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Hoshuko: Japanese Supplementary Schools Abroad & Free Textbooks

A Hoshuko (Hoshu Jugyo Ko 補習授業校) is a part-time Japanese school abroad, usually founded by the local Japanese community, that teaches Kokugo (国語, Japanese language) and, depending on the school, mathematics from Japanese textbooks to children who attend local or international schools on weekdays.1 The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) counts 246 of them worldwide as of 1 April 2026 (as of October 2026), and Japanese-national children of compulsory school age staying abroad long term can receive Japanese textbooks free of charge.23 For families keeping up Japanese language and math, this guide separates what Japanese law and programmes set from what each school decides.

What Is a Hoshuko? Overview & Eligibility Framework

Section titled “What Is a Hoshuko? Overview & Eligibility Framework”

Hoshuko vs. Nihonjin Gakko in One Paragraph

Section titled “Hoshuko vs. Nihonjin Gakko in One Paragraph”

MEXT defines a Hoshuko as a facility that teaches some subjects of the Japanese elementary or junior high school curriculum in Japanese, on Saturdays, after school or at similar times, to Japanese children who attend local or international schools.1 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) describes classes held on Saturdays, Sundays or after school, when local schools have no lessons, so the accurate summary is “mostly Saturdays, some after school or on Sundays”.42 The first Hoshuko opened in Washington DC in 1958.1

A Nihonjin Gakko (日本人学校) is different in kind. It is a full-time school certified (Nintei 認定) by the MEXT Minister, while a Hoshuko is designated by the Foreign Minister for support and carries no Japanese school qualification.4 Choosing between full-time Japanese, international and local schools is covered in our guide to schooling options for Japanese children abroad; this article covers only the part-time route.

The 2022 Act and MOFA Designation for Government Support

Section titled “The 2022 Act and MOFA Designation for Government Support”

The Act on the Promotion of Education at Overseas Educational Facilities (Zaigai Kyoiku Shisetsu ni okeru Kyoiku no Shinko ni kansuru Horitsu, Act No. 73 of 2022) took effect on 17 June 2022 and has not been amended.5 Article 2(2) defines two kinds of overseas educational facility (Zaigai Kyoiku Shisetsu 在外教育施設): facilities equivalent to Japanese schools as notified by the MEXT Minister, and facilities that deliver part of a Japanese school’s curriculum and meet standards set by the Foreign Minister.5 Hoshuko fall into the second group.5

MOFA Notice No. 303 of 29 August 2022 sets those standards and lets the Foreign Minister designate a Hoshuko for government support when its founder applies through the local embassy or consulate.6 MOFA’s own wording is that a Hoshuko, in the legal sense, is a facility that meets the Notice’s criteria and has been designated.4 Article 1 of the Notice lists eight criteria, with an exception for special circumstances in the host country:6

  1. It delivers part of the elementary or junior high curriculum, with Kokugo-centred classes on roughly 35 days or more a year.
  2. It was founded by an association of Japanese residents organised mainly for their welfare, or a similar body.
  3. It has roughly 5 or more enrolled pupils, not counting those who hold only foreign nationality, with growth expected.
  4. Its pupils are children of employees of 2 or more companies or organisations.
  5. It is not run by a single for-profit company.
  6. It has secured enough teachers.
  7. It has operating rules in place.
  8. Classes are running as of 15 April of the application year.

MOFA’s supplementary notes add detail. “Classes” means teaching that follows the MEXT Courses of Study with MEXT-authorised textbooks, the founding body must be non-profit in form under local law, and the operating rules must cover matters such as curriculum, admission and fees.4 Notice Article 5 allows designation to be revoked if the criteria stop being met.6

Support from MOFA covers three heads under Notice Article 4: school-building rent, honoraria for locally hired teachers, and security costs.6 MOFA describes each as partial support.4 Not every weekend Japanese class is designated, and only certified or designated facilities receive this government support.4

Designation rounds are announced by MOFA. The FY2026 call was posted on 19 June 2026, with applications through the competent mission by its own deadline, and support for schools designated in that round expected from April 2027 or later (as of October 2026).7 The joint MEXT and MOFA Basic Policy of April 2023 sets three directions: secure learning for Japanese children abroad, an environment equivalent to learning in Japan, and education distinctive to overseas facilities.8

Most Hoshuko are run by parents and residents. The founder is typically a local Japanese association or similar non-profit body, governed by a management committee.61 Tuition, fees and admission terms are set in each school’s own rules, which is why this guide quotes no fees.4

MEXT sends dispatched teachers (Haken Kyoin 派遣教員) to some Hoshuko only. MEXT’s published description, on a page last modified in December 2023 whose text uses April 2011 data, says it dispatches teachers to large Hoshuko with 100 or more pupils, where they act as core staff and normally hold no regular class, and to quasi-full-time (Jun-Zennichisei 準全日制) Hoshuko, where they also teach pupils.9 The description is dated, so ask the school whether it has a dispatched teacher; MEXT reported 1,319 dispatched teachers across Nihonjin Gakko and Hoshuko combined as of 15 April 2025, with terms in principle of 2 years (as of October 2026).108

Schools without a dispatched teacher rely on locally hired instructors. MEXT pays the travel costs of dispatched teachers who lead training sessions for these instructors, publishes Hoshuko teaching guidance for Kokugo and arithmetic or mathematics, and sends people experienced in overseas education to advise Hoshuko on their specific issues.811 It also subsidises a teaching-materials scheme run by Japan Overseas Educational Services (JOES, 海外子女教育振興財団, a MEXT-subsidised public interest foundation), which since FY2024 also covers the high school divisions of Hoshuko and other overseas facilities.812

High school coverage is split. MEXT’s Q&A still describes its support as aimed at elementary and junior high divisions, free textbooks cover the compulsory stage only, and the designation criteria refer to the elementary and junior high curriculum.13146 The JOES materials subsidy reaches Hoshuko high school divisions, but the overseas high school tuition support goes only to six full-time facilities certified or designated by the MEXT Minister, none of them a Hoshuko (as of October 2026).1215

MEXT counts 246 Hoshuko, 90 Nihonjin Gakko and 6 facilities set up by Japanese school corporations as of 1 April 2026 (as of October 2026).2 Hoshuko enrolment was 21,047 pupils against 15,680 at Nihonjin Gakko as of 15 April 2025, counting only compulsory-stage pupils who are long-term residents (as of October 2026).10 The latest published country count is 242 Hoshuko in 51 countries and 1 region as of 1 July 2024 (as of October 2026).1

Region Hoshuko (1 April 2026) Hoshuko pupils (15 April 2025)
North America 89 12,524
Europe 78 5,254
Asia 27 1,489
Oceania 26 1,319
Latin America 13 276
Africa 7 185 (Middle East and Africa combined)
Middle East 6 (included above)
Total 246 21,047

Source: MEXT 2026 data booklet, data 1 and data 3 (as of October 2026).10

To find a school, start with MOFA’s school pages, which list government-supported Hoshuko next to Nihonjin Gakko and private overseas schools, and its PDF list of designated Hoshuko showing the competent mission for each.1617 The newest list seen for this guide dates from June 2024, so ask the embassy or consulate about current schools. Names vary: designated schools include Japanese language schools, Saturday schools and Sunday schools, such as a Sunday school in Sydney designated on 1 July 2024.16

The MEXT Free Textbook Programme: How to Get Japanese Textbooks Abroad

Section titled “The MEXT Free Textbook Programme: How to Get Japanese Textbooks Abroad”

MEXT’s free textbook provision (Kyokasho no Musho Kyuyo 教科書の無償給与) has run since FY1967 through embassies and consulates and since FY1972 before departure through JOES, and reached about 137,000 children in FY2023 (as of October 2026).318 In principle it covers children who hold Japanese nationality, including dual nationals, who plan a long-term stay abroad and are of compulsory school age.3 Books are MEXT-authorised and MEXT-authored textbooks for elementary, junior high and special needs schools (elementary and junior high divisions), drawn from a single worldwide list; high school textbooks are not provided.1419

The permanent residency rules differ by source, so read each one. The FY2026 pre-departure guidelines simply exclude children who will settle abroad permanently, and JOES says children planning permanent residence are not eligible.1420 MEXT’s overseas education page excludes Japanese-national children who hold a foreign permanent visa, except where the visa was obtained for convenience because of local circumstances, or where the child intends to return to Japan and go on to a Japanese junior high or high school.3

Each embassy or consulate can add its own conditions. As a labelled example, the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco required, for FY2026 second-half books, residence in its district, Japanese nationality, a registered Zairyu Todoke (在留届, overseas residence registration), an intention to return to Japan to study or work, and a grade from 1 to 5 (as of October 2026).21 JOES advises submitting the Zairyu Todoke on arrival and confirming how books will be received; the registration is covered in our guide to consular services and emergency support abroad.22

The FY2026 pre-departure guidelines (decided 23 March 2026, in force 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) cover Japanese-national children of compulsory school age leaving to stay abroad for 1 year or more, on a parent’s application.14 They include children entering grade 1 in April 2027 who arrive abroad in December 2026 or later, exclude books already received in Japan, and exclude FY2026 books for arrivals on or after 1 March 2027, though MEXT may make exceptions for special reasons.14

The application goes to JOES with form 1-1 (form 1-2 for special needs textbooks) and the original Tengaku Jido Seito Kyokayo Tosho Kyuyo Shomeisho (転学児童生徒教科用図書給与証明書), a certificate issued by the head of the child’s Japanese school.1423 If that certificate cannot be attached and the child received no textbooks in Japan, a board of education certificate may replace it; children at international schools in Japan should ask the local board of education.1422 MEXT decides, JOES hands the books over, and both application and receipt can be done by post.14

JOES’s own published terms set the practical details (as of October 2026). Applications open 2 months before departure, the forms are generated after creating a JOES MyPortal account, documents must be posted rather than emailed, and books are shipped in order of departure date, in principle by 2 weeks before departure.23 January to March and May to July are busy periods, and books can be collected at the Tokyo counter instead.2322

The books are free, but delivery is not. JOES charges a flat shipping and packing fee (Soryo Konpo Tesuryo 送料・梱包手数料) of ¥2,000 per family regardless of the number of children, raised from ¥1,800 for applications received from 1 April 2024; collection at the Tokyo counter needs no payment (as of October 2026).2322 JOES issues only the subjects where the overseas textbook publisher differs from the one your child already uses, so pack same-publisher books from Japan.2322

Stock timing matters. Elementary second-half (Gekan 下巻) books arrive at JOES around mid-June, and first-half (Jokan 上巻) and junior high books for the next school year from mid-November to early December.14 FY2026 second-half books for grades 1 to 5 were distributed from 10 June 2026, and as of 2 October 2026 FY2027 books were not yet in stock; JOES notes that overseas applications for the next year usually close around October, so later leavers should ask whether next-year books can be collected before departure (as of October 2026).24

JOES normally issues current-year books only, plus next-year books for departures from about January to the April break.22 Lost books are not replaced, and books must be returned if the move is cancelled.22

Route 2: After Arrival via the Embassy or Consulate

Section titled “Route 2: After Arrival via the Embassy or Consulate”

Each mission reports the number of eligible children to MEXT, which buys the books from publishers and sends them to the missions in two batches a year, for the first and second halves.318 Children enrolled at an overseas educational facility such as a Hoshuko receive their books from the facility, while children not enrolled receive them from the mission.3 Application windows and delivery methods are set by each post.

San Francisco’s FY2026 second-half notice is a labelled example only: grades 1 to 5, one set per child, a postal application with a US$25 money order per child as the shipping cost, a deadline of 18 May 2026 for arrival of the application, and home delivery from late September 2026 (as of October 2026).21 The US$25 is a delivery charge, not a textbook price.21

If you missed the window or left Japan without books, request an additional shipment (Kyokasho Tsuika Soufu Shinsei 教科書追加送付申請) through the competent mission, not JOES.25 The books stay free, but shipping and fees are charged to you and quoted by email; group applications by facilities may follow different terms, and families moving between countries apply at the new mission.25

flowchart TD
    A["Japanese-national child, compulsory school age, long-term stay abroad"] --> B{"Before or after departure?"}
    A --> X["Not eligible: foreign nationality only; permanent settlement (unless a MEXT exception applies); high school"]
    B -->|"Before departure"| C["Get certificate from Japanese school"]
    C --> D["Apply to JOES (MyPortal forms, post or counter)"]
    D --> E["MEXT decides; JOES posts books (¥2,000 per family) or counter pickup (free)"]
    B -->|"After arrival"| F["Submit Zairyu Todoke; mission surveys demand"]
    F --> G{"Enrolled at a Hoshuko or other facility?"}
    G -->|"Yes"| H["Books via the facility"]
    G -->|"No"| I["Books via the mission window"]
    I --> J["Missed window: additional shipment request (delivery charged)"]
    E --> K["Textbooks for the current half-year"]
    H --> K
    I --> K
    J --> K

What Hoshuko Teach: Kokugo First, Mathematics Where Offered

Section titled “What Hoshuko Teach: Kokugo First, Mathematics Where Offered”

Kokugo is the core subject. MEXT says that, depending on the facility, schools add arithmetic or mathematics, science and social studies, using textbooks used in Japan, and the designation criteria require Kokugo-centred classes on roughly 35 days or more a year.61

Mathematics depends on the facility.1 MEXT’s guidance materials for Hoshuko teachers cover Kokugo and arithmetic or mathematics only, based on the Courses of Study in force from FY2020 (elementary) and FY2021 (junior high).11 No official figure shows how many Hoshuko teach mathematics or how many hours a week they run, so ask the school directly.

Some Hoshuko go further. Some are quasi-full-time and follow Nihonjin Gakko hours and subjects, and some have kindergarten or high school divisions; these are school-level arrangements.19 Because a Hoshuko uses Japanese textbooks on far fewer days than a school in Japan, ask how much homework and home reading it expects.

Admissions and Japanese Language Readiness

Section titled “Admissions and Japanese Language Readiness”

There is no national admission rule or entrance exam. Designated Hoshuko must have school rules covering admission, withdrawal, transfer, capacity and fees, so the terms are each school’s own.4 Expect any interview, Japanese-level check, grade placement or parent duty to come from the school’s rules, and read them before you apply.

Children who hold only foreign nationality are not barred by Japanese rules. Notice 303 counts only pupils who do not hold solely foreign nationality toward its 5-pupil threshold, but it does not exclude other pupils.6 Article 13(2) of the 2022 Act encourages facilities to accept children other than Japanese nationals voluntarily, as part of international exchange.5

Support for children who need Japanese-language help is official policy. The 2023 Basic Policy includes support for children from foreign-national and international-marriage families who need Japanese-language instruction.8 Whether a particular school offers a heritage Japanese (Keisho Nihongo 継承日本語) class, a waiting list or a placement test is a question for that school, so contact it early.

The “Double Burden”: Balancing Local School and Saturday Hoshuko

Section titled “The “Double Burden”: Balancing Local School and Saturday Hoshuko”

Hoshuko meet when local schools are closed, so a Hoshuko pupil effectively runs two timetables and two sets of homework.4 Weekend sports, music or local exam preparation compete for the same days. There is no official data on how families manage this load, so treat what follows as practical pointers only.

Talk to both sets of teachers early. Ask the Hoshuko how it handles pupils who miss class days for local commitments, and ask the local school whether the Hoshuko day clashes with fixtures or exams.

Stepping down is an option. If the full load becomes too much, alternatives include a lighter class where the school offers one, home study with the free textbooks, or the JOES course described below, which JOES presents as a way to keep up basic Japanese-curriculum learning.2627 Learning the host country’s language is a separate topic, covered in our guide to foreign language preparation before moving abroad.

Community: Hoshuko as a Hub for Japanese and Intercultural Families

Section titled “Community: Hoshuko as a Hub for Japanese and Intercultural Families”

A Hoshuko is a community institution by design. The MOFA criteria expect it to be founded by an association of Japanese residents organised for their welfare and governed by a management committee, which means parents may be asked to serve on the committee or help run the school.6

Safety is part of the framework. Article 12 of the 2022 Act and the Basic Policy cover safety information from missions to residents, including facility staff, and MOFA’s support for designated schools includes security costs.548

No Hoshuko Nearby? Correspondence and Online Options

Section titled “No Hoshuko Nearby? Correspondence and Online Options”

JOES Correspondence Course: Science and Social Studies Only

Section titled “JOES Correspondence Course: Science and Social Studies Only”

MEXT’s position is that where there is no Nihonjin Gakko or Hoshuko, it provides free compulsory-education textbooks and subsidises correspondence education run by JOES, a subsidy in place since FY1972.1113 The subsidised course today is narrower than that suggests.

JOES’s own published terms describe its MEXT-subsidised course as a science and social studies course (Rika Shakai Kosu 理科・社会コース) for grades 3 to 9 (as of October 2026).2627 It uses internet videos, printable notes and quizzes aligned to Japanese textbooks at a basic level, with no marking, and costs ¥14,760 to ¥19,680 a year depending on the plan.2728 JOES’s current course list has no Kokugo or mathematics course, and its courses are described as for Japanese children living abroad or temporarily back in Japan.2628

JOES also runs book-delivery services for younger children: a course for ages 0 to 6 (Yoji Kosu 幼児コース) and a children’s book course for grades 1 and 2 (Jidosho Kosu 児童書コース), with their own fees that vary by region (as of October 2026).26 These are not labelled as MEXT-subsidised, and JOES notes that deliveries to some countries are currently suspended.26

Commercial Online Japanese Schools and Tutors

Section titled “Commercial Online Japanese Schools and Tutors”

Commercial online Japanese classes and tutors are not part of any government programme, and JOES notes that non-JOES services set their own terms.28 If you consider one, check whether it follows Japanese authorised textbooks, whether class times suit your time zone, and how it handles child safeguarding; this guide does not name or rank providers.

Textbook eligibility does not depend on Hoshuko enrolment. Children not enrolled at a facility receive books from the mission, and MEXT presents them as the base for learning where no school exists.313 JOES recommends collecting books before departure even if the child will attend only a local or international school, because shipping from abroad later costs postage and takes time.22

MEXT’s Hoshuko guidance materials for Kokugo and arithmetic or mathematics are public PDFs, written for teachers but readable by parents.11 The AG5 site sometimes found in searches is the archive of a JOES-run project for schools and teachers from 2015 to 2021, not a home-study service for families.1129

Step-by-Step Administrative Procedure & Timeline

Section titled “Step-by-Step Administrative Procedure & Timeline”

Dates follow JOES and mission practice as of October 2026; confirm each step with the body named.

When Step Official basis
T-6 to T-3 months Check government-supported Hoshuko on MOFA’s school pages and designated list; read the school’s rules on admission and fees; ask the competent mission about current schools MOFA1617
T-2 months Ask the Japanese school for the textbook certificate; JOES accepts applications from 2 months before departure JOES23
T-2 to T-1 month Create a JOES MyPortal account, print forms, post documents or go to the Tokyo counter (reservation optional); pay ¥2,000 per family if delivered JOES2322
Departure after about October Ask JOES whether next-year books are in stock JOES24
Departure Carry textbooks with you rather than in sea freight JOES22
Arrival Submit the Zairyu Todoke; confirm the textbook route with the mission (via the Hoshuko if enrolled) MEXT, JOES322
Spring and autumn Watch the mission’s application windows (example: San Francisco, 18 May 2026 for second-half books) Consulate notice21
Window missed Request an additional shipment at the mission; delivery charged JOES25

Families leaving Japan for any reason, not only company postings, fall within the pre-departure guidelines if they meet the conditions.14 Employer schooling support is covered in our guide to expat assignments and local hire contracts.

Japanese Citizens vs. Foreign Residents: Critical Distinctions

Section titled “Japanese Citizens vs. Foreign Residents: Critical Distinctions”

Nationality decides textbook eligibility; the school decides admission. The matrix below summarises the rules in the sources cited.

Child’s status Free textbooks (JOES and mission) Counts toward MOFA 5-pupil threshold Hoshuko admission JOES courses
Japanese national, staying 1 year or more Yes, both routes143 Yes6 School’s rules4 Yes26
Dual national holding Japanese nationality Yes, while Japanese nationality is held3 Yes6 School’s rules4 Yes26
Japanese national settling permanently or holding a foreign permanent visa Pre-departure: excluded if settling permanently; mission: PR holders excluded unless a MEXT exception applies; posts may add conditions14321 Yes6 School’s rules4 Check JOES terms26
Foreign national only (for example, children of foreign residents of Japan) No3 No, but not barred6 School’s discretion54 Described as for Japanese children26

Dual nationals qualify for textbooks because MEXT’s rule expressly includes dual nationality.3 How long a child keeps Japanese nationality is covered in our guide to dual nationality and nationality choice for Japanese children.

Foreign residents of Japan leaving with children should note that every textbook source requires Japanese nationality, so children who hold only a foreign nationality are outside the programme even if they studied at a Japanese school.143 They can still apply to a Hoshuko, where acceptance is the school’s decision.56

Common Pitfalls & Regulatory Compliance Risks

Section titled “Common Pitfalls & Regulatory Compliance Risks”
  • Assuming a Hoshuko is a government school. Hoshuko are community-founded; MOFA designates some and supports part of their costs.64
  • Treating Hoshuko attendance as Japanese schooling. Hoshuko are designated, not MEXT-certified, and carry no Japanese school qualification.4
  • Leaving Japan without JOES books. JOES says local schools and missions hold no books for newly arriving children.22
  • Expecting books already issued in Japan, or future years’ books. The first are excluded and the second limited.1422
  • Assuming foreign-national-only children qualify. Japanese nationality is required.3
  • Reading the ¥2,000 or US$25 as a textbook price. Both are shipping and handling charges.2321
  • Sending textbooks by sea freight. JOES warns of damage or loss, and lost books are not replaced.22
  • Assuming the JOES correspondence course covers Kokugo or mathematics. The subsidised course covers science and social studies.2627

Family, education and dual life

Foundations and exit procedures


  1. MEXT, 在外教育施設の概要 (CLARINET), accessed October 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/002.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  2. MEXT, 海外で学ぶ日本の子供たち (2026) 所在地 (map; school counts as of 1 April 2026), May 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260515-mxt_kyokoku-100002004_2.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. MEXT, 在外教育情報 (CLARINET index; textbook eligibility incl. dual nationality and permanent residency rule, facility vs mission route, two batches per year), accessed October 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15

  4. MOFA, 海外教育 (overseas education page), dated 16 December 2025, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/kaigai/kyoiku/index.html (Wayback Machine snapshot of 13 June 2026) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  5. House of Representatives (衆議院) / e-Gov, 在外教育施設における教育の振興に関する法律 (Act No. 73 of 2022), promulgated and in force 17 June 2022, Articles 1 to 14 and Supplementary Provisions, https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_housei.nsf/html/housei/20820220617073.htm (e-Gov law ID 504AC1000000073, https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/504AC1000000073; no amendments) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), 令和4年外務省告示第303号「在外教育施設に対する支援に係る指定等に関する規程」, 29 August 2022, Articles 1 to 6, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100490230.pdf (read via Wayback Machine snapshot of 15 March 2024; still linked as current from the MOFA pages of 2026) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15

  7. MOFA, 令和8年度補習授業校指定の募集, 19 June 2026, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/kaigai/kyoiku/hoshukoboshu.html (Wayback Machine snapshot of 10 July 2026) ↩

  8. MEXT, 海外で学ぶ日本の子供たち (2026) 施策の紹介 (Act summary, Basic Policy summary, teacher dispatch, teaching materials incl. FY2024 high school divisions, high school support), https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260515-mxt_kyokoku-100002004_4.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  9. MEXT, 2 派遣教員の職務 (100+ pupil and quasi-full-time Hoshuko; duties), Last-Modified 21 December 2023, text based on 15 April 2011 data, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/004/003.htm ; and 日本人学校・補習授業校への教師派遣の概要, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/004/001.htm ↩ ↩2

  10. MEXT, 海外で学ぶ日本の子供たち (2026) 教育活動・参考資料集, data 1 to 4 (data 1 as of 1 April 2026; data 2 to 4 as of 15 April 2025), https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260515-mxt_kyokoku-100002004_5.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. MEXT, 在外教育に関する施策の概要 (dispatch, Hoshuko support, teaching materials since FY1967, Hoshuko guidance materials, AG5 note, textbooks, correspondence subsidy since FY1972), accessed October 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/mext_02435.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  12. JOES, 在外教育施設教材等整備 (文部科学省補助), accessed October 2026, https://www.joes.or.jp/zaigai/seibi ↩ ↩2

  13. MEXT, 在外教育 Q&A, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q9, Q10, accessed October 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/004/005.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. MEXT, 令和8年度海外出国学齢児童生徒用教科書給与要綱, decided 23 March 2026 by the Director-General, Comprehensive Education Policy Bureau, https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20250509-mxt_kyokoku-100002004_6.pdf (linked from the MEXT 在外教育情報 page as the FY2026 guideline) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  15. MEXT, 在外教育施設の高校生への就学支援 (FY2026 budget sheet; six facilities), https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20260408-mxt_shuukyo03-100002595_6.pdf ↩

  16. MOFA, 外務大臣が指定した在外教育施設(補習授業校)一覧, PDF created 17 June 2024, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100490231.pdf (Wayback Machine capture 8 August 2024, unchanged at 30 August 2025 revisit) ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  17. MOFA, 世界の学校を見てみよう (world_school; Nihonjin Gakko, government-supported Hoshuko, private overseas schools), https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/world_school/index.html (Wayback Machine snapshot of 5 October 2025) ↩ ↩2

  18. MEXT, 13. 在外日本人子女等への教科書の無償給与 (since FY1967; about 137,000 recipients in FY2023), Last-Modified 2 April 2026, https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/kyoukasho/gaiyou/04060901/1235100.htm ↩ ↩2

  19. MEXT, 令和8年度在外日本人児童生徒用教科書一覧, https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20250509-mxt_kyokoku-100002004_5.pdf ↩

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  23. JOES, 出国前の方 (pre-departure procedure, ¥2,000 per family, 2-month rule), https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/kyokasho/syukkokumae; and JOES notice 教科書配付送料・梱包手数料の改定 (¥1,800 to ¥2,000 from 1 April 2024), 16 February 2024, https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/kyokasho/detail/53 (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  24. JOES notices: 令和8年度版 小学生用後期分教科書 配付について, 10 June 2026, https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/kyokasho/detail/50 ; 新(2027/令和9)年度版 教科書の入荷状況について, 2 October 2026, https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/kyokasho/detail/51 ↩ ↩2

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  26. JOES, 海外子女のための通信教育 (course overview, 2026), https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/tsushin; 幼児コース・児童書コース (FY2026 fees), https://www.joes.or.jp/kojin/tsushin/yoji.jidosho (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

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  29. AG5 日本人学校・補習授業校応援サイト, https://ag-5.jp/ and AG Plus, https://www.ag-5.jp/agplus (accessed October 2026; JOES-run project site) ↩