This article explains the school hour structure in Japan and how it affects the academic requirements and standards of Japanese schools. School hours typically begin at 8am and end at 3pm, with a 30-minute lunch break in between. In the morning, classes focus on language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, music, and art. Afternoon classes focus on more specific topics such as history or foreign languages. Afterschool activities may include clubs or sports teams depending on individual student interests and school policies. Japanese schools have very high academic requirements that must be met by all students before graduating from any given level.