Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School Certified as STAGE 3 in "TOEFL iBT® Open Possibilities Program (TOP Program)"

April 28, 2026, ETS Japan

ETS Japan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Country Manager: Shuken Shiozaki) certified Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Principal: Izumi Kashiwa) as STAGE 3 of the TOEFL iBT® Open Possibilities Program (TOP Program) on March 30, and held a certification ceremony at the school. Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School is the first STAGE 3 certified school in Japan for this program.

On the day of the certification ceremony, an interview was also conducted regarding the school's English education initiatives and the background leading to the STAGE 3 certification.

Certification Ceremony Scene *From left: Yuko Murata, Teacher/Head of International Department; Izumi Kashiwa, Principal; Naomi Matsubara, Global Education Coordinator; Shuken Shiozaki, Country Manager, ETS Japan

Overview of the Certification Ceremony

* Date: Monday, March 30, 2026
* Venue: Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)
* Content: Presentation of TOP Program STAGE 3 Certificate and Pennant, Commemorative Photo Session
* Attendees: Principal Izumi Kashiwa, Teacher/Head of International Department Yuko Murata, Global Education Coordinator Naomi Matsubara, Country Manager Shuken Shiozaki of ETS Japan

Interview

During the interview, we asked about Oyugakuen's practice of "holistic education," which goes beyond acquiring knowledge and skills to nurture students' way of being and their interactions with others, and the positioning of English language learning within this framework, as well as their initiatives utilizing TOEFL iBT®. Since 2014, the school has sent students annually to the summer program held at the prestigious American high school, Choate Rosemary Hall, where participants are required to achieve a specified TOEFL iBT® score. This consistent number of students studying for TOEFL® contributed to its promotion at the school.

"TOEFL® is an exam where you can learn while engaging with content from various fields. The reading passages, covering topics like the history of science or the lives of artists, are interesting and enriching to read. In speaking and writing, the appeal lies in the ability to develop instantaneous thinking and communication skills, such as forming and conveying your own opinions based on others' views within a short time." (Naomi Matsubara, Global Education Coordinator)

"Taking the internationally recognized TOEFL® test as an opportunity, students become confident that their spheres of activity will expand not only domestically but also overseas, fostering a desire to 'be able to do more,' and broadening possibilities not only for university advancement but also for their future careers. We aim to create this cycle." (Izumi Kashiwa, Principal)

Please see the special page for the interview content.

International Education Connecting to the World – Initiatives of an Advanced School: Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School

https://www.toefl-ibt.jp/educators/interview/ohyugakuen/

About the TOEFL iBT® Open Possibilities Program

The TOEFL iBT® Open Possibilities Program (TOP Program) is a special program established by ETS Japan in October 2025 for educational institutions that foster global talent. Participating schools are provided with comprehensive, free, tiered support, from TOEFL iBT® test-taking assistance to flexible program design tailored to the needs of the educational setting, spanning STAGE 1 to 3. The program aims to jointly promote international education and cultivate global human resources.

Please check the TOEFL Test Japan Office website for program details.

https://www.toefl-ibt.jp/educators/topprogram/

About Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School

Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School emphasizes proactive learning, practicing education that fosters both academic ability and humanity. Through the dual pillars of career guidance and international education, the school promotes initiatives that support each student's future choices.

Location: 1-5-30 Miyasaka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Principal: Izumi Kashiwa

Official Website: https://www.ohyu.jp

[Contact for inquiries regarding the school]

Oyugakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School

TEL: 03-3420-0136 Email: info@ohyu.ed.jp

About TOEFL®

An international standard English proficiency test administered by ETS, an educational service organization headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. It is used in over 13,000 universities and graduate schools in more than 160 countries worldwide, not limited to English-speaking regions, and by other institutions. In Japan, its applications are expanding to university/graduate school admissions, credit recognition, teacher/public servant examinations, recruitment by international organizations, self-improvement, level checks, and lifelong learning.

[Company Profile]
ET