School Refusal and Alternative Paths: Overcoming Pressures in the Educational Space

Students going to take junior high entrance exams in Tokyo, February 2026. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

Students Refusing School at Private Junior High Schools

The Kanagawa Private School Hall houses the Private School Learning Support Center. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

Ataka Katsumi, head of the Learning Support Center. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

A female student studying at Nishiogi Gakuin. After becoming a school refuser at a private junior high, she transferred to a public school and is now aiming to enter a public high school in Tokyo. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

Tanaka Seiki teaching a student one on one at Nishiogi Gakuin, which he heads. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

Nakanishi Mio reading at Shinjuku Yamabuki High School. She is interested in going on to study law. (© Tanaka Ruiko)

Nagahama Hiroyuki, principal of Shinjuku Yamabuki High School. (© Tanaka Ruiko)