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Tohoku International School — Researched as the Region's Sole Option

Miyagi, Japan

One of the few geographically accessible options for international education in the Tohoku region, located in Sendai's Izumi-ku.

Researched by William Prep from published sources. Not yet verified by the school. — Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24

TIS was reportedly founded in 1950 as "Sendai American School" to educate missionary families' children. It was later renamed Sendai Christian Academy, then back to Sendai American School, before settling on its current name, Tohoku International School, in 1997. It enrols roughly 100 students.

At a Glance

Founded	1950 (renamed several times, current name since 1997) (not independently confirmed)as of: 2026-09-24
Enrolment	≈100 (not independently confirmed)as of: 2026-09-24
Curriculum	IB Diploma (Grade 11-12, reported) (not independently confirmed)as of: 2026-09-24
Fees	¥990,000-¥1,690,000/yr by grade (reported) (not independently confirmed)2026-27 · as of: 2026-09-24

One of the Few Options in the Tohoku Region

This batch covers TIS as a representative of the Tohoku region, previously unresearched. For families near Sendai considering international education, the geographically realistic options are limited, and TIS is reportedly one of the longest-established among them.

William Prep’s Analysis

At roughly 100 students, course selection and extracurricular breadth are likely more limited than an urban school of comparable reputation. But given the geographic reality — few if any alternatives elsewhere in Tohoku — this is less a choice among options and more "this is effectively the option if international education in Tohoku matters to the family." Worth understanding that framing going in.

Fees: A Range by Grade

Third-party sources report 2026-27 tuition ranging from ¥990,000 at Kindergarten to ¥1,690,000 at upper grades. Grade 11-12 (IB Diploma) reportedly adds a ¥150,000 facility fee, ¥40,000 heating/AC fee, and ¥100,000 DP text/test fee on top of ¥1,400,000 tuition. The school's own tuition page (tisweb.net/tuition_fees/) didn't return readable content this session, and no application or registration fee amount was found.

University Entrance Eligibility in Japan

School-accreditation route	No not publicly confirmedWhether TIS holds any of the six MEXT-recognised accreditations was not confirmed this session.
Student-qualification route (IB, etc.)	Yes (not independently confirmed)

Whether TIS itself holds a MEXT-recognised accreditation was not confirmed this session. The IB Diploma offering itself is inferred from reported related costs, not confirmed directly against the school's own curriculum page.

Fees & Estimated First-Year Cost

academic year: 2026-27

Tuition (Kindergarten)Kindergarten	¥990,000(not independently confirmed)
Tuition (Grade 11-12, IB Diploma)G11-G12	¥1,400,000(not independently confirmed)
Facility Fee (Grade 11-12, annual)G11-G12	¥150,000(not independently confirmed)
Heating/AC Fee (Grade 11-12, annual)G11-G12	¥40,000(not independently confirmed)
DP Text & Test Fee (Grade 11-12, annual)G11-G12	¥100,000(not independently confirmed)

What Makes This School Distinctive

One of the longest-established international schools in the Tohoku region

Founded in 1950 to educate missionary families' children

Multiple third-party sources consistently report the founding circumstances.

One of the few geographically realistic options for families in Tohoku seeking international education.

Admissions

Cycle

未確認 not publicly confirmed

What Japanese Families Should Know

Who Might Find This School a Good Fit

Might suit — Families near Sendai seeking a geographically realistic international-education option

Might not suit — Families expecting the course and extracurricular breadth of a large urban school

William Prep’s Analysis

What researching TIS made clear is that a fact as important as "offers the IB Diploma" was inferred indirectly here — from the existence of DP-specific costs — rather than stated explicitly on the school's own page. Recording that indirectness honestly, rather than smoothing it into a flat confirmed claim, is the posture this research holds to.

Questions to Ask the School

1.Does the school formally offer the IB Diploma? What is the authorisation status?
Why this matters: This session's inference came from the existence of related costs, not direct confirmation on the school's own page.
2.What are the exact application and registration fee amounts?
Why this matters: Not confirmed this session.

Sources & Verification

Search synthesis on Tohoku International School history — Multiple (incl. Wikipedia)third-party source · as of: 2026-09-24Founded 1950 as a school for missionary families' children, originally Sendai American School; renamed Sendai Christian Academy, then back to Sendai American School, then Tohoku International School in 1997. ≈100 students, Kindergarten-Grade 12. Not independently confirmed against tisweb.net's own history page directly this session.
Search synthesis on Tohoku International School fees — Multiple (search aggregation, incl. tisweb.net via search)third-party source · as of: 2026-09-242026-27年度: 授業料は学年により¥990,000（幼稚園）〜¥1,690,000（上級学年）と報告されています。Grade 11–12（IBディプロマ）では授業料¥1,400,000に加え、施設費¥150,000、冷暖房費¥40,000、DP教材・試験費¥100,000が別途発生すると報告されています。学校公式の学費ページ（tisweb.net/tuition_fees/）へのアクセスは今回のセッションで内容を取得できませんでした。
大学入学資格について — 文部科学省 (MEXT)official source · as of: 2026-09-23Sets out the routes to 大学入学資格: MEXT-designated schools; graduates of 12-year programmes at institutions accredited by WASC, CIS, ACSI, NEASC, Cognia or COBIS; holders of the IB Diploma, Abitur, Baccalauréat, GCE A-Level, International A-Level or European Baccalaureate; 高等学校卒業程度認定試験 (age-18 gated); and individual university review at 18+.

Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24

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