Japan's National Academic Test Going Digital in 2027

TOKYO, Jul 09 (News On Japan) - Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has announced plans to transition the National Academic Test, conducted annually for all sixth-grade and third-year junior high school students, to an entirely online format from 2027. The traditional paper-based test will be replaced by computer-based testing.

The National Academic Test, which began in 2007, targets approximately 2 million elementary and junior high school students across Japan. Until now, the test has been conducted on paper. However, the ministry has decided to gradually shift to using distributed computer terminals, starting with the science test for junior high schools in the next academic year.

A policy draft presented at an expert meeting today indicates that online testing will be introduced for junior high school English in 2026, with a full rollout to all subjects from 2027 onwards. Due to considerations such as internet connectivity, the tests will not be conducted simultaneously nationwide but rather spread over several days.

The Ministry of Education cites several benefits of the online format, including reducing the burden on schools by eliminating the need for distributing and collecting test papers and enabling the use of various tools such as videos and audio in test questions.

The official decision on this policy is expected to be made this autumn.

Source: TBS

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Aoi Festival Kicks Off in Kyoto

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.

Japan Marks 150 Years of Meters

Japan’s prototypes of the kilogram and meter, which once served as national standards for weight and length, were presented to the press this week ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention, the international treaty that standardized global measurement systems, to be marked on May 20th.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Rescue Readiness on Display as Firefighters Demonstrate Skills

Firefighters selected from Kasuga, Onojo, and Nakagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture demonstrated their rescue techniques on May 16th ahead of an upcoming skills competition designed to test emergency response capabilities.

Is Japanese a Difficult Language?

Many Japanese people agree that Japanese is a difficult language, especially for foreigners. They point out the complexity of homonyms, kanji characters, multiple writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji), and the different intonations that can change meaning—for example, the word "hashi" can mean either "bridge" or "chopsticks" depending on pronunciation. Even native speakers find this confusing.

Painting a Shiba Inu with Acrylic Gouache – Watch It Come to Life!

In this video, watercolor artist Shibasaki brings an adorable Shiba Inu to life using acrylic gouache. From the initial pencil sketch to layering warm colors and creating soft, fluffy fur, you'll see every step of the process – almost entirely uncut! (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

Japan's Teachers to Receive Higher Pay and Shorter Hours

A bill to revise the Kyūtoku Law, aiming to improve the treatment of Japan's public school teachers by gradually raising the salary supplement in place of overtime pay from 4% to 10%, was approved by the Lower House Committee on Education on Wednesday after ruling and opposition parties agreed on revisions.