Japanese academic year (April-March)

The Japanese school and fiscal year runs April to March, with the academic year starting in spring rather than the late-summer/autumn convention of many Western systems. Entrance ceremonies (入学式) and the start of school fall in early April; year-end exams (学年末試験) cluster in February–March, ending alongside cherry-blossom season. The April-start convention shapes how Japanese speakers frame phrases like 'starting from spring' or 'this new year' in everyday talk about school and work.