Japan Junior High School Entrance Exam Photo: Spec and How to Create It

Make a photo for Japan's private junior high school entrance exam (chugaku juken) — the first big milestone for 6th graders — from a smartphone shot with AI auto-adjustment, from ¥200.

Official spec data
Dimensions40mm × 30mm
Face lengthNot specified
Top marginNot specified
BackgroundPlain or light background (blue/grey) — front-facing, no hat, no shadows or patterns
Shoot-by windowTaken within 3 months of application
Official issuerIndividual Private Junior High Schools (no nationwide body)

View the official source(Last verified: 2026-05-26)

Verbatim official spec

There is no nationwide unified spec for Japan's junior high school entrance exam photo. Below is a widely cited industry convention note. Always verify your target school's admissions guide.

  • 縦4cm×横3cm が証明写真の一般的なサイズ…大半の学校では、このサイズを指定するケースが多い

Why this spec matters

⚠️ Photo requirements for Japan's junior high school entrance exam (private and combined JHS/HS schools) are set individually by each school — there is no nationwide unified spec. The 30×40mm (4cm × 3cm) size and 3-month freshness window shown here are the most widely adopted conventions, but some schools require 35×45mm or their own custom size. About 50,000 6th graders sit chugaku juken each year, mainly in Tokyo and Kansai, after years of family-supported cram-school preparation. A photo rejection means re-applying the following year — an enormous emotional burden on a 12-year-old and the whole family. Always verify size, freshness window, and back-side name requirements against your target school's latest admissions guide.

How to create it for ¥200

A junior high school entrance exam photo takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200. Always cross-check with your target school's current admissions guide.

  1. 1

    Take the photo on your smartphone

    Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. Wear a plain white shirt or school uniform, no hat, brush bangs away from the eyes, natural expression, eyes on the lens. A family member should take the photo.
  2. 2

    AI removes the background and aligns to spec

    Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects the face, and auto-crops to 30×40mm. If your target school uses a different size, fine-tune to 0.1mm precision.
  3. 3

    Print via QR code at any Japan convenience store

    After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print on L-size paper at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — from ¥30. A JPEG file for online submission is also available for download.

Create a Junior High School Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the standard 30×40mm size used by most Japan private JHSs. Custom sizes are supported to 0.1mm precision.

Create now — ¥200

What Ramune AI ID Photo offers

Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.

Cropping screen with horizontal and vertical guidelines to adjust face position, width, hairline, and chin in 0.1mm units

0.1mm face position adjustment

Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.

Auto-generated L-size print sheet

Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.

AI removes the background automatically

Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.

AI skin smoothing with a natural finish

Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.

Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide

Scan a QR code at the multi-copy machine in 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30.

5-language support, no app required

Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.

Frequently asked questions

Are the JHS and HS entrance exam photo specs the same?
Both lack a nationwide unified spec, and "30×40mm, within 3 months" is the widely used convention for each. The difference: JHS entrance exams are almost entirely private (including combined JHS/HS schools), so variation is school-by-school; HS entrance exams have a two-layer structure (public via 47 prefectural boards + private). Always verify your target school's latest guide.
Can I reuse the same photo when applying to multiple junior high schools?
Yes — if the shoot date is within every school's freshness window (typically 3 months) and the size requirement is the same. If sizes differ, use our "custom size" mode to output for each school. Many families apply to 2-3 schools in one exam season, so make a checklist of every school's requirements before submission.
My child gets nervous and ends up smiling. What should I do?
Elementary-school students tend to smile when nervous, but ID photos require a closed-mouth natural expression. Practice for 1-2 minutes in front of a mirror: "close your mouth gently" and "look straight at the camera." Take 5-10 shots at home and pick the best one as a family — our service processes one photo at a time, so retakes are expected.
What's the difference between online (web) and paper submissions?
Most private JHSs now use online platforms like miraicompass. Online submissions require JPEG format, 4:3 ratio (e.g. 600×450px), and a file-size cap (e.g. 3MB); paper submissions require a developed photo affixed to the form. Our service lets you download a spec-compliant JPEG and also print at a konbini, so you can handle both.
Isn't a 3-month window strict, given that 6th graders grow fast?
Exactly — 6th graders' faces change rapidly during growth, which is precisely why "within 3 months" is the standard. A photo taken in summer for cram-school use is generally not accepted at the January exam. Most families re-take in November or December for the January-February exam dates. With our service you can shoot from your smartphone as many times as needed and re-generate within spec for ¥200, so last-minute adjustments are easy.

Create a Junior High School Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the standard 30×40mm size used by most Japan private JHSs. Custom sizes are supported to 0.1mm precision.

Create now — ¥200
Japan Private JHS Entrance Photo 30×40mm | ¥200 — Ramune