The Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS) is an association of

international school International schools are private schools that promote education in an international environment or framework. Although there is no uniform definition or criteria, international schools are usually characterised by a multinational student body an ...

s in Japan. All member schools provide education in English. The smallest JCIS member school has fewer than 100 students and the largest has more than 1,500. Heads of JCIS schools communicate on both a day-to-day basis about matters of common interest. Topics range from reviews of service providers and employment legislation to dealing with pandemics (

bird flu "Bird Flu" is an urumee melam-dance song by recording artist M.I.A. on her second studio album '' Kala'' (2007). It was released as a digital download in 2006 through XL Recordings under exclusive license to Interscope Records in the US. Cri ...

swine influenza Swine influenza is an infection caused by any of several types of swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) refers to any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As ...

) and

natural disaster A natural disaster is the very harmful impact on a society or community brought by natural phenomenon or Hazard#Natural hazard, hazard. Some examples of natural hazards include avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides ...

s. Regular meetings are held for heads and curriculum coordinators at JCIS member schools throughout the year. Schools also the costs of visiting speakers or performers. The council also offers subsidies to promote collaborative

professional development Professional development, also known as professional education, is learning that leads to or emphasizes education in a specific professional career field or builds practical job applicable skills emphasizing Praxis (process), praxis in addition t ...

within the JCIS community. In addition, council members often collaborate on projects, such as coordinating volunteer efforts after the

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami On 11 March 2011, at 14:46:24 Japan Standard Time, JST (05:46:24 UTC), a 9.0–9.1 Submarine earthquake, undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approx ...

and publishing a book of teaching activities for Japanese classes in 1997.

History

Since 1872, schools offering an education in English and serving the

expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...

community have existed in Japan. Four current JCIS member schools can trace their origins to before the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The number of schools burgeoned in the 1950s and 1960s. When school representatives met for the first time in October 1965, they discovered that they shared many of the same problems. The Japanese Council of Overseas Schools (JCOS) was established in 1972. At first, membership was only open to

East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools The East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) is an organization of 158 member schools in East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special adm ...

(EARCOS) in Japan. In 1982, membership was widened to include any school that offered its curriculum in English. In 1987, the name was changed to the Japan Council of International Schools, or JCIS, to mirror the

European Council of International Schools European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

(ECIS).

Member schools

The following schools are members of the Council: *

American School in Japan The American School in Japan (ASIJ; ) is an international private day school located in the city of Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. The school consists of an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, all located on the Chōfu campus. There ...

Aoba-Japan International School Aoba-Japan International School is an international school in Tokyo, with campuses in Nerima, Bunkyo, and Meguro is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-d ...

* The British School in Tokyo *

Canadian Academy , also known as CA, is an independent pre-K–12 international school in Kobe, Japan which was founded in 1913. The not-for-profit day and boarding school consists of an elementary school, middle school, and high school all located on the campus on ...

* Canadian International School *

Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ), established in 1950, is a private Christianity, Christian school in the city of Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan that provides a Christian Education in the United States, American-style education in English language, English. CAJ has over 460 s ...

* Columbia International School *

Fukuoka International School is a PK-12 international school in Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and ext ...

* Hiroshima International School * Hokkaido International School *

International School of the Sacred Heart International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) is a Kindergarten (co-ed) – Grades 1–12 (all girls) school in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1908. As part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools it is affiliated with schools and institutio ...

* K. International School Tokyo *

Kyoto International School Kyoto International School (KIS), formerly known as Kyoto Christian Day School, is an international school in Kyoto, Japan, founded in 1957. It serves students from 3 to 16 years old. The school has been accredited by the Western Association o ...

Marist Brothers International School Marist Brothers International School (MBIS), founded in 1951, is an international Montessori - Grade 12 school located in Kobe, Japan. The school is accredited by the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Marist has an en ...

* The Montessori School of Tokyo *

Nagoya International School Nagoya International School (NIS) is a private non-sectarian day international school in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Instruction is in English. The co-educational school serves students in preschool through high school. Graduates earn a standard NIS di ...

* New International School * Nishimachi International School * Osaka International School * Osaka YMCA International School * Saint Maur International School * St. Mary's International School * St. Michael's International School *

Seisen International School Seisen International School (SIS) is an all-girls Catholic school located in Setagaya, in Tokyo, Japan. Students and faculty from over sixty countries are represented at Seisen, with English being the main language of instruction. It offers the I ...

* Tohoku International School *

Tokyo International School Tokyo International School is a co-ed international school in Minami Azabu, Minato, Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1997 to "provide a diverse, child-centered and inquiry-based education." The school contains a pre-school, elementa ...

* Tsukuba International School *

Yokohama International School is a co-educational international school located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The school consists of a pre-school (Early Learning Centre), a kindergarten/ elementary school (grades K-5), a middle school (6-8) and a high school (9-12), covering ...

Notes

{{Coord missing, Japan Associations of schools International school associations International schools in Japan