle school, in some cases even elementary school or college; it only makes sense that when you target an audience demographic, your best strategy is to have characters that the viewers can relate to. Since we all go to school (and most current anime-watchers are still IN school), it's only natural to see anime featuring schools. But what's more interesting is to see the different ways in which the educational system is used to work around a certain plot point. Traditional schools are most prominent, but schools in outer space and schools that double as military bases are increasing in number.

In either case, we can use these anime as a window into the typical experience of Japanese youth. The system has its similiarities and its distinct differences from what we experience here in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Using what I've seen in anime, read in a few real-life blog sites, and have gathered from some outside sources, I present to you my look at the Japanese school system.

School Buildings

School campuses are often gigantic. Multiple buildings
interlaced with gorgeous courtyards and gardens are
the standard.

The school building from Azumanga Daioh represents the majority of the facades.

North High is a medium-sized city school.

Complete with old attached building that's rarely used.

Yamasaki Private Girls' Academy is an example of an
inner-city campus.

While Kizaki High School represents a smaller, more rural
facility.

Then we get into the mega-huge city-sized campuses like
Mahora Academy, home to over 30,000 students.

Mai-HiME's Fuuka Academy is a shining example of an
elegant, high-class facility.

Seems like you'd need to pay just to breathe the air inside
a place like Ototachibana Academy.

Even the majestic gardens at Mahora Academy scream
high-class.

The exterior of Miyagami Academy stands as an example
of modern architecture.

The inside of this modernized structure also proves to be as
equally interesting.

Then there are the "interesting" places... the schools that
serve as fronts for military operations, like Gokuya High
School, entrance to the Mondenkind Japan iDOL Team Base.

You'd never be able to tell just by looking at it from above
that below this school is an AEGIS base.

Of course, not all schools teach just math and grammar.
The Ro-gumi Ninja Training School has a much different
curriculum.

As does the school at Stellvia Foundation II, where students
learn the basics like music and science, but also starship
piloting while floating 240 miles above the Earth.

"Specialty" School Types

Anime has been known to stretch the imagination and not only create new situations in the world as we know it, but also to create an entirely new world and incorporate some of the basic things in which we're already familiar... like schools!

Mizuhosaka Academy is a revered educational facility that
is half normal school and half magic-training school.

As is Trysting Kingdom Magic Academy... basically anime's
version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The students at Gokuya High learn about astrophysics, space
geology and mecha-piloting.

And the boys and girls of Stellvia train how to pilot small
spacecraft right from the start.

The esteemed Guarderobe Academy is where young girls
must go to become a royal bodyguard called an Otome.

And if you wanna become a traditional ninja, then send in
your application to the Ro-gumi School.

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