My son is a jukensei right now, preparing for the most difficult tests of his life which will determine which high school he ends up going to. Ever since my son decided he wanted to attend a high school with a good science program, we’ve been visiting different schools in our part of Japan to see which one would fit him the best. He’s been studying like crazy, at his desk for several hours a day then attending juku (cram) school until 10:30 pm every day. Watching him prepare for these tests over the past year has been an educational experience, and I’ve learned a lot about my son as well as Japan as a whole. This Sunday is the first of his important tests, for a high school in Tochigi Prefecture which we’ve selected as his suberi-dome or “stop the slide” school, e.g. an easier school that he can enter if he’s unable to get a high enough score on the other two school he’ll try for. Wish us luck!
Godai from Maison Ikkoku, the patron saint of all test-taking students.
