It is often said in Japan that the three years of high school are one of the most important years for young people. Teenagers go through various processes in high school and begin to pave their way to life as adults with great responsibilities. At the same time, they are busy trying to make as many memories as possible during these precious three years.

No matter where you are in the world, these films will show you what high school is like in Japan, what it means to end it, and why high school is considered such an important time in character development. With laughs and tears, they might even give you the confidence to keep dreaming after graduating high school and stepping out into the unknown.

 1. The Movie "Flying Colors"

This movie, released in 2015, is one of the most refreshing films released that year. If you feel like you are giving in to the pressures of the world, this is the one to watch.

This is a work based on a true story. Sayaka Kudo, a second-year high school student, has no interest in her studies and wears blonde hair and a miniskirt. She is considered an "airhead" by those around her, but she doesn't really care. But one day, she is told that her academic ability is at the level of a fourth-grader, and is shocked at how low her level is. So, at her mother's suggestion, she starts attending a cram school. As a result, not only does her grades improve, but she also gets accepted into Keio University, a prestigious university in Japan!

Sayaka teams up with Tsubota Yoshitaka, a cram school teacher with a slightly unconventional teaching method, to take on the fiercely competitive entrance exam wars, proving that with enough hard work and determination, the impossible can become possible.

Cast: Kasumi Arimura, Atsushi Ito Director: Yudai Doi

2. ReLIFE

This coming-of-age story is based on the manga series of the same name, and while the story concept itself may not be new, that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable.

The protagonist, 27-year-old Kaizaki Arata, is unemployed after quitting his job after working there for only three months. He decides to participate in the "ReLife Verification Experiment" to earn some pocket money and try something new. During the experiment, Kaizaki takes a drug that makes him look 10 years younger, and begins attending high school as a third-year student, where he falls in love with his classmate, Hishiro Chizuru. Kaizaki lives a life full of ups and downs, just like a typical high school student.

This film asks us two simple but important questions: If you had the chance to live your life over again, would you do it again? And what would you do differently the last time?

Cast: Nakagawa Taishi, Taira Yuna Director: Furusawa Ken

3. Dogwood

Spanning a ten-year period from 1996 to 2006, this romantic drama follows protagonist Hirasawa Sae as she transitions from high school student to adulthood. Inspired by the lyrics of Yo Hitoto's hit song "Hanamizuki," the story explores the meaning of love between young people, what it means to live as an adult, and how to overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship.

Sae, a high school student, happens to meet Kohei Kiuchi, the son of a fisherman who is hoping to take over the family business, on the train. The encounter develops into love, but after many twists and turns, the relationship ends in heartbreak. After graduating from high school, Sae decides to move to Tokyo, while Kohei stays behind in Hokkaido. As they grow into adults, facing various experiences and difficulties, the two are no longer lovers, but their bond is not broken.

They experienced many life events and trials together, including deaths in the family, a stint overseas, and an engagement, but through it all they maintained their love and respect for one another.

The film explores young love, the challenges of staying true to your feelings as an adult, and how life has the power to bring people together in unexpected ways.

Cast: Yui Aragaki, Toma Ikuta Director: Yudai Doi

4. Cheer☆Dance - The true story of high school girls who conquered the US with cheer dancing

This film, which can be considered the Japanese version of the American movie "Cheers!", is based on a true story about an unlikely group of high school students who achieve remarkable success. The protagonist, Tomonaga Hikari, joins the cheerleading club soon after entering Fukui Chuo High School in an attempt to win the heart of Yamashita Kosuke, a boy she has had feelings for since middle school. Hikari becomes friends with Tamaki Ayano and Kito Yui in the cheerleading club, and together they endure the strict training of the club's advisor, Saotome Kaoruko.

The hard work pays off when the Fukui Chuo High School cheerleading team competes in the American cheerleading championships. The film conveys the excitement of youth, the friendship between high school students, and the rewards of hard work. It also shows how important club activities are to high school students in Japan.

Cast: Hirose Suzu, Amami Yuki Director: Kawai Hayato

Through these four films, we can see that high school students also feel the same pressures that adults carry in life, such as how to live up to expectations, human relationships, love and loss, and achieving goals, even if in a simpler way. It is also clear that high school is not just about what you learn in the classroom. There is no doubt that high school is a very important time, and high school students may feel that it is their whole life. However, it is also true that it is only one small milestone in life.