Do Japanese Language Schools Have Interviews? [2026 New Rules]

2026/07/27

A large number of Japanese language schools hold an interview as part of their admission process. Since 2026, the rules around it have become stricter. 

The government has reinforced how applicants prove their Japanese level, and the interview now counts as one of the accepted forms of proof.

This guide covers an introduction to the Japanese school interview process and some tips on how to prepare smoothly.

Why Japanese language schools hold interviews from 2026

Japanese language schools hold interviews to make sure your Japanese is good enough to follow their classes before they sponsor your student visa. 

Until 2026, applicants could prove their level simply by submitting 150 hours of prior study on paper. Immigration authorities found that these records often did not match a student’s real level. 

Since 2026, that paper trail is no longer enough on its own. Applicants have to prove their level with an official test result such as the JLPT, or through one of the other pathways into a school without it, like passing an interview held by the school they applied to. The school then records how you did and keeps it on file for immigration to review.

What do Japanese schools look for in student interviews?

What Japanese language schools look for in student interviews comes down to three things : your Japanese level, your motivation, and your ability to fund your stay. The language assessment is the core of the meeting, and the rest comes out through the questions you are asked. 

Most schools score your Japanese against a fixed set of criteria, which keeps the result consistent from one applicant to the next and shows them which class suits you best. They pay attention to five areas in particular.

• Speaking ability across a short conversation
• Listening comprehension on a spoken passage or question
• Reading comprehension on a text matched to your level
• Grammar and sentence structure
• Ability to express your own ideas and opinions

The interviewer adapts the difficulty to the level you claimed in your application, so overstating your Japanese backfires. 

Online vs in-person interviews

Most Japanese language school interviews are now held online, and a meeting on the school’s premises has become the exception.

The online format is the default because many applicants still live in their home country when they apply, so the school arranges everything remotely, usually over a video call. An in-person interview tends to happen only when you apply through a local agency office or when you are already in Japan and can visit the school yourself.

Preparing for an online interview

An online Japanese school interview happens through a screen, so a few technical points matter.

• Check your camera, microphone, and internet connection
• Sit in front of a plain background and wear a full, neutral outfit
• Keep your passport within reach, as many schools ask you to show it to the camera to confirm your identity.
• Set up Japanese input on your keyboard in advance, because the writing task will ask you to type your answer in Japanese

Preparing for an in-person interview

An in-person interview removes the technical worries but adds the practical side of being physically present.

• Plan your route and arrive a little early
• Dress neatly from head to toe
• Bring any documents the school asked for, such as your passport or proof of study

Whichever format you are given, the core way to prepare for your study in Japan interview stays the same. You confirm the date and time, you rehearse your self-introduction out loud, and you make sure your equipment or your travel plan is sorted the day before. 

Common interview questions to prepare for

The Japanese school interview follows a predictable structure, so you can prepare for it by category.
To go further, see our 30 common interview questions with sample answers.

About you

The interview almost always opens with a self-introduction covering your name, age, nationality, family, and hobbies. 

A short introduction that you have rehearsed out loud, rather than read, sets a confident tone for the rest of the conversation.

About your Japanese study

Interviewers want to understand how you reached your current level, so they ask how long you have been studying, which method you used, and how many hours a day you put in. Naming your textbook, the lessons you have covered, and any test you have taken shows that your study has been consistent and real.

About your motivation and plans

Your reasons for coming are the heart of any study in Japan interview, so expect several questions around why you want to learn Japanese, why you chose this particular school, and what you intend to do once the course ends. A concrete goal, such as entering a specific university or building a career in Japan, is generally more convincing. 

About your finances

Because schools are legally responsible for the students they sponsor, they check that you can afford your stay. 

The questions here can feel personal, since they cover who is funding your studies, what that person does for a living, and sometimes their annual income and savings. 

There is no trick to this part, but your answers need to be consistent and realistic, so agree on the figures with your sponsor before the interview and make sure they match what you wrote in your application.

About living in Japan

The school also wants to know that you can cope with a full year of daily study far from home. 

A recurring question is whether studying only Japanese for months on end will start to feel repetitive, and a strong answer shows that you have a plan to stay engaged, for example by joining local activities and speaking with Japanese people outside class.

Is beginner level good enough?

Beginner level is enough to pass a Japanese language school interview, because the schools that hold one are checking for a basic JLPT N5 or A1 foundation. You do not need to be fluent. In practice you should be able to read and write hiragana and katakana, introduce yourself, and answer simple questions about your daily life.

The teacher adapts their Japanese to your level as the interview goes, and overstating your level is the one thing that works against you. If your answers sound advanced but your real Japanese is basic, the school places you in a class that moves too fast. An honest performance lands you in the right class.

Japanese to prepare before your Japanese school interview

The Japanese needed for the school interview sits at around a JLPT N5 level, so a little targeted preparation goes a long way. Focus on the basics you will actually use, namely a solid self-introduction, the counters for age, family, time, and dates, and simple answers about your daily life and your motivation. 

Since the interview is a live conversation, what pays off most is speaking your answers aloud with someone qualified to correct you as you go. That is what Nihongo Online School‘s 150-hour Foundation Program is built around, with most of your one-to-one lessons spent actually talking. Our teachers regularly guide applicants through admissions, so they know what a school interview involves and track your progress with JLPT-style mock exams until you reach a N5 level. 

More than just clearing the interview, the program builds an N5 foundation that keeps working for you afterwards, whether you go on to pass the JLPT N5 or carry that base into your studies once you are in Japan.