Overview

Japanese National Curriculum Subject Classifications

The Japanese National Curriculum Subject Classifications is a systematic categorization of subjects, domains, and courses that constitute the educational curriculum in Japanese schools. Based on the Course of Study established by the Ministry of Education, different subject structures are provided for elementary, junior high, and high school levels. Elementary schools have 9 subjects plus special subjects (moral education), junior high schools have 9 subjects plus moral education, and high schools have a system of 10 subjects with 57 or more courses, with educational content organized according to the developmental stages of students.

Course of Study curriculum subjects MEXT elementary education secondary education high school education

code	slug	name	description	category	schoolLevel
E-01	elementary-kokugo	Japanese Language	Elementary school Japanese language subject covering speaking, listening, writing, reading, and language elements.	Subject	Elementary School
E-02	elementary-shakai	Social Studies	Elementary school social studies covering social structures and local history and culture.	Subject	Elementary School
E-03	elementary-sansu	Arithmetic	Elementary school arithmetic developing foundational concepts of numbers, quantities, and shapes, along with calculation skills.	Subject	Elementary School
E-04	elementary-rika	Science	Elementary school science cultivating interest in nature and foundational scientific inquiry abilities.	Subject	Elementary School
E-05	elementary-seikatsu	Life Studies	Elementary school lower grades life studies providing integrated learning through relationships with daily life and society.	Subject	Elementary School
E-06	elementary-ongaku	Music	Elementary school music cultivating interest in music and developing expression and appreciation abilities through musical activities.	Subject	Elementary School
E-07	elementary-zugakousaku	Arts and Crafts	Elementary school arts and crafts developing creative abilities and sensibilities through artistic activities.	Subject	Elementary School
E-08	elementary-katei	Home Economics	Elementary school home economics learning about food, clothing, and housing, developing foundational abilities for family life.	Subject	Elementary School
E-09	elementary-taiiku	Physical Education	Elementary school physical education developing physical and mental health and improving motor abilities through exercise and sports.	Subject	Elementary School
E-10	elementary-doutoku	Moral Education	Elementary school moral education, a special subject for cultivating rich humanity and sociality.	Special Subject	Elementary School
E-11	elementary-gaikokugo-katsudou	Foreign Language Activities	Elementary school foreign language activities familiarizing students with foreign languages and experiencing foundations of communication.	Other Domain	Elementary School
E-12	elementary-sougouteki-gakushuu	Period for Integrated Studies	Elementary school period for integrated studies developing integrated learning abilities through inquiry-based learning.	Other Domain	Elementary School
E-13	elementary-tokubetsu-katsudou	Special Activities	Elementary school special activities cultivating cooperation through classroom activities, student council activities, and school events.	Other Domain	Elementary School
J-01	junior-kokugo	Japanese Language	Junior high school Japanese language subject developing comprehensive Japanese language abilities including penmanship.	Subject	Junior High School
J-02	junior-shakai	Social Studies	Junior high school social studies consisting of geography, history, and civics domains.	Subject	Junior High School
J-03	junior-sugaku	Mathematics	Junior high school mathematics developing mathematical thinking centered on algebra and geometry domains.	Subject	Junior High School
J-04	junior-rika	Science	Junior high school science integrating four domains: physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science.	Subject	Junior High School
J-05	junior-ongaku	Music	Junior high school music developing expression and appreciation abilities through musical activities including instrumental ensemble.	Subject	Junior High School
J-06	junior-bijutsu	Art	Junior high school art developing creative abilities and sensibilities through artistic activities.	Subject	Junior High School
J-07	junior-hoken-taiiku	Health and Physical Education	Junior high school health and physical education consisting of physical education and health domains.	Subject	Junior High School
J-08	junior-gijutsu-katei	Technology and Home Economics	Junior high school technology and home economics consisting of technology and home economics domains.	Subject	Junior High School
J-09	junior-gaikokugo	Foreign Language	Junior high school foreign language subject, principally English, developing communication abilities.	Subject	Junior High School
J-10	junior-doutoku	Moral Education	Junior high school moral education, a special subject for cultivating rich humanity and sociality.	Special Subject	Junior High School
J-11	junior-sougouteki-gakushuu	Period for Integrated Studies	Junior high school period for integrated studies developing integrated learning abilities through inquiry-based learning.	Other Domain	Junior High School
J-12	junior-tokubetsu-katsudou	Special Activities	Junior high school special activities cultivating cooperation through classroom activities, student council activities, club activities, and school events.	Other Domain	Junior High School
H-01	highschool-kokugo	Japanese Language	High school Japanese language subject with 6 courses: Modern Japanese, Language and Culture, Logic and Japanese, Literature and Japanese, Japanese Expression, and Classical Studies.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-02	highschool-chiri-rekishi	Geography and History	High school geography and history subject with 5 courses: Comprehensive Geography, Geography Inquiry, Comprehensive History, Japanese History Inquiry, and World History Inquiry.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-03	highschool-koumin	Civics	High school civics subject with 3 courses: Public, Ethics, and Politics and Economics.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-04	highschool-sugaku	Mathematics	High school mathematics subject with 6 courses: Mathematics I, II, III, and Mathematics A, B, C.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-05	highschool-rika	Science	High school science with 9 courses: Science and Human Life, Basic Physics/Physics, Basic Chemistry/Chemistry, Basic Biology/Biology, and Basic Earth Science/Earth Science.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-06	highschool-hoken-taiiku	Health and Physical Education	High school health and physical education with 2 courses: Physical Education and Health.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-07	highschool-geijutsu	Arts	High school arts with courses in Music, Art, Crafts, and Calligraphy, each with levels I, II, and III.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-08	highschool-gaikokugo	Foreign Language	High school foreign language with courses such as English Communication I, II, III and Logic and Expression I, II, III.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-09	highschool-katei	Home Economics	High school home economics with 3 courses: Comprehensive Home Economics, Basic Home Economics, and Creative Home Economics.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-10	highschool-jouhou	Information	High school information with 2 courses: Information I (common required) and Information II.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-11	highschool-risuu	Science and Mathematics	High school science and mathematics with 2 courses: Foundations of Science and Mathematics Inquiry and Science and Mathematics Inquiry.	Common Subject for All Courses	High School
H-12	highschool-sougouteki-tankyuu	Period for Comprehensive Inquiry	High school period for comprehensive inquiry developing integrated thinking and judgment abilities through inquiry-based learning.	Other Domain	High School
H-13	highschool-tokubetsu-katsudou	Special Activities	High school special activities cultivating cooperation through homeroom activities, student council activities, club activities, and school events.	Other Domain	High School

Subject classifications for elementary, junior high, and high schools defined by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.