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Image by Niek Verlaan<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n First of all, most of Japanese college students start college in April and graduate four years later in March. This tradition (\u4f1d\u7d71 dento) stemmed from the Japanese fiscal year (\u4f1a\u8a08\u5e74\u5ea6 \u00a0kaikei nendo) that starts in April and ends in March. This has been one of the major obstacles (\u969c\u5bb3 \u00a0shougai) for Japanese students who want to study overseas as 116 countries start a new academic year in September. BUT\u2026 things are more flexible (\u878d\u901a\u304c\u5229\u304f yuzuga kiku) if you look at the US, for example. You can start studying from the spring semester, for instance.\u00a0 There is no such flexibility in most Japanese colleges. You enter your college with a huge entrance ceremony (\u5165\u5b66\u5f0f nyugakushiki) and celebration in April, and you graduate with a huge graduation ceremony (\u5352\u696d\u5f0f sotsugyoshiki) and parties in March.<\/p>\n In an effort to globalize the education, so that Japanese students can study abroad and Japanese universities could accept study abroad students from overseas more easily, Tokyo University set up a feasibility study to change the academic year starting in September. However, the study found that there would still be many obstacles especially because of the job hunting system. Such major universities in Japan as Waseda University, Tokyo University and Keio University have adopted the quarter system instead.<\/p>\n So here is what has been decided after the discussion between the Japanese government and the Japan Business Federation (\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u56e3\u4f53\u9023\u5408\u4f1a Nihon Keizai Dantai Rengokai). I know this sounds strange, right? The Japan Business Federation is the most powerful economic group consisted of major Japanese corporations.<\/p>\n So let\u2019s assume you are going to graduate in March 2023 (you enter the college in April 2019 as a Freshman).\u00a0Here is the calendar you will need to follow.<\/p>\n\n
| Dates<\/th> | College Year<\/th> | Acctions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|
| By May 2021<\/td> | Beginning of Junior year<\/td> | Complete research on corporations, and self-analysis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Summer 2021<\/td> | <\/td> | Try to get an internship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Fall 2021-Winter 2022<\/td> | <\/td> | Try to get a fall and\/or winter internship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| October 2021<\/td> | <\/td> | Some international companies, mass-communication corporations, and non-member corporations of Japan Business Federation may start information sessions (\u4f01\u696d\u8aac\u660e\u4f1akigyo setsumeikai)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 12AM on March 1, 2022<\/td> | Ending of Junior year<\/td> | Member corporations of Japan Business Federation start information sessions and \u201cpre-entry\u201d, which simply means that students in their Junior year can indicate their interest on companies via website \u2013 students are not obligated to apply (\u7533\u3057\u8fbc\u3080moushikomu) later<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| June 2022<\/td> | Senior year<\/td> | Start interviews (\u9762\u63a5mensetsu)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| April \u2013 September 2022<\/td> | <\/td> | The Code of Ethics of Japan Business Federation indicates that member corporations can issue an early unofficial job offer (\u5185\u3005\u5b9anainaitei)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| From October 1, 2022<\/td> | <\/td> | The Member corporations can issue an informal job offer (\u5185\u5b9anaitei)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| March 2023<\/td> | Graduation<\/td> | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| April 1, 2023<\/td> | <\/td> | Company entrance ceremony (nyushashiki)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n Here are some important considerations you need when you go to information sessions and interviews.<\/p>\n First, what to wear.<\/div>\n \n |