Like Hugh already mentioned on his site, today was the big day when the sailor suit kids find out if they made it into their high school of choice. Upon graduating junior high, Japanese students are allowed to apply to two high schools for the next year (one public, one private). [Note: They may in fact be allowed to apply to more than one private school, but I'm not sure] If they fail both tests, then sorry but no school for you! For each school they must write an entrace exam, which I believe are standardized, as well as pass an interview. More academic schools require a score in the 80's or 90's for students to get accepted, whereas Noheji only requires a score somewhere in the range of 20% or so. As one might guess, not too many students who applied failed to get accepted, but that didn't stop them from crying tears of joy at 9 this morning upon seeing their number on the list of students accepted. Maybe they were in fact tears of sadness at being accepted. If I was 15 again I'd do anything to avoid having to go to high school. Update: I also learned that because of the low number of applicants this year, any student that failed the test will be permitted to take it a second time.