Ramune AI ID Photo

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

Make a photo for Japan's high school entrance exam (koukou juken) — the once-a-year milestone for 9th 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 issuerPrefectural Boards of Education + Private High Schools

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

Verbatim official spec

There is no nationwide unified spec for Japan's 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 が標準…学校によって縦3.5×横2.5cm や 縦4.5×横3.5cm などの指定もあります」

Why this spec matters

⚠️ Photo requirements for Japan's high school entrance exam differ across all 47 prefectural public high school systems and every private high school. The 30×40mm (4cm × 3cm) size and 3-month freshness window shown here are the most widely adopted conventions, but some schools require 25×35mm, 35×45mm, or their own custom size. For 9th graders, the high school entrance exam is a once-a-year chance, and a photo rejection can mean re-applying the following year. Always verify size, freshness window, and back-side name requirements against your target school's and prefecture's latest admissions guide.

How to create it for ¥200

A 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 your school uniform or a plain white shirt, no hat, brush bangs away from your eyes, natural expression, eyes on the lens.
  2. 2

    AI removes the background and aligns to spec

    Upload the photo. AI removes the background, detects your 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 High School Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the standard 30×40mm size used by most Japan high schools. 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

Do the specs really vary by prefecture and school?
Yes. There is no nationwide unified spec — each of the 47 prefectural public high school systems and every private high school sets its own rules. "30×40mm, within 3 months" is the most widely adopted convention, but some schools require 25×35mm, 35×45mm, or a custom size. Always check your target school's latest admissions guide.
Why is the high school exam 3 months when other exams are 6 months?
Because 9th graders' faces change rapidly during growth, many schools require a photo within 3 months for reliable identity verification — stricter than the 6-month window allowed for My Number cards, passports, or driver's licenses.
Is the spec different for recommendation vs general entrance?
Generally, recommendation, general, and special-track entries at the same school use the same photo spec, though some schools specify different photos for different documents. Always check both the application form's photo-paste area and the admissions guide.
What about online (web) submissions?
Many private schools now accept online submissions and require JPEG format, 4:3 ratio (e.g. 600×450px), and a file-size cap. Our service lets you download a spec-compliant JPEG, so you can use one source for both paper and online submissions.
Can I reuse the same photo for multiple 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. Public and private schools, and first-choice vs. backup schools, often have different size specs, so cross-check every school's guide before submitting.

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Create a High School Entrance Exam Photo for ¥200

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

Create now — ¥200
Japan HS Entrance Exam Photo 30×40mm | ¥200 — Ramune