You’ve probably heard of the famous “150 hours of Japanese,” and if it’s not clear, I’ll tell you more about it.

It’s quite confusing when you hear or see that to study Japanese in Japan, you must study Japanese before coming to the country, as it makes no sense at all.
“So why should I go?” And as the days go by, more schools are asking their applicants to study Japanese in their home country, making it a requirement for a variety of reasons that may or may not be explained, but generating a lot of questions among applicants. And being a very curious person, I can imagine that many people want to understand so they can make the investment of studying Japanese in their home country with peace of mind.

Reasons for this requirement…

• Ease of transition to Japan

Unlike other countries where you can find assistance in popular languages ​​like English, in Japan you may find that everything is in Japanese, and perhaps a tourist won’t mind since they’ll be there for a short time. However, an international student in Japan is a resident, and with this comes responsibilities, for example, navigating through processes in the city center regarding insurance, pensions, conversations about moving to your new home, and even getting to your new home once you arrive in Japan. You may think it shouldn’t be uncomfortable to start with zero Japanese since your studies begin soon after arriving, but like everything, it takes time. This time without being able to communicate in simple situations often leads to despair and, in the worst cases, consideration of returning to your home country.

To avoid making the discomfort even greater than it already is to be in a completely different country, having a basic level of Japanese gives you the tools to avoid feeling alienated from society and to have the ability to complete basic tasks without being overwhelmed by not knowing Japanese. Believe me, reading it is expensive, but experiencing it is shocking and easily discouraging.

150-hour courses are usually perfect as an introduction to Japanese, and once you arrive in Japan, the cultural shock can be lessened if you feel confident speaking. Basic things like getting to the supermarket checkout and knowing how to say you need a bag and that you’ll pay in cash, not by credit card, or that this sign is for the station, or that I understand when someone shouts when you arrive at a restaurant, will make your experience very pleasant.

• Security for the school

Japan has become popular lately, and studying Japanese is a first step toward starting a life in Japan for many. When these trends occur, people with no interest in studying take advantage of the situation to arrive in a country dishonestly and not complete the course they enrolled in.

You might think this doesn’t matter, that the school receives the payment and shouldn’t worry, but the reality is far from this, as Japanese language schools are responsible for what you do in Japan.

To give you some context, if you marry a Japanese national, this person is your guarantor or responsible for your stay in Japan and arranges a spousal visa for the couple. If this partner commits a crime, the guarantor must be held legally responsible for what the couple does.

With a student visa, the school is the guarantor, and it is responsible for ensuring that its students fulfill the purpose for which their visa was granted: to study Japanese.

We grow wiser with experience, and Japanese language schools are no exception to this saying. More and more schools are setting the requirement: “Those interested in studying with us must take a 150-hour course or have a JLPT N5 certificate.” A genuine student with a true interest in studying Japanese will have no problem starting their studies before coming to Japan. On the contrary, that knowledge will empower them and they will accept it. However, a student with dubious interests doesn’t really want to take the time and trouble to learn if they aren’t in Japan, because ultimately, it’s not even their goal.

This requirement filters the students’ interest and ensures the quality of the people the school will take responsibility for. I don’t blame them, nobody wants to tell the government like “hey, about these students A, B and C… They never studied hehe” because Japan is not like other countries where the system doesn’t even take into account, in Japan it does, not only the government regulates schools, but it also evaluates their performance and if you know this culture, you can imagine that not knowing what happened to a student is a giant red alarm in the shape of an X, the student looks bad, of course, but the school looks worse.

• Your Profile and Immigration 

After submitting all your documents to the student counselor, they will thoroughly review what you submitted. As a studies agency, we make sure your entire profile makes sense: what you’ve done, what you’re doing, and what you plan to do.

If my interest is working for a Japanese company and that’s why I want to study Japanese, having prior Japanese language study, such as a 150-hour course or an approved language proficiency certificate, adds enormous weight to your application. Not only does it make sense that you’re going to study, it shows your initiative and commitment to your goal.

The most important goal for a student visa applicant is to be able to present strong arguments for why they want to become a resident in Japan to study Japanese. Having a track record of having already begun studying solidifies any doubts that may arise regarding their profile.

In the last year, the number of schools requiring this from their students has increased dramatically and is expected to continue to rise over time. Some schools have decided to raise the bar even further, requiring the N4 certificate for some Japanese courses.

Is it surprising?

The truth is, it isn’t. To apply for a student visa for technical programs at vocational schools, you are required to have an N2 certification (JLPT) or N2 level (if you are attending a language school in Japan), which is a fairly high level, and there are no exceptions. So it’s no surprise that the same filtering system is implemented for language courses as well. Aside from the fact that Japan is quite strict with its standards in general, not only in the educational field but also in the social, cultural, and other areas; having strict protocols is another feature of how Japan wants to control the quality of what it does, produces, or prepares. As you can see, it’s possible to determine whether someone is a genuine student or not.

Schools, understandably, want good students who represent them positively, so when you are accepted into a school, hopefully you can be aware of the trust the school places in you and make sure that your studies are the priority.

Writer’s note: When studying Japanese, take care of your grades and attendance. You might want to change to a work visa one day, and poor grades or poor attendance could hinder your future in Japan.

Ways to complete the 150 hours of Japanese…

• Self-study Japanese.

Some schools accept self-study for the 150-hour Japanese language requirement; it is not accepted at all schools, and if the school does, you may be required to take a placement test. An explanation of your studies is also required, and an interview with the school can confirm this.

• Online or in-person Japanese language course.

There are a wide variety of Japanese language courses in almost every country, with schools where you can study in person and even more options if you want to take it online. These courses usually follow specific guidelines for this goal, so it is recommended that you take a course for the 150-hour requirement.

If you have already studied Japanese at a school for a duration such as this, a course certificate fulfills the requirement.

For short-term study.

If you plan to study for 3 months or less, you don’t need to study Japanese before starting the course. However, for long-term study with a student visa, you must present your 150-hour course completion certificate or proof of your studies.

But I have a JLPT N5 certificate or an equivalent certificate…

If you have a JLPT N5 certificate or the equivalent in different categories, such as NAT or others, it makes this process much easier, as simply presenting it will satisfy the Japanese requirement and allow you to continue with your application.

You’re already on your way to Japan!

If you’re already considering studying in Japan, you can start your Japanese studies to meet this requirement. We suggest looking for a Japanese language course for the 150 hours. It’s a process that takes time, and it’s good to have the opportunity to study the language without rushing, well in advance. Unfortunately, performance on apps like Duolingo isn’t possible to verify your study hours, so you can study on your own or take a course designed specifically for this purpose.

Remember that you can contact us one year before your planned study date in Japan. If we’re a year away from the start of your journey, then contact us now. If we’re still a year away, you can read our blogs with information that can help you prepare. And of course, you can begin your Japanese studies, which will give you what you need to meet this requirement.