It's been strangely quiet lately in the sixth-grade classrooms at my children's school. When I looked in the other day, nearly half the seats were empty. I couldn't understand why. A flu epidemic? Then I remembered. It's juken season -- entrance examination time.
Our school has an unusually high percentage of jukensei, students applying for private middle schools. Nearly half of the sixth-graders take the exams, far more than at most other public elementary schools in Japan. Private middle schools hold their exams between mid-January and early February, often on weekdays, so sixth-graders miss a lot of school when they are on the exam circuit.
At most private schools in Japan, students are admitted solely on the basis of their performance in the written entrance exam. Some schools interview applicants, but most don't bother. Many schools don't even ask for report-card copies.