Harrow International School Appi Japan, a British boarding school in Appi Kogen, Iwate Prefecture, was founded in 2022 and celebrated its first graduating class on June 19.
The 34 graduates received approximately 150 offers from 81 universities in nine countries. These include the University College London, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Toronto, Keio University, Hong Kong University and Tsinghua University.
At its core, Harrow Appi Japan is a full boarding school built on Harrow’s globally reputed education. The school channels that holistic education into three pillars it says are central to its philosophy: academic excellence, high-quality pastoral care and outstanding extracurricular opportunities. Because students live on campus full time, they receive round-the-clock academic and pastoral support in a distraction-free learning environment among the mountains of northern Japan. The students have evenings and weekends free for activities such as sports, music, drama and art.
That combination is designed to foster holistic development beyond university offers alone, building character and shaping the self-discipline, resilience, independence and leadership skills that will serve graduates well beyond their exam results.
That spirit was on display at the ceremony itself, held outdoors in the school’s courtyard and framed by the forested peaks of Appi Kogen — a backdrop that has come to embody the Harrow Appi experience: a clean, safe home away from home, where the sky is the limit, students can reach beyond what they once imagined and grow into healthy young adults. Graduates in caps and gowns passed beneath the open sky, ready for whatever adventure came next.
The head boy, a student from Malaysia and one of the four who delivered speeches to the graduates, said, “Stop waiting for the perfect plan to unfold,” and encouraged himself and his friends to take risks because “that is the only way to find out how far one can go.” He continued, “Let us be the ones who dare to cross the line and discover what we are capable of achieving.” He received offers from top-level universities including the University of Edinburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
As each graduate was called by name and stepped onto the stage to receive their diploma from headmaster Stephen Tong, they were greeted with warm applause and cheers. In his speech, Tong called the graduates, “real pioneers prepared to do something different and do it well” and “the players in chapter one” of the school’s history, who helped shape its culture.
“Make the world your own, good young people, by what you choose to do with your life, and more importantly, by how you go about it. Time to fly,” he said.
Of the offers received so far, 64 are among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings. Many graduates had just finished their A-level math exams the day before the ceremony and will decide which universities to enroll in once they receive their results in August.
During a press conference after the ceremony, Tong noted that the school had become more internationally diverse than he had imagined, with graduates hailing from 12 different countries, including Japan, Belize, Canada, France and Singapore.
He said, “The interesting thing is that their chosen destinations are also international.” He explained that many students applied to universities outside of Japan and their home countries, and added, “It’s almost as if they are now prepared to adopt a permanent adventuring spirit.”
A Japanese student, who served as the head girl for the class of 2026, received offers from seven universities, including the University College London and Waseda University. “During my four years here, I learned how to manage my time, especially how to make time for myself,” she said. She also feels that she gained confidence by constantly trying new things with her peers, both academically and in sports and the arts.
A student from Thailand received offers from six universities from three countries including the University of Toronto and Northeastern University. Speaking to future Harrow Appi Japan students, she said: “Do things outside your comfort zone. I think this is the perfect place for it. Don’t be embarrassed. I had so many embarrassing moments, but you’ll forget about them eventually. In the future, you’ll reminisce and laugh about them.”
About Harrow International School Appi Japan
Set among the mountains of Appi Kogen, Iwate Prefecture, Harrow International School Appi Japan is a place where world-class education combines with a full boarding experience in stunning Japanese nature. Aligned with Harrow’s esteemed British international curriculum, the school provides a 24/7 distraction-free learning environment that enables students to experience a genuine holistic education — one that seeks to cultivate the balanced development of mind, body and spirit.
Harrow Appi Japan welcomes students age 11 to 18 (year seven to 13), offering a full boarding education that mirrors the traditions of Harrow School in the U.K., with academic provision through the International General Certificate of Secondary Education and internationally recognized A-level curriculum. The educational experience combines academic excellence with sports, the arts and personal development, supported by a world-class enrichment program — including high-level ski and snowboard coaching — preparing students for success at leading universities around the world.
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