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Japan
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NLIS was founded in 2015 by Danny and Suzy Brown, operating in the building of New Life International Church in Kofu, Japan. It began as an English-language Christian school offering kindergarten through junior high within the church facilities, with a high school planned for the future. NLIS is sponsored by New Life International Church, a Protestant evangelical church located in the same building, and is run as a not-for-profit organization. The school uses the church building for its operations, and students are not required to attend church, though Sunday visits are welcomed. A high school was announced to open in 2022.
NLIS maintains an international, English-language community with families from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and non-religious backgrounds. Bible instruction and a weekly chapel are part of daily life, and while all full-time teachers are Christians, participation in Bible study is voluntary for students. The school provides diverse after-school programs and clubs—including ESL, JSL, and Eiken classes, and after-school care—with new clubs such as a sports club and robotics club planned to begin in April 2026. Every other Friday, students visit the nearby prefectural library for English and Japanese books to support reading in both languages.
NLIS does not publish a formal PTA; it follows a pro-family model that actively partners with parents to support student growth and learning. Parents are encouraged to reinforce classroom training at home, model strong morals and social skills, and maintain open communication with their children about school and relationships. The school engages families through events such as the Fall Class Party and Open Campus, which invite parents and the community to participate in school life. Other activities invite families to participate in field experiences and workshops, including Field Day to Shosenkyo and pottery classes. Families and visitors are welcome to observe classes on Sundays in the church building, and the school maintains ongoing dialogue with families in its daily operations.
New Life International School (NLIS) is an English-based Christian school in Kofu, located in Asahi and about a 10-minute walk north of Kofu Station. The school follows an American curriculum and integrates biblical values into daily learning. Its curriculum is guided by recognized U.S. standards such as Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. NLIS provides a computer for every student in Grades 3–8 for classroom use and includes Japanese classes four days a week (with a Japanese-for-Foreigners track aligned to JLPT preparation). In high school (Grades 9–12), students can take Advanced Placement (AP) or honors courses online through SevenStar Academy with on-campus proctoring, and they complete a 50-hour service learning requirement before graduation.
