Academic grading in Japan

In Japan, each school has a different grading system. Many universities use the following set of categories:

Grade in Japanese (Kanji) English translation Corresponding percentage 4-scale university
shū (秀) Exemplary, excellent S (90–100%), rarely given
(優) Very good A (80–89%) A (80–100%)
ryō (良) Good B (70–79%) B (70–79%)
ka (可) Average, pass C (60–69%) C (60–69%)
nin (認)[a] Approved, acceptable D/F (50–59%), uncommon D/F (50–59%), uncommon
fuka (不可) Unacceptable, failed F (0–59% or 0–49%) F (0–59% or 0–49%)

Education in Japan has many different ways of approaching their grading system.

Public schooling below the high school level is classified as compulsory education (義務教育, gimu-kyōiku), and every Japanese child is required to attend school until they pass middle school.[1] An interesting phenomenon is that even if an individual student fails a course, they may pass with their class regardless of grades on tests. The grades on tests have no effect on schooling until taking entrance exams to get into high school.

Japanese children's report cards are primarily influenced by behavior rather than grades.[2]: 375 For example, Japanese students are graded by the greetings they use, if they remember their supplies, and how they treat plants and animals.[2]: 375 


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  1. ^ SATO, Manabu (2008). "Historical Aspects of the Concept of "Compulsory Education" : Rethinking the Rhetoric of Debates in Current Reform". Educational Studies in Japan. 3: 65–84. doi:10.7571/esjkyoiku.3.65. ISSN 1881-4832.
  2. ^ a b Akiko, Watabe (2014). "The Influence of Authoritarian and Authoritative Parenting on Children's Academic Achievement Motivation: a Comparison Between the United States and Japan". North American Journal of Psychology. 16 (2): 359.