If you’re interested in business, entrepreneurship, or leadership, high school is a good time to explore how companies actually work beyond classroom theory. Business management programs in Japan for high school students can help you understand leadership, marketing, teamwork, decision-making, and how organisations grow and adapt, while exposing you to one of the world’s most distinctive business environments.

Imagine attending seminars on global business strategy, working on startup ideas with other students, or analysing how companies respond to real-world market challenges. You might participate in group projects, business simulations, or presentations connected to entrepreneurship, branding, finance, or management. Some programs focus more on innovation and leadership, while others explore international business systems and Japanese corporate culture more closely.

Why consider business management programs in Japan for high school students?

Japan is an especially interesting place to study business because of its influence across technology, manufacturing, retail, and global consumer industries. The country is known for combining innovation with highly organised management systems, which gives you a different perspective on how businesses operate internationally.

Many programs are hosted by universities and educational organisations that combine lectures with workshops, discussions, case studies, and collaborative projects. You may explore marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, or international trade while building practical skills in communication, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

Beyond academics, these programs also expose you to a completely different cultural and professional environment. At the same time, you get a much clearer sense of what studying business management at a university level might actually feel like.

To make your search easier, we’ve curated a list of 15 business management programs in Japan for high school students!

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online business program and summer programs in Japan.

15 Business Management Programs in Japan for High School Students

1. Soka University Academic Short Program for High School Students

Location: Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥180,000 (USD 1,125), including accommodation, airport pickup, transportation, entrance fees for program activities, and most meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 30 participants
Dates: August 3-9
Application Deadline: April 17th or until the 30-person capacity is reached
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12; applications must be submitted by a school or institution, not by individual students, and a minimum of five students from the same school plus one chaperone is required; international students may apply

Soka University’s Academic Short Program gives you a practical introduction to business and globalization through lectures, field visits, and urban case studies across Tokyo and Yokohama. You examine how consumer culture, tourism, retail districts, and international trade shape modern Japanese cities. Visits to places like Harajuku, Akihabara, and Yokohama help you observe branding, customer behavior, entertainment economies, and urban business ecosystems directly.

Faculty sessions also connect Japanese society with topics like globalization and international exchange. Since the program runs as a residential university experience, you also interact with Soka University students and experience campus life in Tokyo.

Why it stands out: It combines university-led business and sociology learning with guided fieldwork in Tokyo and Yokohama, giving you a practical look at how culture, commerce, and globalization intersect in Japan.

2. Immerse Education’s Tokyo Business Management Summer School

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway is one of the more career-focused business management programs in Japan for high school students, introducing participants to professional industries through experiential learning in a major global city. Over the course of the two-week program, you will participate in interactive workshops, company visits, and hands-on projects that simulate real-world workplace settings. You will explore corporate strategy, leadership, and international business.

Industry mentors and professionals provide feedback and career advice. Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions will help you refine your goals and develop confidence in presenting your work. The program concludes with a final presentation where you will share your findings and experiences with peers and professionals. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You will build workplace and leadership skills while exploring the industrial and academic culture of Tokyo in person.

3. Natsu Project’s Natsu Camp

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥348,000 (USD 2,176); need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited cohort
Dates: August 1-7
Application Deadline: May 1-31
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15-21; international students may apply

Natsu Camp combines entrepreneurship, sustainability, and project-building through a residential program in Tokyo built around collaborative work. During the week, you work in teams to develop research-driven projects connected to innovation and social impact while attending workshops led by mentors and guest speakers. A large part of the experience focuses on turning ideas into workable solutions by thinking through execution, community impact, and feasibility.

Since the cohort is international, discussions often revolve around how different countries approach innovation, sustainability, and business problems. Field visits and networking sessions also introduce you to startup culture and professional environments in Japan.

Why it stands out: It combines entrepreneurship, global issues, and team-based project work in Tokyo, making it useful for students who want a business program with a social innovation angle.

4. Temple University Japan High School Summer Program

Location: Temple University’s Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan + excursions to Nikko and nearby areas
Cost: ¥340,000 (USD 2126) + ¥20,000 (USD 125) registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 29th – August 6th
Application Deadline: May 1st (payment deadline for domestic students) | April 1st (for international students)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12; international students may apply, and no prior Japanese language experience is required

Temple University Japan’s summer program gives you a university-style experience inside Tokyo while letting you explore business and leadership topics through elective coursework. Alongside Japanese language classes, you take an academic elective modeled after undergraduate study, which may include subjects connected to management, communication, or leadership, depending on availability.

The program also includes guided trips across Tokyo and nearby regions, helping you understand Japanese society and business culture outside the classroom. Since Temple’s campus is fully international, you spend the session around both Japanese and international students in an English-speaking university environment. The structure feels more like a short study-abroad semester than a traditional summer camp.

Why it stands out: It combines university-style classes, Japanese language study, and cultural excursions, making it a strong option for students who want business exposure within a broader Japan-based academic program.

5. Sakura Science High School Program (SSHP)

Location: Multiple sites across Japan (including Tsukuba, Tokyo, and Aichi)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically one week in summer; exact dates vary by hosting institution
Application Deadline: Varies by institution
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students nominated by schools or national science organizations from partner countries (typically in Asia)

The Sakura Science High School Program is a Japan-based exchange experience that introduces high-achieving students to the country’s science, technology, university, and industrial ecosystem. You attend special lectures, visit universities and research centers, and engage with Japanese and international peers through structured exchange activities.

The program may also include visits to businesses and institutions that show how Japan supports scientific collaboration and technological advancement. Cultural experiences and embassy visits give you a broader view of Japan’s role in global innovation and diplomacy. 

Why it stands out: It gives you exposure to Japan’s science and innovation infrastructure, which can be valuable if you are interested in business at the intersection of technology, research, and global collaboration.

6. NUCB International College Summer Camp

Location: NUCB International College, Nisshin-shi, Aichi Prefecture (near Nagoya), Japan
Cost: ¥275,000 (USD 1,720)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year
Dates: July 20-28
Application Deadline: Opens January 15th
Eligibility: Students, ages 13-15, with at least conversational English proficiency; international students may apply

NUCB International College’s Summer Camp stands out among business management programs in Japan for high school students because it introduces younger learners to business decision-making through the case method, a teaching style used in many MBA classrooms. You work through business scenarios where you debate ideas, evaluate risks, and defend solutions in group discussions. Sessions also cover design thinking, leadership, and entrepreneurship, but the strongest focus stays on how businesses make decisions under pressure.

Since the camp takes place inside an international boarding-school environment near Nagoya, you also experience structured residential learning and cross-cultural collaboration throughout the week. Japanese language lessons and cultural activities are built into the schedule as well.

Why it stands out: Its use of the Harvard-style case method gives younger students early exposure to the kind of discussion-based learning used in business schools.

7. GTE® Summer​​ School

Location: Mobara (Chiba Prefecture) and Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥109,000 (USD 681)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students
Dates: July 28-31
Application Deadline: June 26th
Eligibility: Junior high to high school students; international applicants should be able to communicate in basic Japanese and have intermediate English (B1 level or equivalent) fluency

GTE® Summer School is a short residential entrepreneurship program that helps you understand how startups are built from the ground up. You attend sessions on business fundamentals such as marketing, finance, problem-solving, and presentation skills, then apply these concepts in a team-based business plan project. Working with students from different backgrounds, you develop an idea under the guidance of instructors and college mentors with international experience.

The program emphasizes both Japanese and English communication, giving you practice presenting business ideas across languages and cultures. The final business contest pushes you to organize your research, refine your proposal, and present your work clearly under time constraints. 

Why it stands out: Its startup-focused structure, business plan contest, and bilingual learning environment make it one of the more directly entrepreneurship-oriented programs on this list.

8. CyberAgent High School Visit Program

Location: CyberAgent, Inc. office, Tokyo, Japan; online or in-person experience
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Flexible; available year-round
Application Deadline: Two weeks to three months before the desired date through a school or group
Eligibility: Junior high and high school students across Japan; international students are not eligible

CyberAgent’s High School Visit Program gives students a direct look inside one of Japan’s major internet and digital media companies. Through presentations and employee interactions, you learn how the company operates across areas such as online advertising, media, gaming, and digital services. The visit helps you understand how business functions within a technology-driven company, from workplace culture to product development and service strategy.

If you attend in person, you may tour the office and see the spaces where teams collaborate and manage creative or technical projects. Q&A sessions with employees allow you to ask about career paths, daily responsibilities, and the skills needed in Japan’s internet industry. 

Why it stands out: It places you inside a real Japanese tech company, offering a workplace-based view of how digital business, media, and corporate culture function.

9. SEKAIA Inc. – Summer Explorer Program

Location: Tokyo and other major Japanese cities (flexible)
Cost: USD 2,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; usually 10-20 students per seasonal session
Dates: Summer placements typically June – August (minimum 2 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically rolling
Eligibility: High school students (typically ages 15-18); international students can apply

SEKAIA’s Summer Explorer Program focuses strongly on Japanese business culture through company visits, seminars, networking events, and language learning across Tokyo and other major cities. During the program, you attend business seminars and workplace visits that explain how Japanese companies operate across different industries and professional environments.

The language component also emphasizes practical communication useful in professional and networking situations rather than classroom-only learning. Since the cohort stays relatively small, networking sessions with professionals and local students feel more conversational and direct. The program also includes field trips and cultural activities that help you understand how social expectations and workplace culture intersect in Japan.

Why it stands out: It is one of the more career-oriented options, combining company exposure, business seminars, language learning, and networking in a Japan-based setting.

10. Entreplanet’s Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)

Location: Virtual (global event hosted by organizations in Japan and Indonesia)
Cost: ¥10,000 (USD 62) per team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 16th (Preliminary Round) | June 20th (Final Round)
Application Deadline: April 20th
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18; international students are eligible, but must apply in teams of 3-8 students from the same country

GYEC is a fast-paced entrepreneurship competition where your team develops a business solution to a real-world problem within a limited timeframe. Once the challenge begins, you research the issue, build a business concept, think through production and marketing, and prepare a written proposal along with a short English presentation video.

Since teams compete internationally, the environment feels much more like a startup pitch competition than a classroom program. The format pushes you to think quickly about feasibility, pricing, innovation, and execution under pressure. Teams that advance move into an international final round against students from other countries.

Why it stands out: Its fast-paced global format lets you practice business planning, teamwork, and innovation under real competition conditions.

11. Global Leadership Program Tokyo

Location: St. Mary’s International School, Tokyo (Setagaya-ku), Japan
Cost: ¥75,000 (USD 470) for one week | ¥150,000 (USD 938) for two weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 28-31 and August 4-7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Advanced high school and college students with English proficiency at a conversational level or above (a brief language assessment interview is conducted before the program); international students can apply

The Global Leadership Program Tokyo focuses on leadership and communication through discussion-based sessions connected to current events and global issues. Although it is not a pure business program, much of the structure mirrors the kinds of communication environments common in management and international business settings. Every day, you participate in structured discussions, presentations, and leadership exercises where students guide activities and speak publicly in English.

The program also includes teamwork activities and communication workshops designed around collaboration in multicultural environments. Since participants come from different countries and educational systems, conversations often feel highly international and discussion-driven.

Why it stands out: It is a strong fit for students who want to build the communication and leadership skills that support future study in business, management, or international relations.

12. One Junior World Global Leadership Camp

Location: Akita International University, Akita, Japan
Cost: 132,000 JPY, including room, meals, and tax, half price scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 to 42 students
Dates: March 23rd to March 27th
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Junior and Senior High School Students worldwide ages 15 to 18, English proficiency of EIKEN Level 2 or higher recommended

Hosted in collaboration with Akita International University, this camp focuses on regional sustainability and leadership. You will approach issues from a global and local perspective while learning about leadership through project planning with peers.

The program includes lectures by university faculty, interactions with social entrepreneurs tackling current issues, and workshops on English presentation skills. The five-day camp culminates in a group English presentation on the final day. 

Why it stands out: It leverages the educational power of Akita International University and the One Young World community to provide direct mentoring from global leaders and entrepreneurs.

13. Venture Café Tokyo Entrepreneurship Program

Location: Venture Cafe Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥22,000 JPY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20 participants per batch
Dates: 5 days occurring every other week
Application Deadline: Rolling based on document screening and interviews
Eligibility: Students, including high school and graduate levels, wanting to turn ideas into viable businesses; must be living in or physically able to commute to Tokyo

Venture Café Tokyo’s entrepreneurship program is designed for students who already have startup ideas or want to understand how businesses move from concept to execution inside a real startup ecosystem. Across five sessions, you work through ideation, business modeling, pitching, and strategy-building while learning directly from founders, startup operators, and business professionals in Tokyo.

A major part of the experience revolves around refining your idea into something practical enough for accelerators, competitions, or early-stage startup discussions. Since the program runs inside Venture Café Tokyo’s larger innovation community, you also attend networking events where entrepreneurs, investors, and startup teams regularly interact. 

Why it stands out: You build and refine startup ideas while working inside Tokyo’s active founder and investor ecosystem rather than in a simulated classroom environment.

14. TOMODACHI Initiative Entrepreneurship Program

Location: Hybrid primarily online via Zoom, with in-person events in Japan and a training program in the United States
Cost: Fully covered by the program; participants cover individual project activity costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September 15th to February 16th, approximately 5 months
Application Deadline: August 28th
Eligibility: High school, college, university, and graduate students from all over Japan

The TOMODACHI entrepreneurship program brings together high school and university students from across Japan to help you develop startup ideas, social projects, and innovation-focused initiatives over nearly five months. Most of the program runs online through workshops, mentoring sessions, and collaborative project development, where you work with peers from different regions while refining your own idea.

The curriculum focuses heavily on problem-solving, idea validation, and turning concepts into actionable projects that could function in real communities or business settings. Since the cohort also includes university students, you often collaborate with people who already have more advanced academic or startup experience. Selected participants may also travel to the United States for a special training program connected to entrepreneurship and leadership.

Why it stands out: You work on long-term startup or social-impact ideas while collaborating with university students and gaining exposure to international entrepreneurship networks.

15. Wake Forest University Online Immersion Program

Location: Online
Cost: $1595 per course
Program Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students around the world aged 13+

This program takes you in-depth into specific business tracks, including Finance, Marketing, and Business Management. You will learn through a series of video lectures by Wake Forest professors and complete assignments that are simulations of professional business tasks.

A great aspect of the program is the Final Capstone Project, where you might conduct a strategic analysis or build a financial model. This way, you will have a practical understanding of what the day-to-day realities could be like for different careers and majors.

Why it stands out: It provides very specialized tracks to “test drive” certain majors, such as Finance or Marketing, that you might want to pursue in college.

Your Next Step After Business in Japan

A business programme in Japan can turn abstract interests into something easier to understand: how teams pitch ideas, study markets, solve problems, and make decisions.

Through business management programs in Japan for high school students, you can explore entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, marketing, sustainability, and international business in a setting shaped by innovation and global trade.

That experience can help you decide what kind of business pathway feels right, whether you are drawn to startups, corporate strategy, management, or cross-cultural commerce.

Ready to see where business could take you abroad? Browse our Study Abroad blogs for destination advice, application guidance, subject choices, and global university planning.