In Japan, children typically undergo 12 years of formal education consisting of elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary education. Before beginning their elementary education at the age of 6, children have the option to attend kindergarten between the ages of 3 and 5. Compulsory education begins with 6 years of elementary school and. 12. In American schools, there are no 入学式 (school entrance ceremony), and 卒業式 (school graduation) isn’t until high school has been completed.In Japan, there are both — for.