Rugby School Japan

Rugby School Japan
Garden Campus at RSJ
Location
Kashiwanoha, Chiba Prefecture, Japan Kanto
Coordinates	35°53′30″N139°57′15″E / 35.89167°N 139.95417°E / 35.89167; 139.95417
Information
Other name	RSJ
School type	British-private boarding school
Motto	The Whole Person, The Whole Point
Established	2023
Founder	Fei Fei Hu (Founder & Chair of Directors, CEO of CEA)
Sister school	Rugby School Rugby School Thailand
Principal	Tony Darby
Years offered	Year 7-13
Gender	co-education
Age range	11-18
Enrollment	225
Capacity	360 Boarding with 780 Total
Average class size	16
Language	English
Campus type	Urban area
Accreditation	HMC ISI COBIS
Alumni	Old Rugbeians
Website	https://rugbyschooljapan.ed.jp/

Rugby School Japan, nicknamed RSJ, is a selective British private boarding school in Kashiwanoha, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Opened in September 2023, RSJ is in a designated education, innovation, and entrepreneurship hub within the Greater Tokyo Area. ^{[1] [2]}

Situated in Kashiwanoha near Chiba University and Tokyo University's Kashiwa campus, RSJ is positioned on an expanding and sprawling complex. The school is the second international school established by the UK-based Rugby School, after Rugby School Thailand. ^[3] RSJ offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A-levels to their students as part of the British curriculum they follow. ^[4] The school is part of a trend of international boarding schools opening in Japan. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Boarding

Rugby School Japan opened in 2023 with two boarding houses operating, the School House and Rupert Brooke. In September 2024, two additional boarding houses, Tudor and Sheriff, were opened. Another pair of boarding houses planned to open in September 2025 ^{[ citation needed ]}.

Each boarding house is overseen by a housemaster or housemistress and their deputies. They are supported by non-residential teachers who contribute to the boarding environment. Boarders have access to school facilities and participate in a weekend activity program designed to help them engage with the surrounding Japanese environment. ^{[5] [6]}

Prior to opening, RSJ planned to accommodate approximately 780 students of both sexes, from grades equivalent to Japan’s sixth grade through the third year of high school. For its inaugural year, applications for 160 students were open and 140 students representing 16 countries were enrolled. ^[7] As of May 2024, approximately 55% of the student population consists of weekly and full boarders. ^[8]

The campus is in Kashiwa-no-ha City, a smart concept being developed by Mitsui Fudosan. ^[7] It is within Chiba University. ^[9]

Pastoral care

At RSJ, all students and teachers belong to a house system, a community comprising approximately 70 day and boarding students. The House system plays a role in fostering school spirit and providing opportunities for leadership, mentoring, and teamwork. The Houses are named after their counterparts at Rugby School in the United Kingdom and are part of the school's community structure.

The school organises a range of house activities, including weekly sports competitions and events such as House Music, as part of an extracurricular program. These activities are designed to promote collaboration, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging among students and staff. ^[10]

Partnerships and accreditations

Rugby School Japan is accredited by and a member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and was awarded ‘Beacon School’ status for student welfare. ^{[11] [12]}

In addition, Rugby School is accredited by ISI ( Independent Schools Inspectorate), which has been the benchmark inspection service for independent (private) schools in the UK since the 1980s. ^[13]

Co-curricular activities

The school has co-curricular program that has over 55 activities, covering a range of sports and arts. ^[14]

RSJ was established by the original school in the UK, the Rugby School

See also

• List of high schools in Chiba Prefecture
• List of junior high schools in Chiba Prefecture

References

1. "Rugby School Japan". Rugby School Japan. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
2. "Rugby School Japan: A modern boarding experience in Tokyo". Study International. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
3. "Rugby School Japan bridges nations, generations". Sustainable Japan by The Japan Times. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
4. "Rugby School Japan: A modern boarding experience in Tokyo". Study International. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
5. "Rugby School Japan". Rugby School Japan. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
6. "Curriculum | Boarding | Co-Curricular | Calendar". Rugby School Japan | Tokyo | Japan | Asia. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
7. Forum, NIKKEI ESG Management. "Mitsui Fudosan Is Creating a New Phase of Growth After the Lost Decades". NIKKEI ESG Management Forum. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
8. Team, Education. "Rugby School Japan". Think Global People. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
9. "Branch of prestigious British Rugby School to open within Chiba Univ. in east Japan". Mainichi Daily News. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
10. "Rugby School Japan". Rugby School Japan. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
11. Sliwinski, Mateusz (2024-11-22). "Rugby School Japan Awarded "Beacon School" Status by Council of British International Schools". Rugby School Japan | Tokyo | Japan | Asia. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
12. "COBIS School Search - Council of British International Schools". www.cobis.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
13. "Rugby School :: Independent Schools Inspectorate". www.isi.net. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
14. "Rugby School Japan". Rugby School Japan. Retrieved 2024-12-08.