Japan
Name of the qualification in original language
卒業証書 (中等教育学校)
Translation in English
Graduation certificate (secondary education school)
Transliteration in Latin alphabet
sotsugyo-shosho (chuto-kyoiku-gakko)
Awarding body
Each upper secondary school approved in accordance with the School Education Act.
Total number of years of schooling
12 years
Verification information
It would be difficult to verify the qualification. Many schools may not respond to verification requests due to their privacy protection policies (schools may not even be able to send a certificate directly to a third party for the same reason). The most realistic measure would be to ask for a certificate in a sealed envelope obtained by the student in question and to keep it sealed until handed in.
Comments/Additional Information
A graduation certificate from secondary education school is recognized as an entry qualification to universities (大学) and professional training colleges (専門学校) in Japan. There are two types of documents: 卒業証書 (sotsugyo-shosho) is a certificate which is issued only once, whereas 卒業証明書 (sotsugyo-shomeisho) is a commonly used document to prove one’s qualification for further study and can be issued in multiple times. The latter, 卒業証明書 is, in most cases, available in English as well.
Subjects: As of 2019, subjects may include; Japanese, world history, Japanese history, geography, modern society, ethics, politics and economics, mathematics, science, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, physical exercise, health, music, arts, crafts, shodo (Japanese calligraphy), foreign languages, home economics, and information. NB: subjects may vary in accordance with the Course of Study applicable to each year.
Grading: Each subject is graded in a 5-point scale from 5 to 1 where 5 is the highest score. The rule for failure depends on each school.
Awarding period: Upon completion of 6 years of study.
A list of secondary education schools is usually available for each prefecture where an institution is located but in most cases in the Japanese language.