Why Saitama’s Private High School “Kakuyaku” WorksHokushin Benchmarks, Counseling Sessions, and the 2027 Intake Calendar

Introduction

Updated October 23, 2026: We updated the exact public-school application and change-of-application windows, the start of private high school exams (from January 22), the reduced public-school intake for April 2027, and the remaining Hokushin test dates, based on the latest official information from Saitama Prefecture and the test operator. We also removed Urawa Akenohoshi Girls’ from the list of kakuyaku schools because it is not recruiting at the high school level for 2027, and added the autumn 2025 developments on vendor-test use.

Saitama's high school admissions have a unique practice rarely seen in other prefectures: "Kakuyaku" (pre-admission assurance). This article explains what it is, how it works in practice, which schools use it, the historical background, the current schedule for students entering high school in April 2027, and how it compares to Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba.

1. What Is Kakuyaku?

1-1. Definition and Mechanics

"Kakuyaku" functions like a pre-admission assurance used by many private high schools in Saitama. If a 9th-grader brings recent mock exam results (primarily the Hokushin test^[1]) and their report card to the school's individual counseling session and meets the school's criteria, they receive an informal "you will pass if you take the exam." Unless you submit a blank answer sheet or are absent, you won't fail the actual exam.

💡 Note: This is not an officially codified public system. Schools avoid the term "kakuyaku" and instead use phrasing like "you can feel confident." In practice, it works as a widely accepted, unspoken understanding.

1-2. Why Did It Emerge?

Strong preference for public schools: Saitama traditionally has a strong public-school preference. Many students aim for top public schools (Urawa, Urawa Ichijo, Omiya), and private schools are often treated as backup choices.

Private schools' need to secure enrollment: Because many students decline private offers if they pass public schools, private schools needed a way to stabilize enrollment. Offering assurance in exchange for an application became a competitive strategy for securing students.

Existence of the Hokushin test: Almost all students in Saitama take the Hokushin test, a widely trusted, prefecture-wide mock exam. That made it ideal as an objective benchmark for offering assurance based on mock-test deviation scores.

1-3. When Did It Start?

There is no official start year, but educators and cram schools generally point to widespread adoption in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Fewer children after the bubble economy, financial pressure on private schools, competitive schools wanting to secure strong students early for better university outcomes, and the spread of the Hokushin test all combined to produce today's culture of obtaining assurance through autumn counseling sessions.

2. How Do You Obtain Kakuyaku?

2-1. Basic Steps

1. Take the Hokushin test: Most schools require several sessions from July onward that meet or exceed their benchmark.
2. Check criteria at school briefings: From summer on, schools publish targets for report cards and deviation scores. Some offer bonus points for Eiken, perfect attendance, etc.
3. Attend an individual counseling session: Most schools start in early October, with some beginning in September. Present Hokushin results and report cards; if you meet the criteria, you'll be told admission is virtually assured.
4. Apply and sit the exam: Application and a formal test are still required, but admission is practically guaranteed.

2-2. Single-Choice vs. Concurrent Assurance

There are single-choice assurances and concurrent assurances. Single-choice is often slightly easier or grants bonuses because the student promises to enroll if accepted.

• Shukutoku Yono HS: Unusually allows submission from the June Hokushin, though two sessions are still required.

✅ Tip: Criteria month and bonus rules vary by school. Always confirm the latest handbook, briefing materials, and cram-school information.

3. Schools That Use — and Don't Use — Kakuyaku

3-1. Major Schools That Use Kakuyaku

In Saitama, almost all private high schools use some form of kakuyaku — even selective schools (deviation score 60+) offer it if you meet their standards, for example:

• Sakae Higashi (roughly deviation 70 as the benchmark)
• Kaichi
• Omiya Kaisei
• Shukutoku Yono (criteria month can differ; some accept from June)
• Kasukabe Kyoei
• Seibu Gakuen Bunri
• Hoshino
• Hosoda Gakuen
• Dokkyo Saitama
• Johoku Saitama, and others

Each school sets course-specific criteria; upper courses require higher benchmarks.

📝 Earlier versions of this article also listed Urawa Akenohoshi Girls’ High School. The prefecture’s compiled 2027 private high school exam guide states that the school does not recruit students at the high school level, so we removed it from the list^[4]. That guide is also the easiest way to check each school’s intake and exam dates.

3-2. Schools Without Kakuyaku

Top-tier university-affiliated schools do not offer kakuyaku:

• Keio Shiki Senior High School
• Waseda University Honjo Senior High School
• Rikkyo Niiza Senior High School

Multiple sources note these three as representative "no-kakuyaku" schools in Saitama. Because the practice is unofficial, others may exist too.

These are one-shot entrance exams — even a Hokushin score of 70+ won't secure kakuyaku. Entry to the affiliated universities is largely assured for students who are admitted, so demand is extremely high; there's no need to "secure" students via assurance. It's a seller's market.

4. Schedule for Students Entering in April 2027 (Reiwa 9)

For the current cohort of applicants, here is the Hokushin test and admissions schedule for students entering high school in April 2027. Dates can change, so always confirm the Hokushin schedule with the operator^[1] and the public-school schedule with the prefectural Board of Education’s announcements^[2] and the finalized implementation guidelines^[3].

As of October 23, 2026, the Hokushin test has been held through session #5 (October 11). Three sessions remain: November 8, December 6, and January 31, 2027.

For April 2027, full-time public high schools will take 33,480 students, 1,600 fewer than the previous year (reductions at 40 schools). The same document projects 60,438 junior high graduates in the prefecture, down 1,704 from the previous year^[7].

Counseling slots book up quickly in September and October, so early preparation is essential. Most schools evaluate Hokushin results from the July, September, October, November, and December sessions, often requiring "the average of two or more sessions to meet the benchmark." Clearing the bar early lets you focus on public-school preparation later in the cycle.

5. Why It Isn't Publicly Declared, and How Other Prefectures Compare

5-1. Why Isn't It Publicly Declared?

• Official stance requires fair testing: Ministries and boards of education stipulate selection via exams, so schools can't formally codify kakuyaku.
• Maintaining the form of an exam: Schools still hold an exam and avoid written mention of "assurance."
• Institutionalized open secret: Parents, cram schools, and high schools treat it as routine; it's culturally entrenched.

The result: it's "not a system," yet functions like one.

5-2. Comparison with Other Prefectures

• Tokyo: Recommendation admissions are common; single/concurrent recommendations based on report cards, with high pass rates.
• Kanagawa: "Concurrent advantage" policies; meeting report-card criteria nearly guarantees admission.
• Chiba: Recommendations and concurrent recommendations; high pass ratios if you meet report-card benchmarks, but no mock-exam-based assurance like Saitama's.

🎯 Saitama's hallmark: direct assurance based on an external mock exam (Hokushin).

6. Downsides and How to Use Kakuyaku Wisely

Based on available research, there are few clear downsides to kakuyaku; the main benefit is peace of mind. A possible concern is that securing assurance early can reduce study motivation, but the system itself carries no structural disadvantage. If you can secure kakuyaku, it's generally wise to do so.

That said, pressure from outside the practice has grown. At the September 30, 2025 MEXT press conference, a reporter asked about Saitama private high schools that had students bring vendor test results and then assured admission or scholarships. The minister restated the principle of a 1993 notice: admissions should not use vendor test results as selection material^[8]. As of October 23, 2026, we could not confirm any official announcement from the prefecture or private schools that kakuyaku has been abolished across the board, but how schools handle Hokushin results and run counseling may change school by school. We also cover this issue in our breakdown of the Saitama “multiple-application” rumor.

⚠️ Heads-up: Policies are reviewed yearly at each school. Always verify the latest handbooks, briefing materials, and cram-school guidance.

Conclusion

Saitama's kakuyaku emerged from a strong public-school preference, private schools' enrollment needs, and the availability of a shared benchmark (the Hokushin test). It spread rapidly from the late 1990s, and even selective schools with deviation scores of 60+ widely use it. For public-first applicants, it's an essential safety net.

However, top university-affiliated schools like Keio Shiki, Waseda Honjo, and Rikkyo Niiza do not use kakuyaku — pure merit is required there. Also note school-by-school differences, such as Shukutoku Yono accepting the June Hokushin and easier criteria for single-choice assurances. Always check the latest information at schools and cram schools.

Kakuyaku is an open secret that supports the region's admissions culture. It offers reassurance, though over-reliance can lower study motivation. Understand the background and use it strategically to reach your goal school.

References

1. [1]北辰図書株式会社（北辰テスト運営）— 公式サイト。回数・実施日・出題範囲は毎年更新されるため、必ず公式の最新案内で確認すること。 ↩
2. [2]埼玉県 — 公式サイト。公立高校入学者選抜の日程は県教育委員会の発表が一次情報。 ↩
3. [3]Saitama Prefectural Board of Education, finalized implementation guidelines and selection rules for 2027 public high school admissions (posted May 29, 2026). https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f2208/r9nyuushi-jisshiyoukou.html ↩
4. [4]Saitama Prefecture, announcement of the 2027 private junior high, high school, and secondary school exam guides (September 11, 2026). https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0204/news/page/news2026091101.html / Private high school exam guide (PDF): https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/documents/26360/r9_koukounyuushiyoukou.pdf ↩
5. [5]Saitama Prefectural Board of Education, leaflet on online application procedures for 2027 public high school admissions. https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/documents/257619/r9denshishutsugantetsuzuki.pdf ↩
6. [6]Saitama Prefecture, basic policy, subjects, and scope of the 2027 public high school academic test (May 21, 2026). https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f2208/news/page/news2026052101.html ↩
7. [7]Saitama Prefectural Board of Education, list of student intake numbers for 2027 (posted June 16, 2026). https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f2207/nyugakusya-senbatsu/boshujininichiran.html ↩
8. [8]MEXT, transcript of the Minister’s press conference (September 30, 2025). https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/daijin/detail/mext_00623.html ↩