Nishimachi International School

Nishimachi International School was established in 1949 by the late Tané Matsukata on the family property in the Azabu area of Tokyo. She had recently returned to Japan after seventeen years in the United States, where she received her education and spent the war years.

Miss Matsukata found Tokyo still badly scarred from the war while the slow process of rebuilding had begun. It was apparent to her that there was moral rebuilding to be done as well. In discussions with friends, who were mothers, she began to realize the important role that education would play in the reconstruction process. Together the ladies explored the alternatives and concluded that a new approach other than traditional education was needed, one that stressed the human side of learning and had peaceful coexistence with others as an objective.

Nishimachi believes that education should promote the well-rounded development of individuals through the cultivation of their intellectual, creative, personal, social, and physical abilities. The school is committed to educating both Japanese and foreign students to be international and independent thinkers. We believe that learning a second language provides the opportunity to grow beyond a single culture. We believe that classroom and co-curricular activities should foster sensitivity to, and respect for, individual talents as well as differences. We believe that every student must learn to function both as an individual and as part of a group. Our ultimate goal is that every Nishimachi student learn to live harmoniously in, and contribute to, world society.

A Nishimachi education is about much more than academic programs or subject offerings. What makes Nishimachi special is community and our culture of respect, understanding of diversity, focus on active learning, trust, and communication, and strong commitment to language learning, in both English and Japanese. We aim to develop in every student an awareness of, and appreciation for, all cultures. Six school-wide student learning expectations (SLEs) are at the center of our daily work: at Nishimachi students learn to be good communicators, collaborators, thinkers, responsible learners, developers of quality work, and global ambassador.

Average enrollment during the past 10 years was 410. Students representing over 30 countries attend Nishimachi. 50% of our students hold dual or multiple citizenships. 45% have U.S. citizenship while 50% have Japanese citizenship. Nishimachi is committed to a diverse student body. At each grade level, we try to achieve a balance between boys and girls, between native speakers of English and speakers of Japanese, and among nationalities.

At Nishimachi, we are committed to providing and maintaining a safe school environment for all of our students. Aligned with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection, we hold ourselves to the highest standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to student protection.

Nishimachi International School is, legally, a school foundation (gakko hojin). Its purpose is to carry out "educational undertakings designed to teach Japanese and foreign children the cultural values and skills necessary to become persons with international perspective." Its Articles of Endowment identify the authorities and responsibilities of Advisors, a Board of Trustees, Statutory Auditors, and a Board of Directors, which includes the Head of School.

Nishimachi's outdoor education center, Camp Rioichiro Arai "Kazuno," is in Gunma Prefecture, 150 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, where students in grades 4 through 8 spend overnight field trips each year. The site is comprised of three buildings; main building, refurbished Japanese country house, and old kura warehouse with modern conveniences.

Nishimachi International School publishes two school publications, The Internationalist and Nishimachi Report. The Internationalist is published twice a year for alumni, parents, students, faculty and friends of the school. It features people, ideas, and events concerning Nishimachi’s past, present, and future. The Nishimachi Report, published in the fall, is the annual fund-raising report acknowledging donations and contributions to the school.

The main campus is located in Moto Azabu area of Minato-ku, Tokyo, one of the most popular areas for foreign residents for its convenience to parks, multinational corporate headquarters, and many embassies. It comprises six buildings: the Matsukata House, the Ushiba Memorial gymnasium/auditorium, the kindergarten building in the nearby Moto Azabu Hills complex, the primary building housing grades 1-2, the upper elementary and middle school building housing grades 3-9, and the Yashiro Media Center. Matsukata House was the original family residence of Nishimachi's founder, Tané Matsukata, and now serves as the school's main administrative building. The Yashiro Media Center, built in 2008, housed in its own three-floor building, contains about 14,000 items in both English and Japanese.