Based on the teaching and values of Christianity, Saint Joseph educates each one of our students to become an independent young woman.

We strive to nurture students who:

• use their God-given intelligence
• are resolute in the face of difficulties
• are kind and considerate to others

Both in and out of the classroom, our goal is to develop students who display these values in equal measure in their daily life.
The Christian teaching of “Light of the World, Salt of the Earth” is a philosophy of devoting oneself to others and working for the good of society.

We nurture students’ empathy for others and help them grow in kindness.

Our students carry books and other heavy items for teachers going to and from classes. At the start of class the “door girl” welcomes the teacher to the classroom. Of course, after class she sees the teacher off with a smile. These acts are not favors asked occasionally, but are the natural result of the students’ own thoughtfulness and are an integral part of daily life here at Saint Joseph.

This kind of attitude naturally extends to our volunteer activities. Our students all experience the joy of helping others.

By learning English our students become more internationally-minded and learn to see the world through new eyes. In the process of learning English they can discover more about Japan and discover a sense of self.

English is an integral part of life at Saint Joseph. Our native speaker teachers are always available for students to talk with, both inside and out of the classroom. Students do not need to worry, as we encourage them to use English to communicate their thoughts and feelings in whatever way they can. This is where good communication begins. By using English in this way every day, without realizing it, it becomes their own.

When participating in their first study trip overseas and talking with their host family, our girls are always so happy to be able to communicate in English. This provides tremendous motivation for English study. We offer the students several oppotunities to experience homestays overseas, as well as encouraging them to take the nationally-recognized Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency. We also provide opportunities for our students to enter overseas universities. All of these allow our students to achieve their English study goals.

On a day-to-day level, many of our homeroom classes are carried out in English, and of course our English classes are conducted entirely in English, both those taught by native speakers and those taught by Japanese teachers of English. There are limitless opportunities for our students to listen to and use English in their daily life. Moreover, many of students take part in activity called “Let’s Enjoy English”, where they visit nearby elementary schools and teach a fun English lesson to the students there. This is entirely carried out in English, of course. This experience gives our students great confidence in their ability.

The six years of education at Saint Joseph nurture our students’ grace and intelligence.
Our girls have many opportunities to get to know and appreciate other students throughout the school, regardless of year group.
They form friendships with girls both older and younger than themselves.
In English classes they are streamed into groups according to their academic level.
This allows students to proceed at a pace best suited to their ability, and has the added benefit of allowing them to become friends with students outside their own homeroom.
Our school has a system of “sistership” in place, where older students mentor younger students by showing them that their seniors support them, but is also a wonderful opportunity for the older students to experience the joy of teaching and supporting someone who needs their help.

Our beautiful surroundings and the seasonal changes they display enrich our students’ lives and encourage their compassionate sensibilities. Because Saint Joseph is an all-girls school, our students are able to grow in confidence and explore their leadership abilites. Opportunities include the school sports day (Josephimpics) and the Christmas Carol Singing Contest.