Manila Japanese School

Manila Japanese School is located in University Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. The campus is in the Bonifacio Global City area and operates under an official arrangement with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, indicating its connection to the Japanese government. The school serves elementary and junior high students at this Taguig location.

Elementary school and junior high school.

The Manila Japanese School operates as a Japanese international school. Instruction is conducted in Japanese and follows the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) curriculum guidelines.

Special Needs support includes one special needs class (intellectual) in the elementary division, typically with about three students per class and open to all elementary grades. The school also maintains resource rooms and has offered special support classes for students with intellectual disabilities for several years.

Affiliated with Japan; administratively attached to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.

No religious affiliation is stated.

Classes are conducted in Japanese. Elementary students receive two hours weekly of English conversation; junior high students receive one hour weekly. All grades have a weekly swimming lesson, and some elementary students may have additional Japanese language classes (Fridays at 6pm) for language support. A timetable with daily start/end times is published on the site.

The school does not directly manage bus operations; families apply to a bus operator after a transfer entrance exam and enter into an individual contract with the operator. Bus routes and seats are not reserved in advance and may be limited by capacity. The school publishes a Bus User Guide, and target areas include Bonifacio Global City, Makati, and the Alabang district (Alabang service currently limited).

The Manila Japanese School teaches in Japanese and follows the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) curriculum guidelines, with most teaching delivered by instructors dispatched from Japan. The school serves elementary and junior high levels, offering English conversation lessons (two hours per week in elementary and one hour per week in junior high) and one hour of swimming for all grades each week. In elementary, there are Japanese language classes at grade level, and an optional after-hours Japanese language program on Fridays at 6pm for children from international families or those needing extra language support. The school provides special support classes for students with intellectual disabilities and maintains resource rooms to address individual needs. It uses digital learning tools (electronic whiteboards, digital textbooks) and provides Chromebooks to students, while also incorporating education for international and local understanding and career guidance. External examinations such as EIKEN and Kanken are available for students to apply to, via dedicated examination links.

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The Manila Japanese School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a formal anti-bullying policy and a school-wide commitment to safe, respectful relationships. The policy states that bullying is a human rights issue and never acceptable, and an internal system is established to promote anti-bullying measures with involvement from all staff. It emphasizes building a sense of belonging and positive peer relationships, and includes planned education on information morals and social conduct. The school conducts educational counseling and uses annual educational consultations (four per year) plus biannual counseling, with records kept for three years. Career guidance and work-experience learning in junior high provide opportunities to develop independence and social skills. The School Evaluation section publishes survey results and answers to opinions, supporting ongoing assessment of student experience and wellbeing.

The Manila Japanese School has a Special Needs Education Coordinator as part of its anti-bullying governance, indicating a SEN coordination role within the school's safeguarding framework. The school is described as a general Japanese school in Manila, not a specialist SEN institution. The SEN coordinator is referenced as part of the anti-bullying structure, suggesting some capacity to address SEN needs, but the public materials do not list specific types of SEN or targeted SEN programs. There is no indication the school operates as a dedicated specialist SEN facility. These details imply some SEN coordination exists, but the materials do not disclose a formal, district-level SEN program.

The school provides English language support through a Level-based English conversation class led by a native teacher. This is explicitly described as a Level-based English conversation class, with a native teacher delivering the instruction. Public materials list this EAL provision but do not detail additional EAL programs beyond this class.

Mental wellbeing at the school is supported through the anti-bullying policy, which promotes warm, cooperative relationships and a safe school environment as a foundation for student wellbeing. The policy emphasizes prevention, early detection, and a structured response to bullying, including a school-wide committee and education consultations to monitor issues. Educational counseling is part of the wellbeing framework, with regular consultations and a process to support students and families. Ongoing wellbeing monitoring is evidenced by the school's public evaluation pages, which publish survey results and opinions. Although no dedicated mental health staff are publicly listed, the anti-bullying and consultation processes constitute formal wellbeing supports.

Safeguarding at MJS is anchored in a formal anti-bullying policy that declares bullying unacceptable and outlines a comprehensive preventative framework. The policy establishes an internal anti-bullying system and a School bullying countermeasure committee, with responsibilities shared across key staff roles to prevent and respond to incidents. It requires systematic documentation of incidents and a clear escalation pathway, including involvement of the principal, counselors, and coordinators. The policy aligns with the Act on Promotion of Measures to Prevent Bullying, and, if necessary, may involve external agencies such as police or other authorities. Immediate actions, safeguarding of the victim, and guided responses for the offender are specified, with records kept to support ongoing safeguarding.

1. Admissions overview and eligibility. The Manila Japanese School (MJS) uses a handbook to outline admission requirements and eligibility. There are two practical categories for new admissions in 2026: Category 1 covers families currently living in the Philippines with a senior kindergarten student; Category 2 covers families currently residing in Japan or elsewhere who plan to move to the Philippines after graduation from kindergarten. Category 1 has an application deadline of Wednesday, December 17, 2025; Category 2 has an application deadline of Friday, March 20, 2026. Please refer to the handbook for the exact eligibility criteria and any conditions attached to each category.

2. How to apply. To begin the process, read the MJS Handbook and confirm you meet the admission requirements before you submit the New Enrollment/Transfer Enrollment Application Form. After you submit, the school office will send an email with details on the transfer procedures. Prepare a passport (photo page of student and guardian) and a Manila Japanese Association membership card as part of the application. These steps and document requirements are specified in the admissions guidance.

3. What happens after you apply. Once the application is received, the school will email you with information on the transfer procedures and next steps. MJS states that transfer students may be admitted throughout the year, independent of the official school year or semester start. If you would like to transfer, you should contact the school office to coordinate timing and requirements.

4. Schedule and information sessions. The upcoming schedule includes a school entry test (for certain older kindergarteners) on Thursday, January 29, 2026; a School Information Session (in person and online) on Monday, February 16, 2026; and, in early April 2026, new enrollment and transfer examinations for families moving to the Philippines after completing kindergarten elsewhere. Mid-April 2026 is listed as the (tentative) entrance ceremony. These dates are published in the new-admission information.

5. Entrance examination content. For Category 1 (families in the Philippines), the entrance exam contents include a written test (Japanese and arithmetic) and an interview; for Category 2 (families moving from abroad), the entrance exams are conducted in early April 2026 and test similar language/learning abilities with a written component and an interview. In all cases, the emphasis is on assessing language ability and learning aptitude appropriate to the student's age and grade level.

6. Results and start date. The results of the transfer entrance examination are released after the exam is completed. The handbook also notes that the transfer date is the start date of the school year. If admitted, you will receive further information and be guided on the next steps and orientation.

Scholarships: Manila Japanese School does not publish a school-run scholarship program within its admissions materials. The available public materials focus on admission eligibility, application steps, and fees, with no mention of scholarships. External government or foundation scholarships exist in the region (for example, Japanese government scholarship programs administered through the Embassy and related channels), but these are not administered by MJS. Prospective families should consider external scholarship avenues if applicable.

Waitlist/Pool: There is no published waitlist system for admissions at Manila Japanese School. The school indicates it can accept transfer students throughout the year, and current coverage suggests that waitlist is not required due to available slots. This is supported by statements that transfer applicants are welcomed year‑round and that the capacity is not reported as fully booked.