Countrywide Momentum Builds as Secondary Exams Approach

As Japan gears up for the 2026 national university secondary entrance exams, universities across the nation are finalizing preparations for the high-stakes testing period beginning February 25. These individual university exams, known formally as the secondary selection tests or niji shiken (二次試験), follow the grueling University Entrance Common Test held in mid-January. With tens of thousands of determined high school seniors converging on campuses, institutions like Niigata University, Tohoku University, and Hokkaido University are implementing meticulous venue setups and enhanced health protocols amid a persistent flu outbreak.

The secondary exams represent the culmination of months of intense preparation for students aiming for spots in prestigious national universities. Unlike the standardized Common Test, these assessments delve deeper into subject-specific knowledge through essays, problem-solving, and sometimes interviews, tailored to each institution's academic rigor. For 2026, the process unfolds in multiple rounds—front-loaded (前期日程, zenki nisshi) starting February 25, mid-period, and rear-loaded—testing not just knowledge but resilience under pressure.

National data reveals a total of 419,258 applicants for secondary exams at national and public universities, a decrease of 9,243 from the previous year, yielding an overall multiplier of 4.3. While front-period applications held steady at 235,310 (2.8 times capacity), shifts toward safer choices highlight the Common Test's lasting impact.

The Shadow of a Tough Common Test Looms Large

The January 17-18 Common Test set a formidable tone for the admissions cycle, with final average scores released on February 5 showing notable declines in key subjects. English reading improved slightly to 62.81 out of 100, but physics plummeted to historic lows around 45.55, chemistry at 56.86, and biology at 55.01. Overall, six-subject composites for liberal arts and sciences dipped, prompting strategic pivots among applicants.

This difficulty spurred 'safety-oriented' applications, where students bypassed ultra-competitive top-tier schools for more attainable options. Prestigious groups like the former imperial universities (旧帝大, kyūtei dai)—including Tokyo, Kyoto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido—saw front-period applications drop to 98% of last year's levels, totaling 55,133. Medical faculties experienced even sharper declines, reflecting recalibrated ambitions post-Common Test.

University administrators note this trend underscores broader pressures: shrinking high school cohorts due to Japan's demographic decline, rising private university appeal, and the Common Test's evolving demands under new curriculum guidelines. Yet, front-period stability signals sustained interest in national institutions' prestige and affordability.

National Trends: Stability with Selective Declines

Across Japan's 86 national universities, front-period preparations emphasize efficiency and equity. Mid-tier and regional hubs maintained or slightly increased applicants, offsetting elite dips. Private universities, conversely, reported surges, with institutions like Chubu Industrial University and Senshu University boasting double-digit gains in Common Test utilization modes.

These figures, compiled from Ministry of Education reports and preparatory school analyses like Kawai Juku and River Academy, illustrate a bifurcated landscape: caution at pinnacles, boldness elsewhere.

Tohoku University: Steady Preparations Amid Applicant Dip

In Sendai, Tohoku University—northeast Japan's academic beacon—is readying 10 faculties for 4,515 examinees across February 25-26. Down 102 from 2025 for 1,622 spots, the 2.8x multiplier reflects national caution. Venues in historic Aobayama campus halls undergo rigorous checks: desks spaced, ventilation optimized, sanitization protocols enforced.

Administrators urge early arrival, citing potential snow disruptions common in Tohoku winters. Examinees previewed sites February 24, practicing navigation amid crisp air. Tohoku's exams span English, math, sciences, and essays, demanding precision honed over Common Test recovery.

For aspiring scholars, success here opens doors to world-class research in engineering, medicine, and disaster sciences—fields vital to regional revival post-2011 earthquake.

Niigata University: Venue Setups and Flu Vigilance

Niigata University exemplifies proactive readiness, with crews transforming lecture halls into secure testing zones for its 2.5x front-period multiplier. Banners proclaim "Come take the exam with peace of mind" (安心して受験に来て), as staff install barriers, stock sanitizers, and calibrate proctoring systems.

Examinees flocked for previews February 24, mapping routes to avoid last-minute rushes. Niigata's emphasis on flu countermeasures—masks optional but encouraged, alcohol dispensers ubiquitous, temperature checks at entry—addresses the B-type influenza surge gripping Niigata Prefecture.

Full name: Niigata University (新潟大学, Niigata Daigaku), a comprehensive national powerhouse in medicine, engineering, and humanities, anticipates smooth execution despite weather risks.

Photo by DuoNguyen on Unsplash

Hokkaido University: Balancing Numbers and Northern Challenges

Sapporo's Hokkaido University (北海道大学, Hokudai) reports 5,442 front-period applicants for 1,965 spots (2.8x), bucking some elite declines with slight gains in law and comprehensive faculties. Exams span late February, leveraging vast campus for dispersed testing.

Northern climes demand extra: heated venues, snow-clearing teams, and flu advisories. Hokudai's protocols mirror nationals: ventilation, hygiene stations, health declarations. As Japan's coldest major test site, it advises layered clothing and timely arrivals via JR lines.

Hokudai's global renown in environmental science and agriculture attracts resilient talent undeterred by rigors.

Flu Epidemic: Universities' Layered Defense Strategies

Prolonged influenza B dominance—peaking exam-season—prompts nationwide alerts. Universities reinforce basics: handwashing, ventilation, distancing. Niigata explicitly bolsters measures; Tohoku mandates health self-checks; Hokkaido echoes.

• Preventive antivirals (e.g., Tamiflu) via doctor consults, not self-dosing.
• Temperature screenings, isolated rooms for symptomatic.
• Makeup exams for confirmed cases, per MEXT guidelines.
• Vaccination encouragement pre-season.

Experts from Japan Pediatric Society stress family vigilance: isolate ill siblings, monitor symptoms 5-7 days pre-exam. This multi-tier approach safeguards ~420,000 participants.

Examinees' Final Push: Previews, Mindset, and Logistics

Students nationwide preview venues February 24, easing anxieties. Testimonials reveal resolve: "Just execute now," one Kanazawa hopeful shared. Strategies include mock exams, sleep hygiene, nutrition amid flu fears.

Logistics loom: trains packed, hotels booked. Universities provide maps, parking, even cafeterias for breaks. Parents' roles? Emotional support sans pressure.

Implications for Japanese Higher Education Landscape

Applicant shifts signal challenges: 18-year-old population halves by 2040, pressuring enrollments. National universities' prestige endures, but privates gain via flexibility. Declines prompt reflection: refine Common Test fairness? Boost internationals (Japan hit 400k intl students early)?

Enrollment dips risk program cuts, but opportunities emerge in AI, sustainability—fields national unis lead. For faculty, fluctuating cohorts demand adaptive teaching.

Lessons from Experts and Past Cycles

Prep schools like River and Kawai analyze: safety plays rose 10-15% at mid-tiers. Past snow/flu disruptions (e.g., 2023 Hokkaido delays) inform resilience. MEXT urges equity, monitoring rural access.

Stakeholders—students, unis, policymakers—eye reforms: more comprehensive evaluations? Digital testing pilots?

Photo by Kazuyuki AOKI on Unsplash

Practical Guidance for the Exam Crucible

• Arrive 1-2 hours early; verify IDs (Common Test ticket + univ ticket).
• Pack essentials: pencils, watch, water, meds (non-Rx).
• Flu-proof: masks, sanitizers; report symptoms immediately.
• Post-exam: decompress, prep backups.

For unis: seamless execution bolsters reputation, aids faculty recruitment.

Future Horizons: Adapting Admissions Amid Change

2026 previews reforms: intl quota hikes at Tohoku/Tsukuba, co-ed shifts at women's unis. Demographic crunch spurs mergers, online hybrids. National unis pivot to global talent, research excellence.

Optimism prevails: Japan's higher ed remains aspiration's gateway. Successful admits will shape tomorrow's innovators.

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