Gakureki (学歴) is the education history on a rirekisho, the Japanese resume, and each of its lines needs the year and month you entered or finished a school. The school year in Japan runs from April to March, so a birth date fixes every one of those dates. The Heisei or Reiwa year written next to each date then follows from the era change in 2019.
Gakureki chart: entry and graduation years by birth date
Everyone born from April 2 to the following April 1 shares one school group, so one row covers all of them. Find the row that contains the birth date, then copy the year and era for each school. In each ten-year block, the first table lists the April entries and the second lists the March graduations, for someone with no gap year and no repeated year.
University means a four-year course in the chart. Elementary school entry is 6 years before junior high entry, and a two-year junior college ends 2 years after high school graduation.
Born April 2, 1960 – April 1, 1970
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1960 – Apr 1, 1961 | 1973 (Showa 48) | 1976 (Showa 51) | 1979 (Showa 54) |
| Apr 2, 1961 – Apr 1, 1962 | 1974 (Showa 49) | 1977 (Showa 52) | 1980 (Showa 55) |
| Apr 2, 1962 – Apr 1, 1963 | 1975 (Showa 50) | 1978 (Showa 53) | 1981 (Showa 56) |
| Apr 2, 1963 – Apr 1, 1964 | 1976 (Showa 51) | 1979 (Showa 54) | 1982 (Showa 57) |
| Apr 2, 1964 – Apr 1, 1965 | 1977 (Showa 52) | 1980 (Showa 55) | 1983 (Showa 58) |
| Apr 2, 1965 – Apr 1, 1966 | 1978 (Showa 53) | 1981 (Showa 56) | 1984 (Showa 59) |
| Apr 2, 1966 – Apr 1, 1967 | 1979 (Showa 54) | 1982 (Showa 57) | 1985 (Showa 60) |
| Apr 2, 1967 – Apr 1, 1968 | 1980 (Showa 55) | 1983 (Showa 58) | 1986 (Showa 61) |
| Apr 2, 1968 – Apr 1, 1969 | 1981 (Showa 56) | 1984 (Showa 59) | 1987 (Showa 62) |
| Apr 2, 1969 – Apr 1, 1970 | 1982 (Showa 57) | 1985 (Showa 60) | 1988 (Showa 63) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1960 – Apr 1, 1961 | 1976 (Showa 51) | 1979 (Showa 54) | 1983 (Showa 58) |
| Apr 2, 1961 – Apr 1, 1962 | 1977 (Showa 52) | 1980 (Showa 55) | 1984 (Showa 59) |
| Apr 2, 1962 – Apr 1, 1963 | 1978 (Showa 53) | 1981 (Showa 56) | 1985 (Showa 60) |
| Apr 2, 1963 – Apr 1, 1964 | 1979 (Showa 54) | 1982 (Showa 57) | 1986 (Showa 61) |
| Apr 2, 1964 – Apr 1, 1965 | 1980 (Showa 55) | 1983 (Showa 58) | 1987 (Showa 62) |
| Apr 2, 1965 – Apr 1, 1966 | 1981 (Showa 56) | 1984 (Showa 59) | 1988 (Showa 63) |
| Apr 2, 1966 – Apr 1, 1967 | 1982 (Showa 57) | 1985 (Showa 60) | 1989 (Heisei 1) |
| Apr 2, 1967 – Apr 1, 1968 | 1983 (Showa 58) | 1986 (Showa 61) | 1990 (Heisei 2) |
| Apr 2, 1968 – Apr 1, 1969 | 1984 (Showa 59) | 1987 (Showa 62) | 1991 (Heisei 3) |
| Apr 2, 1969 – Apr 1, 1970 | 1985 (Showa 60) | 1988 (Showa 63) | 1992 (Heisei 4) |
Born April 2, 1970 – April 1, 1980
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1970 – Apr 1, 1971 | 1983 (Showa 58) | 1986 (Showa 61) | 1989 (Heisei 1) |
| Apr 2, 1971 – Apr 1, 1972 | 1984 (Showa 59) | 1987 (Showa 62) | 1990 (Heisei 2) |
| Apr 2, 1972 – Apr 1, 1973 | 1985 (Showa 60) | 1988 (Showa 63) | 1991 (Heisei 3) |
| Apr 2, 1973 – Apr 1, 1974 | 1986 (Showa 61) | 1989 (Heisei 1) | 1992 (Heisei 4) |
| Apr 2, 1974 – Apr 1, 1975 | 1987 (Showa 62) | 1990 (Heisei 2) | 1993 (Heisei 5) |
| Apr 2, 1975 – Apr 1, 1976 | 1988 (Showa 63) | 1991 (Heisei 3) | 1994 (Heisei 6) |
| Apr 2, 1976 – Apr 1, 1977 | 1989 (Heisei 1) | 1992 (Heisei 4) | 1995 (Heisei 7) |
| Apr 2, 1977 – Apr 1, 1978 | 1990 (Heisei 2) | 1993 (Heisei 5) | 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| Apr 2, 1978 – Apr 1, 1979 | 1991 (Heisei 3) | 1994 (Heisei 6) | 1997 (Heisei 9) |
| Apr 2, 1979 – Apr 1, 1980 | 1992 (Heisei 4) | 1995 (Heisei 7) | 1998 (Heisei 10) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1970 – Apr 1, 1971 | 1986 (Showa 61) | 1989 (Heisei 1) | 1993 (Heisei 5) |
| Apr 2, 1971 – Apr 1, 1972 | 1987 (Showa 62) | 1990 (Heisei 2) | 1994 (Heisei 6) |
| Apr 2, 1972 – Apr 1, 1973 | 1988 (Showa 63) | 1991 (Heisei 3) | 1995 (Heisei 7) |
| Apr 2, 1973 – Apr 1, 1974 | 1989 (Heisei 1) | 1992 (Heisei 4) | 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| Apr 2, 1974 – Apr 1, 1975 | 1990 (Heisei 2) | 1993 (Heisei 5) | 1997 (Heisei 9) |
| Apr 2, 1975 – Apr 1, 1976 | 1991 (Heisei 3) | 1994 (Heisei 6) | 1998 (Heisei 10) |
| Apr 2, 1976 – Apr 1, 1977 | 1992 (Heisei 4) | 1995 (Heisei 7) | 1999 (Heisei 11) |
| Apr 2, 1977 – Apr 1, 1978 | 1993 (Heisei 5) | 1996 (Heisei 8) | 2000 (Heisei 12) |
| Apr 2, 1978 – Apr 1, 1979 | 1994 (Heisei 6) | 1997 (Heisei 9) | 2001 (Heisei 13) |
| Apr 2, 1979 – Apr 1, 1980 | 1995 (Heisei 7) | 1998 (Heisei 10) | 2002 (Heisei 14) |
Born April 2, 1980 – April 1, 1990
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1980 – Apr 1, 1981 | 1993 (Heisei 5) | 1996 (Heisei 8) | 1999 (Heisei 11) |
| Apr 2, 1981 – Apr 1, 1982 | 1994 (Heisei 6) | 1997 (Heisei 9) | 2000 (Heisei 12) |
| Apr 2, 1982 – Apr 1, 1983 | 1995 (Heisei 7) | 1998 (Heisei 10) | 2001 (Heisei 13) |
| Apr 2, 1983 – Apr 1, 1984 | 1996 (Heisei 8) | 1999 (Heisei 11) | 2002 (Heisei 14) |
| Apr 2, 1984 – Apr 1, 1985 | 1997 (Heisei 9) | 2000 (Heisei 12) | 2003 (Heisei 15) |
| Apr 2, 1985 – Apr 1, 1986 | 1998 (Heisei 10) | 2001 (Heisei 13) | 2004 (Heisei 16) |
| Apr 2, 1986 – Apr 1, 1987 | 1999 (Heisei 11) | 2002 (Heisei 14) | 2005 (Heisei 17) |
| Apr 2, 1987 – Apr 1, 1988 | 2000 (Heisei 12) | 2003 (Heisei 15) | 2006 (Heisei 18) |
| Apr 2, 1988 – Apr 1, 1989 | 2001 (Heisei 13) | 2004 (Heisei 16) | 2007 (Heisei 19) |
| Apr 2, 1989 – Apr 1, 1990 | 2002 (Heisei 14) | 2005 (Heisei 17) | 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1980 – Apr 1, 1981 | 1996 (Heisei 8) | 1999 (Heisei 11) | 2003 (Heisei 15) |
| Apr 2, 1981 – Apr 1, 1982 | 1997 (Heisei 9) | 2000 (Heisei 12) | 2004 (Heisei 16) |
| Apr 2, 1982 – Apr 1, 1983 | 1998 (Heisei 10) | 2001 (Heisei 13) | 2005 (Heisei 17) |
| Apr 2, 1983 – Apr 1, 1984 | 1999 (Heisei 11) | 2002 (Heisei 14) | 2006 (Heisei 18) |
| Apr 2, 1984 – Apr 1, 1985 | 2000 (Heisei 12) | 2003 (Heisei 15) | 2007 (Heisei 19) |
| Apr 2, 1985 – Apr 1, 1986 | 2001 (Heisei 13) | 2004 (Heisei 16) | 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Apr 2, 1986 – Apr 1, 1987 | 2002 (Heisei 14) | 2005 (Heisei 17) | 2009 (Heisei 21) |
| Apr 2, 1987 – Apr 1, 1988 | 2003 (Heisei 15) | 2006 (Heisei 18) | 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Apr 2, 1988 – Apr 1, 1989 | 2004 (Heisei 16) | 2007 (Heisei 19) | 2011 (Heisei 23) |
| Apr 2, 1989 – Apr 1, 1990 | 2005 (Heisei 17) | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2012 (Heisei 24) |
Born April 2, 1990 – April 1, 2000
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1990 – Apr 1, 1991 | 2003 (Heisei 15) | 2006 (Heisei 18) | 2009 (Heisei 21) |
| Apr 2, 1991 – Apr 1, 1992 | 2004 (Heisei 16) | 2007 (Heisei 19) | 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Apr 2, 1992 – Apr 1, 1993 | 2005 (Heisei 17) | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2011 (Heisei 23) |
| Apr 2, 1993 – Apr 1, 1994 | 2006 (Heisei 18) | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2012 (Heisei 24) |
| Apr 2, 1994 – Apr 1, 1995 | 2007 (Heisei 19) | 2010 (Heisei 22) | 2013 (Heisei 25) |
| Apr 2, 1995 – Apr 1, 1996 | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2011 (Heisei 23) | 2014 (Heisei 26) |
| Apr 2, 1996 – Apr 1, 1997 | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2012 (Heisei 24) | 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| Apr 2, 1997 – Apr 1, 1998 | 2010 (Heisei 22) | 2013 (Heisei 25) | 2016 (Heisei 28) |
| Apr 2, 1998 – Apr 1, 1999 | 2011 (Heisei 23) | 2014 (Heisei 26) | 2017 (Heisei 29) |
| Apr 2, 1999 – Apr 1, 2000 | 2012 (Heisei 24) | 2015 (Heisei 27) | 2018 (Heisei 30) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 1990 – Apr 1, 1991 | 2006 (Heisei 18) | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2013 (Heisei 25) |
| Apr 2, 1991 – Apr 1, 1992 | 2007 (Heisei 19) | 2010 (Heisei 22) | 2014 (Heisei 26) |
| Apr 2, 1992 – Apr 1, 1993 | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2011 (Heisei 23) | 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| Apr 2, 1993 – Apr 1, 1994 | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2012 (Heisei 24) | 2016 (Heisei 28) |
| Apr 2, 1994 – Apr 1, 1995 | 2010 (Heisei 22) | 2013 (Heisei 25) | 2017 (Heisei 29) |
| Apr 2, 1995 – Apr 1, 1996 | 2011 (Heisei 23) | 2014 (Heisei 26) | 2018 (Heisei 30) |
| Apr 2, 1996 – Apr 1, 1997 | 2012 (Heisei 24) | 2015 (Heisei 27) | 2019 (Heisei 31) |
| Apr 2, 1997 – Apr 1, 1998 | 2013 (Heisei 25) | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
| Apr 2, 1998 – Apr 1, 1999 | 2014 (Heisei 26) | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
| Apr 2, 1999 – Apr 1, 2000 | 2015 (Heisei 27) | 2018 (Heisei 30) | 2022 (Reiwa 4) |
Born April 2, 2000 – April 1, 2010
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2000 – Apr 1, 2001 | 2013 (Heisei 25) | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2019 (Heisei 31) |
| Apr 2, 2001 – Apr 1, 2002 | 2014 (Heisei 26) | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
| Apr 2, 2002 – Apr 1, 2003 | 2015 (Heisei 27) | 2018 (Heisei 30) | 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
| Apr 2, 2003 – Apr 1, 2004 | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2019 (Heisei 31) | 2022 (Reiwa 4) |
| Apr 2, 2004 – Apr 1, 2005 | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2020 (Reiwa 2) | 2023 (Reiwa 5) |
| Apr 2, 2005 – Apr 1, 2006 | 2018 (Heisei 30) | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2024 (Reiwa 6) |
| Apr 2, 2006 – Apr 1, 2007 | 2019 (Heisei 31) | 2022 (Reiwa 4) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
| Apr 2, 2007 – Apr 1, 2008 | 2020 (Reiwa 2) | 2023 (Reiwa 5) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| Apr 2, 2008 – Apr 1, 2009 | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2024 (Reiwa 6) | 2027 (Reiwa 9) |
| Apr 2, 2009 – Apr 1, 2010 | 2022 (Reiwa 4) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2000 – Apr 1, 2001 | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2019 (Heisei 31) | 2023 (Reiwa 5) |
| Apr 2, 2001 – Apr 1, 2002 | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2020 (Reiwa 2) | 2024 (Reiwa 6) |
| Apr 2, 2002 – Apr 1, 2003 | 2018 (Heisei 30) | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
| Apr 2, 2003 – Apr 1, 2004 | 2019 (Heisei 31) | 2022 (Reiwa 4) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| Apr 2, 2004 – Apr 1, 2005 | 2020 (Reiwa 2) | 2023 (Reiwa 5) | 2027 (Reiwa 9) |
| Apr 2, 2005 – Apr 1, 2006 | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2024 (Reiwa 6) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) |
| Apr 2, 2006 – Apr 1, 2007 | 2022 (Reiwa 4) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2029 (Reiwa 11) |
| Apr 2, 2007 – Apr 1, 2008 | 2023 (Reiwa 5) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) |
| Apr 2, 2008 – Apr 1, 2009 | 2024 (Reiwa 6) | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2031 (Reiwa 13) |
| Apr 2, 2009 – Apr 1, 2010 | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) |
Born April 2, 2010 – April 1, 2020
| Born | Junior high entry | High school entry | University entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2010 – Apr 1, 2011 | 2023 (Reiwa 5) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) | 2029 (Reiwa 11) |
| Apr 2, 2011 – Apr 1, 2012 | 2024 (Reiwa 6) | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) |
| Apr 2, 2012 – Apr 1, 2013 | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) | 2031 (Reiwa 13) |
| Apr 2, 2013 – Apr 1, 2014 | 2026 (Reiwa 8) | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) |
| Apr 2, 2014 – Apr 1, 2015 | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) | 2033 (Reiwa 15) |
| Apr 2, 2015 – Apr 1, 2016 | 2028 (Reiwa 10) | 2031 (Reiwa 13) | 2034 (Reiwa 16) |
| Apr 2, 2016 – Apr 1, 2017 | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2035 (Reiwa 17) |
| Apr 2, 2017 – Apr 1, 2018 | 2030 (Reiwa 12) | 2033 (Reiwa 15) | 2036 (Reiwa 18) |
| Apr 2, 2018 – Apr 1, 2019 | 2031 (Reiwa 13) | 2034 (Reiwa 16) | 2037 (Reiwa 19) |
| Apr 2, 2019 – Apr 1, 2020 | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2035 (Reiwa 17) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
| Born | Junior high graduation | High school graduation | University graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2010 – Apr 1, 2011 | 2026 (Reiwa 8) | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2033 (Reiwa 15) |
| Apr 2, 2011 – Apr 1, 2012 | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) | 2034 (Reiwa 16) |
| Apr 2, 2012 – Apr 1, 2013 | 2028 (Reiwa 10) | 2031 (Reiwa 13) | 2035 (Reiwa 17) |
| Apr 2, 2013 – Apr 1, 2014 | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2036 (Reiwa 18) |
| Apr 2, 2014 – Apr 1, 2015 | 2030 (Reiwa 12) | 2033 (Reiwa 15) | 2037 (Reiwa 19) |
| Apr 2, 2015 – Apr 1, 2016 | 2031 (Reiwa 13) | 2034 (Reiwa 16) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
| Apr 2, 2016 – Apr 1, 2017 | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2035 (Reiwa 17) | 2039 (Reiwa 21) |
| Apr 2, 2017 – Apr 1, 2018 | 2033 (Reiwa 15) | 2036 (Reiwa 18) | 2040 (Reiwa 22) |
| Apr 2, 2018 – Apr 1, 2019 | 2034 (Reiwa 16) | 2037 (Reiwa 19) | 2041 (Reiwa 23) |
| Apr 2, 2019 – Apr 1, 2020 | 2035 (Reiwa 17) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) | 2042 (Reiwa 24) |
The chart covers births from April 2, 1960 to April 1, 2020. Rows for other birth years continue the same pattern of one school group per row.
Students in Japan enter in April and graduate in March
Japanese law sets the elementary school year from April 1 to March 31, and the same rule is applied to junior high and high schools. A child starts elementary school at the beginning of the first school year after turning 6. That is why every entry in the chart falls in April and every graduation in March.
A March graduation ends the school year that began the April before. Graduating in March 2026 closes the 2025 school year, yet the rirekisho asks for the calendar year and month, so the line reads 2026 and 3.
For universities, the law leaves the start and end of the academic year to the university president, and a university may admit and graduate students partway through the year. The chart uses April entry and March graduation for university as well.
"小学校の学年は、四月一日に始まり、翌年三月三十一日に終わる。" ／ "第五十四条から第六十八条までの規定は、中学校に準用する。" ／ "第五十八条から第七十一条まで（第六十九条を除く。）" ／ "の規定は、高等学校に準用する。" ／ "大学の学年の始期及び終期は、学長が定める。" — from Articles 59, 79, 104 and 163View official source →
"保護者は、子の満六歳に達した日の翌日以後における最初の学年の初めから、満十二歳に達した日の属する学年の終わりまで、これを小学校、義務教育学校の前期課程又は特別支援学校の小学部に就学させる義務を負う。" — from Article 17View official source →
Birth dates of March 2026 graduates and April 2026 entrants
In era years, 2026 is Reiwa 8, and each group that enters or leaves a school that year has a fixed span of birth dates. The table lists them.
| Graduating or entering in 2026 | Born |
|---|---|
| Elementary school entry, April | Apr 2, 2019 – Apr 1, 2020 |
| Junior high school entry, April | Apr 2, 2013 – Apr 1, 2014 |
| Junior high graduation in March, high school entry in April | Apr 2, 2010 – Apr 1, 2011 |
| High school graduation in March, university entry in April | Apr 2, 2007 – Apr 1, 2008 |
| Junior college graduation, March | Apr 2, 2005 – Apr 1, 2006 |
| University graduation, March | Apr 2, 2003 – Apr 1, 2004 |
Someone who finishes a four-year university in March 2026 with no gap year or repeated year was born between April 2, 2003 and April 1, 2004. The graduation line reads 2026 and 3, or 令和8年 and 3 in era years.
Born April 1, you start school a year before April 2 births
Japanese law adds one to a person's age when the day before the birthday ends, so the dividing line between two groups falls a day earlier than the birthday suggests. The Act on Counting Age counts age from the day of birth and applies Civil Code Article 143 to the count. Under that article, a period of years ends on the day before the matching date.
Japanese law adds a year of age the day before a birthday
A child born on April 1 turns 6 when March 31 ends and starts elementary school on April 1, the next day. A child born on April 2 turns 6 only when April 1 ends, after that school year has begun, and starts the following April.
Everyone in one school group was therefore born between April 2 and April 1 of the next year. At the start of April 1 in the year they enter a school, they are all the same age.
| School | Age on April 1 |
|---|---|
| Elementary school | 6 |
| Junior high school | 12 |
| High school | 15 |
| University | 18 |
Anyone counted in a group is the same age on that day, whatever the birth date inside the row. To work out an age in Japanese terms for any birth date, see Japanese calendar year to age: a birth date guide.
"年齢ハ出生ノ日ヨリ之ヲ起算ス" ／ "民法第百四十三条ノ規定ハ年齢ノ計算ニ之ヲ準用ス"View official source →
"週、月又は年の初めから期間を起算しないときは、その期間は、最後の週、月又は年においてその起算日に応当する日の前日に満了する。" — from Article 143(2)View official source →
Hayaumare births use the row that starts the April 2 before
Hayaumare (早生まれ, early-born) describes someone in the school year above anyone born later in the same calendar year. The April 1 births belong to that group too. A chart that splits rows by birth year puts hayaumare readers one row off, so they have to use the previous year's row.
Each row runs from April 2 to April 1, so the row that contains the birth date is always the right one. A birth date of March 1, 2001 belongs to the row for April 2, 2000 to April 1, 2001, not to a row that starts in 2001.
Add gap years, repeats and program lengths to the chart
Japanese law fixes how long each type of school lasts, so an unusual course starts counting from the year the school before it ended. The chart assumes 6 years of elementary school, 3 of junior high, 3 of high school and 4 of university. If your schools had other lengths, start from the chart and add your own years.
Add the program length the law sets for each type of school
For a school with no column in the chart, add its length to the year you finished the school before it. Where the law gives a range, the length is the number of years actually attended.
Course length set by law, in years (standard length for graduate courses)
| School | Length | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time or correspondence high school | 3 or more | Junior high graduation + length |
| College of technology (kosen) | 5 | Junior high graduation + 5 |
| Junior college | 2 or 3 | High school graduation + length |
| Specialized training college (senmon gakko) | 1 or more | High school graduation + length |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, clinical pharmacy | 6 | High school graduation + 6 |
| Master's course | 2 | University graduation + 2 |
| Doctoral course | 5 | University graduation + 5 |
A specialized training college course only has to last 1 year or more, so its length depends on the school and the course; add the years you actually attended. A college of technology course in mercantile marine studies lasts 5 years and 6 months. The standards also allow a doctoral course to be split into a first stage of 2 years and a second stage of 3 years.
"定時制の課程及び通信制の課程については、三年以上とする。" ／ "大学の修業年限は、四年とする。" ／ "その修業年限は、六年とする。" ／ "その修業年限を二年又は三年とする。" ／ "高等専門学校の修業年限は、五年とする。" ／ "ただし、商船に関する学科については、五年六月とする。" ／ "修業年限が一年以上であること。" — from Articles 56, 87, 108, 117 and 124View official source →
"修士課程の標準修業年限は、二年とする。" ／ "博士課程の標準修業年限は、五年とする。" ／ "前期二年及び後期三年の課程に区分し" — from Articles 3 and 4View official source →
A gap year delays entry; a repeated year delays graduation
A gap year after high school, spent preparing to retake entrance exams (ronin, 浪人), moves university entry and graduation a year later than the chart shows. Someone born between April 2, 2000 and April 1, 2001 who finished high school in March 2019 and took one gap year enters university in April 2020 and graduates in March 2024.
A repeated year (ryunen, 留年) or a year of leave (kyugaku, 休学) does not change the entry date of the school where it happened. The extra years move that school's graduation and every date after it, including graduate school.
High schools and universities may admit students mid-year
April and March are the rule, not the only possibility. When there is a special need and it does not harm education, a high school principal may admit students and let them graduate partway through the school year, by term. Universities go further, because each president sets when the academic year starts and ends.
A course that began in September, for example, has its own start and end months. Those months replace April and March on the lines for that school.
"特別の必要があり、かつ、教育上支障がないときは、" ／ "学期の区分に従い、入学（第九十一条に規定する入学を除く。）を許可し並びに各学年の課程の修了及び卒業を認めることができる。" ／ "大学の学年の始期及び終期は、学長が定める。" ／ "学期の区分に従い、学生を入学させ及び卒業させることができる。" — from Articles 104(3) and 163View official source →
Write March and April 2019 as Heisei 31, not Reiwa 1
The era changed on May 1, 2019, so every date from January to April of that year still belongs to the era that began in 1989. That era is Heisei, and 2019 up to April is Heisei 31. Heisei itself began on January 8, 1989, so March and April 1989 are Heisei 1, while only January 1 to 7, 1989 is Showa 64.
| Period | Era |
|---|---|
| Before January 8, 1989 | Showa (January 1 to 7, 1989 is Showa 64) |
| January 8, 1989 to April 2019 | Heisei (1989 is Heisei 1, 2019 is Heisei 31) |
| From May 1, 2019 | Reiwa (May 2019 is Reiwa 1) |
In Japanese, the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen) rather than 1, so Heisei 1 is 平成元年 and Reiwa 1 is 令和元年. The era years in the chart already take the entry and graduation months into account, so copying them gives the right era for 2019 and 1989.
"元号を令和に改める。" ／ "この政令は、天皇の退位等に関する皇室典範特例法（平成二十九年法律第六十三号）の施行の日（平成三十一年四月三十日）の翌日から施行する。"View official source →
"元号を平成に改める。" ／ "この政令は、公布の日の翌日から施行する。" — from the order promulgated on January 7, 1989 (Showa 64)View official source →
Subtract 2018 for a Reiwa year and 1988 for a Heisei year
An era restarts the count at 1 in its first calendar year, so the Western year minus the year before it gives the era year. The number to subtract is the year before the era's first year: 2018 for Reiwa (first year 2019) and 1988 for Heisei (first year 1989).
Showa years use 1925. Other years can also be looked up in Japanese era name to Western year, with a table.
| Era | Calculation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reiwa | Year − 2018 | 2023 − 2018 = 5 |
| Heisei | Year − 1988 | 2016 − 1988 = 28 |
| Showa | Year − 1925 | 1986 − 1925 = 61 |
When the answer is 1, write 元年. For 1989 and 2019 the month and day come first, because each of those years holds two eras. The era converter gives the Japanese year for any date, so a date near an era change can be checked in one step.
Write one gakureki line for each entry and each graduation
Rirekisho guides describe a plain layout, so the dates from the chart go straight into it. The guides put 学歴 (gakureki, education) in the center of the first line and list schools from the oldest. They also say to write full official school names, to keep to either Western years or era years, and to leave a blank row before 職歴 (shokureki, work history).
Each school takes two lines, one for entry (入学, nyugaku) and one for graduation (卒業, sotsugyo), each with its year, month and school name. The April and March dates come from Japanese law, so they apply to schools in Japan only. A school abroad runs on its own calendar, and its own start and end months go on its lines in place of the chart's months.
Two samples: a bachelor's, and a master's after a gap year
Both samples are for someone born between April 2, 2000 and April 1, 2001. The first went straight through a four-year university, so every date comes from that row of the chart.
| Year | Month | Gakureki line |
|---|---|---|
| 学歴 | ||
| 2016 | 4 | 〇〇県立△△高等学校 入学 |
| 2019 | 3 | 〇〇県立△△高等学校 卒業 |
| 2019 | 4 | □□大学 〇〇学部 〇〇学科 入学 |
| 2023 | 3 | □□大学 〇〇学部 〇〇学科 卒業 |
In era years, 2016 is Heisei 28, both 2019 lines are Heisei 31, and 2023 is Reiwa 5. March and April 2019 both come before the era change, so neither of them is Reiwa 1.
The second took one gap year before university and then completed a master's course. Every date from university entry on is a year later than the chart shows, and the master's course ends 2 years after university graduation.
| Year | Month | Gakureki line |
|---|---|---|
| 学歴 | ||
| 2016 | 4 | 〇〇県立△△高等学校 入学 |
| 2019 | 3 | 〇〇県立△△高等学校 卒業 |
| 2020 | 4 | □□大学 〇〇学部 〇〇学科 入学 |
| 2024 | 3 | □□大学 〇〇学部 〇〇学科 卒業 |
| 2024 | 4 | □□大学大学院 〇〇研究科 〇〇専攻 修士課程 入学 |
| 2026 | 3 | □□大学大学院 〇〇研究科 〇〇専攻 修士課程 修了 |
In era years, 2020 is Reiwa 2, 2024 is Reiwa 6 and 2026 is Reiwa 8. To send the finished rirekisho as a PDF, see Resume PDF Maker: Free, With Photo and File Name.
Summary: copy your row, then adjust for gaps and abroad
Every date in the chart assumes April entry, March graduation and no delays, so a delay or a school abroad changes the dates that follow it. Four points cover the adjustments:
- Find the row by birth date. A hayaumare birth, in the school year above others born later in the same calendar year, still uses the row that contains the date.
- Add gap years from entry on, repeated years from graduation on, and the actual length of a senmon gakko or graduate course.
- Write March and April 2019 as Heisei 31, and write the first year of an era as 元年.
- Write one line for each entry and each graduation, and use the school's own months for a school abroad.
FAQ
- I went to school outside Japan. Do I write April and March for those schools?
- No. The April 1 to March 31 school year is set by Japanese law for elementary, junior high and high schools in Japan. For a school abroad, write the months it actually started and ended, as shown on your diploma, certificate or transcript, and use the same Western or era years as the rest of the rirekisho.
- My birthday is April 1. Am I in the same school year as someone born on April 2?
- No. Under Japanese law, you gain a year of age when the day before your birthday ends, so a child born on April 1 turns 6 at the end of March 31 and starts school that April. A child born on April 2 turns 6 a day after that school year begins and starts the following April. Use the row that runs from April 2 of the year before your birth year to April 1 of your birth year.
- Which era do I write for March or April 1989?
- Heisei 1. Heisei began on January 8, 1989, the day after the Cabinet Order changing the era was promulgated, so March and April 1989 both fall in Heisei. Only January 1 to 7, 1989 was Showa 64. In Japanese, the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen), so Heisei 1 is 平成元年.
- My course at a Japanese university started in September. Can I still use the chart?
- Only for the schools before it. Each university's president sets when its academic year starts and ends, and a university may admit and graduate students partway through the year. For a university course that began in September, write the months it actually started and finished.
- How long is a master's course in Japan, and what do I write when it ends?
- A master's course normally lasts 2 years, so if you went straight on from a four-year degree it ends in March, 2 years after your university graduation. On the rirekisho, write 修了 (shuryo, completed) for a graduate course rather than 卒業 (sotsugyo, graduated).
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