Clarence Education Asia Ltd. 2025年10月31日 13時00分
Rugby School Japan (RSJ), established in 2023 as part of the 450-year-old Rugby School Group, has reached 300 pupils in its third academic year. Based in Kashiwanoha Campus City, 30 minutes from central Tokyo, it is Greater Tokyo’s first British boarding school and now hosts pupils from 30+ nationalities, with 55% boarders. RSJ employs 97 teachers and staff from the UK, Japan, and the international school sector, and its first leavers have progressed to leading universities including UCL, King’s College London, McGill, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Peking, and Waseda. Looking ahead, RSJ targets 500 pupils by 2027 and full capacity of 780 within five years, supported by a planned Enrichment Campus in Kyowa (Niseko Mountains), Hokkaido.
Rugby School Group and Clarence Education Asia (CEA) announce that Rugby School Japan (RSJ) has reached a major milestone with 300 pupils in its third academic year. Looking ahead, RSJ targets 500 pupils by 2027 and full capacity of 780 within five years, signalling the next phase of steady growth and a continued commitment to excellence.
Founded in 2023 as Rugby School’s second international school in its 450-year history, RSJ is a pioneering partnership between Rugby School Group and CEA that brings the heritage and ethos of British education to Japan. As Greater Tokyo’s first British boarding school, it is setting new benchmarks for academic and pastoral standards in East Asia.
CEA offers a continuous pathway from 18 months to 18 years across its Tokyo schools – Clarence International School (18 months–5 years), Phoenix House International School (6–11 years), and RSJ. This seamless “CEA Pathway” supports developmentally appropriate learning and prepares pupils for each step.
Since opening, RSJ has rapidly grown into a vibrant 11–18 community of girls and boys. Its first leavers have already secured places at leading universities – including UCL, King’s College London, McGill, Edinburgh, CUHK, Peking University, and Waseda – an exceptional start for a new school.
The school’s commitment to excellence has been globally recognised, having been awarded Beacon Status by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).
RSJ employs 97 teachers and staff from the UK, Japan, and the international school sector, enriching both boarding and day provision. The curriculum leads to IGCSE and A Level, complemented by 100+ enrichment activities across arts, sport, service, and research in line with Rugby’s whole-person philosophy.
Six Houses – School House, Rupert Brooke, Tudor, Sheriff, Southfield, and Town – root pastoral life and link to the traditions of Rugby School UK. They foster independence, collaboration, and a strong sense of community.
With 300 pupils from 30+ nationalities, including 55% boarders, a distinctive and inclusive “RSJ culture” is emerging. It blends British tradition with Japanese innovation and a global outlook.
Situated in Kashiwanoha Campus City, a green, academic district about 30 minutes by train from central Tokyo, RSJ offers Day, Weekly (Mon–Sat), and Termly Boarding. Weekly boarding is especially popular, balancing school engagement with family time.
As part of Rugby School Group’s global expansion, RSJ joins sister schools in Southeast Asia (Thailand) and Africa (Nigeria), with a project forthcoming in the Middle East. Together they form a connected international network.
Kashiwanoha’s ecosystem enables collaboration with Chiba University, The University of Tokyo, and Mitsui Fudosan, the smart-city’s master planner. Joint initiatives integrate excellence, sustainability, and innovation, including a programme placing RSJ scholars in nearby university laboratories.
Looking ahead, RSJ plans an Enrichment Campus in Kyowa (Niseko Mountains), Hokkaido, extending learning into nature, adventure, and character development – an authentic evolution of Rugby’s whole-person ethos.
Leadership Comments
Neil Hampton, CEO, the Rugby School Group (UK)
“This is a moment of great pride for the Rugby School Group. Rugby School Japan has already demonstrated the power of our shared ethos — combining academic ambition with character, service, and community. To see the Rugby values take root in Japan so quickly is a testament to the strength of our partnership with Clarence Education Asia and the extraordinary dedication of the RSJ team.”
Fei-Fei Hu, President, Rugby School Japan; Founder and Chief Executive, Clarence Education Asia (Japan)
“Rugby School Japan was born from a shared belief that education must be both deeply human and globally minded. Reaching 300 pupils in such a short time shows how much families in Japan and beyond are seeking this balance — of tradition and innovation, discipline and joy, individuality and belonging. Together with Rugby School Group, we will continue to build bridges between cultures, generations, and worlds of learning.”
Kan Suzuki, Councillor, Rugby School Japan; Former State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
“I am delighted to see how Rugby School is making a difference and diversifying international education in Japan. Its pedagogy and curriculum are truly unique, and there is much that the British public school tradition and the Japanese education system can learn from one another.”
www.rugbyschooljapan.ed.jp
