Guide to International Schools in Japan

Caroline Pover’s latest work offers insight into Japan’s international schools

by Christina Bell

This summer, Caroline Pover has good reason to celebrate. The May release of her latest book, the Guide to International Schools in Japan, marks more than just another important milestone in the career she never expected to have. It is the embodiment of a passionate endeavor, achieved in spite of significant personal upheaval. However, the completion of her latest project while recovering from cognitive damage has been the biggest triumph of all.

Caroline didn’t start out as a writer, magazine editor, or a publisher. She trained to become a teacher, and after teaching in the United Kingdom, she came to Japan. Here she completed and self-published her first book, Being A Broad in Japan: Everything a Western Woman Needs to Survive and Thrive. She also ran Being A Broad and Weekender magazines. Soon, this transplanted teacher found herself accepting the BCCJ’s British Business Award for Best Entrepreneur at their 60th anniversary celebrations in 2008.

Three years ago Caroline suffered the first of three small strokes that left her with cognitive damage. It was during the time after her strokes that she spent time discussing educational issues with friends who were looking for appropriate schools for their young children. The more she listened, the more she realized that there was no easy resource for families looking at international schools in Japan. It was this epiphany that launched the ten-month process of conducting interviews with schools all over the country.

The Guide to International Schools in Japan gives detailed information on over 100 schools. Whether parents are seeking information about schools from abroad or are already situated in Japan, the guide gives a detailed picture of what Japan’s international schools have to offer.

Every school in the guide was asked to give information on its vital statistics, including their hours and which holidays they honor. Not only is whole school and class size listed, but an estimated gender and nationality breakdown within that population is also given. There is information about how each school was founded, and how it is managed by the current administrators and teachers. Educational philosophies are examined in great detail. Betsy Wiedenmayer, a mother of three who was given an advance look at the book, was impressed by the variety of educational opportunities she saw. “I was amazed to learn about so many different schools in the greater Tokyo area with emphasis on music or art or the overall education of the child.” Her children were born in Japan, so language skills are a priority. “I am interested in my children being fluent speakers of two or more languages, so I was happy to know which schools offer a bilingual or trilingual education.”

The Guide to International Schools in Japan will save those seeking an international education for their children many hours of searching the internet and visiting schools that turn out not to be a good match. It has the potential to become a vital resource for anyone raising school-aged children in Japan.

Since her strokes, Caroline has thrown herself into this project. Now that it is completed, some of the schools in the book have invited her to visit and speak to the students. She looks forward to the opportunity to encourage young people to find something they love and, in her words, “completely immerse themselves in it.” Surely, her joy and passion will have an enduring positive influence upon those who hear this message.

www.internationalschoolsguidebook.com