Katoh Gyoshu Schools

"Katoh Gyoshu Schools is a private international school located in Numazu, Japan, offering a rigorous, internationally recognized education to students in a city nestled between the iconic slopes of Mount Fuji and the shores of Suruga Bay."

With a curriculum built around the International Baccalaureate framework, the school provides families — including the many expatriate and relocating professionals who find themselves in this part of Shizuoka Prefecture — with a globally respected academic pathway for their children. Founded in 2000, Katoh Gyoshu Schools has established itself as a distinctive educational option in a region of Japan not typically associated with international schooling. This makes it a particularly noteworthy choice for families who may be relocating outside of Japan's major metropolitan centers yet still require a world-class, English-medium education for their children. The school offers two of the International Baccalaureate's most respected programmes: the Middle Years Programme, which serves students in the formative middle school years, and the Diploma Programme, the rigorous two-year pre-university curriculum that is widely recognized by universities across the globe. Together, these programmes create a coherent and continuous academic journey that emphasizes critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and intellectual depth. Graduates of the IB Diploma Programme are well positioned to pursue higher education both in Japan and internationally. A defining characteristic of Katoh Gyoshu Schools is its bilingual orientation, reflected in the school's web presence at bi-lingual. com. This emphasis on bilingual education speaks to the school's broader philosophy of equipping students to operate fluently across linguistic and cultural boundaries — a particularly valuable quality in today's interconnected world. For expat families concerned about maintaining their children's proficiency in English while living in Japan, as well as for Japanese families seeking a truly international education, this bilingual approach represents a meaningful point of distinction. Numazu itself offers a quality of life that many families find appealing. The city is accessible from Tokyo via the Tokaido Shinkansen and sits within reach of some of Japan's most celebrated natural scenery, offering a somewhat quieter and more community-oriented environment compared to the density of Tokyo or Osaka. For relocating families, the combination of a livable city and a school offering internationally portable qualifications can be a compelling package. While Katoh Gyoshu Schools may not have the scale or international name recognition of schools found in Japan's largest cities, its commitment to the IB framework and its bilingual educational identity give it a clear and purposeful character. For families arriving in the Numazu area — whether through corporate relocation, personal choice, or a desire for something beyond the conventional — it represents a serious and considered option where students can earn qualifications that will follow them wherever life leads next.