Japan High School Football Program · Age 14–15 at application
Full enrollment at a Japanese high school with a strong football club — train daily and join practice matches with the team, live the culture, and grow for a short-term stay or the full three years.
StayDream Group places international players aged 15–18 into Japanese high schools with strong football clubs. Students enroll on a student visa, training daily and joining practice matches with the school football team, and live in a dormitory or homestay — for a short-term stay or the full three-year course. We handle school matching, applications, visa documentation and daily life support.
Before you apply
High school systems differ around the world. In Japan, high school (高校 / kōkō) is a three-year program for students aged 15–18 — equivalent to Grades 10–12 in the US, Years 10–12 in Australia, or the Bachillerato in Spain (which is only two years). Understanding this difference is important when considering enrollment.
Starts in April and ends in March. Three terms separated by summer, winter and spring breaks.
Football is a bukatsu (school club activity). Players train every day after class, compete in official leagues and tournaments, and are coached by dedicated school staff.
Students enter at age 15 (Year 1) and graduate at 18. This program is exclusively for players in their final year of junior high school (age 14–15). Apply by September 30 for enrollment the following April.
Why high school football in Japan
Japan's National High School Soccer Championship fills professional stadiums and is broadcast nationwide. High school football here is not a school hobby — it is one of the most intensive youth development environments in Asia.
Top football high schools play in the Premier and Prince Leagues alongside J-League academies, producing players who go on to professional clubs and universities every year. Stars like Honda Keisuke (AC Milan) and Nakata Hidetoshi (AS Roma) came through the high school system.
Students train daily with their club while completing a real Japanese high school education — discipline, language and life skills included.
What the program includes
We match the player to the right high school by football level, academics and personality.
Documents, entrance procedures and communication with the school, handled end to end.
Long-term stay done properly — we support the visa process together with the school.
Safe, supervised living arranged with the school — meals included.
On-the-ground support in Japan for the player and regular updates for parents.
Full member of the school team: daily training, matches and tournaments.
Have questions? Message us directly — we reply within minutes.
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Annual schedule
Contact us with the player's profile. We assess eligibility and explain the full process.
Secure your spot by completing the attendance fee payment. Sign-up must be completed by 30 September for enrollment the following April — later applications are considered for the next year's intake.
7–10 day visit. Train with 2–3 schools, experience daily life, and decide which school fits you best.
Submit the formal application to your chosen school. We handle all documentation.
Sit the school's entrance examination. We provide preparation guidance beforehand.
Move to Japan, settle into the dormitory, and begin your high school football life.
Track record
Through our program, international players have already enrolled at a national-level football high school in Japan — attending as full students and training with the club. Our founder played for one of Japan's most famous football high schools himself, and knows this world from the inside.
Partner school
One of our partner schools already accepting international enrollment. A nationally recognized football program in Kumamoto, led by head coach Haruo Hiroyama.
Former Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) player and Shizuoka Gakuen graduate — Japan's most prestigious technique-focused football school. After his playing career, he trained in Brazilian futsal before founding Esporte Clube Fujisawa in 1998.
As a technical advisor, he helped Seiwa Gakuen reach the National High School Championship within 9 years of founding their program — building what became known as Japan's "dribble army." He has since advised national-level programs across Japan, including Kagoshima Jitsugyo and Toyokawa High School. He is also a published author of five coaching books on dribbling and 1v1 technique.
Shugakukan is one example. We also work with other football high schools across Japan and match each player to the right school for their level and goals.
Who guides the placement
About StayDream Group
StayDream Group is not a freelance agent or an informal introducer. We are a fully incorporated Japanese company with a physical office in central Tokyo, operating since 2019. Our founder has personally placed players into professional clubs and Japanese football high schools.
| Company name | StayDream Group Corp. (ステイドリームグループ株式会社) |
|---|---|
| CEO & Founder | Rui Miyagawa |
| Headquarters | 2F Shinjuku Island Tower, 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | April 2019 — Incorporated July 2024 |
| Business | Football study abroad placement, coach study abroad, high school football program |
| Contact | contact@staydreamgroup.com · +81-3-5050-4721 |
COSTS
These costs are paid directly to the school, separately from our support fee. International flights and personal expenses are not included. For reference: the total is in the same range as a single season at a European football academy — here, it includes a full Japanese high school education and diploma.
Our support fee
For families who can handle the visa and living arrangements themselves — for example, with relatives already living in Japan.
Everything in School Search, plus:
Everything in Standard, plus:
Over three years this works out lower than Standard, with the CV/video and language lessons included.
All plans: if no school offers the player a place, the support fee is refunded in full, less actual expenses incurred (application fees, document costs, and travel and accommodation for school visits — receipts provided). Once a school has accepted the player, the fee is non-refundable. School-side costs are separate.
FAQ
Players in their final year of junior high school (age 14–15) who want to enroll at a Japanese high school and play for its football club. Apply by September 30 for April enrollment. Both boys' and girls' programs can be discussed.
Not fluently at the start. Schools provide Japanese language support for international students, and daily immersion in the club and classroom is the fastest way to learn. Basic preparation before arrival is recommended and we can guide you on this.
The high school reviews each applicant. You will need a play video, a football CV (clubs and achievements) and recent academic records. We prepare and present your application to the school.
Costs consist of school tuition, dormitory/meals and our support fee, and vary by school and length of enrollment. Every placement is quoted individually after consultation.
No — this is an education-based program. The player enrolls as a student and plays for the school club. It is a development pathway, not a professional transfer, and fully complies with the rules for international students.
No. Program players participate in daily training sessions and practice matches, but are not eligible for official competitions under federation regulations. This is an immersive development program — the value lies in training every day inside a top-level environment.
Apply
Send us the player's profile and preferred start date. We usually reply within 3 business days with next steps.