International School of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo

What International School of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo does

International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) is a private, independent K-12 international school located in Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, founded in 1908 by four RSCJ sisters from Australia. It is the only international Sacred Heart school in Tokyo and is governed by the Sacred Heart School Corporation in Japan. The school serves approximately 600 students representing around 50 nationalities and more than 15 religious traditions, offering a co-educational Kindergarten program and an all-girls program from Grades 1 through 12, with English as the primary language of instruction supplemented by Japanese and French.

ISSH delivers a college-preparatory curriculum drawing from American, Canadian, British, Australian, and New Zealand educational frameworks, anchored by its proprietary High Quality Learning and Teaching (HQLT) framework and the Five Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria. Academic offerings include over 20 Advanced Placement courses in the high school, NWEA MAP benchmarking for Grades 1–8, PSAT for Grades 9–11, English Language Acquisition support, and Learning Support through Middle School. Extracurricular programming spans competitive athletics (the Symbas), award-winning performing and visual arts, VEX robotics, Model UN and debate, and service initiatives including a 20+ year partnership with a school in Nepal. Technology infrastructure runs on the Veracross student information system (parent, alumni, faculty, student, and admissions portals) and the Finalsite website platform. The school has begun integrating Flint AI for AI Literacy curriculum design.

The school's revenue model is tuition-driven, with annual tuition ranging from ¥2,560,000 (Kindergarten 3–4) to ¥2,880,000 (Grade 12). One-time non-refundable fees include a ¥30,000 application fee, ¥300,000 registration fee, and ¥600,000 Education & Building Development Fee, plus a ¥220,000 annual maintenance fee. Ancillary revenue is generated through the Cezars Kitchen lunch programme, the Extended Day Programme, select fee-based extracurriculars, and Summer Wonder and English Summer Programmes. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer through the school's own admissions portal, weekly campus tours, an annual Open House, and the global Sacred Heart alumni network.

Name

International School of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo

Legal name

International School of the Sacred Heart

Website

https://issh.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) is a private K-12 international school in Tokyo, founded 1908, serving approximately 600 students from around 50 nationalities through co-ed Kindergarten and an all-girls Grade 1–12 college-preparatory programme anchored by the Sacred Heart educational network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDAIAIAC

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Summer/Winter Schools & Short-Term Academic Programs

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• College preparatory curriculum
• All-girls schooling
• English-language instruction
• Advanced placement courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue source from annual tuition payments across Kindergarten through Grade 12, with tiered pricing based on grade level. Additional fees include application fee (¥30,000), registration fee (¥300,000), education and building development fee (¥600,000), and annual building/maintenance fee (¥220,000).
2. Ancillary Services: Optional meal service through Cezars Kitchen (additional fee), Extended Day Programme (flat-rate per semester), and some extracurricular activities requiring fees.
3. School Lunch Service: Optional hot meals, sandwiches, salads, and snacks through Cezars Kitchen contractor, generating additional revenue from food service sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISSH provides a co-educational Kindergarten and all-girls Junior School through Grade 12 college preparatory education in English on a single Tokyo campus. Core offerings include a Sacred Heart Goals-based curriculum, 23 Advanced Placement courses, English Language Acquisition support, and a broad extracurricular program in athletics, arts, robotics, service, and Model UN. Auxiliary services include summer programs, an Extended Day Programme, school lunches, and college counseling that yields acceptances to top global universities.

Product overview

The International School of the Sacred Heart offers a comprehensive K-12 college preparatory education through its core academic programme enhanced by over 20 Advanced Placement courses. The school provides a full range of extracurricular activities including athletics (Symbas teams competing regionally), award-winning arts (orchestras, choirs, visual arts, drama), competitive robotics, Model UN, debate, and student-led service initiatives. Additional programming includes summer camps (Summer Wonder and English Summer Programme), Extended Day Programme for childcare, English Language Acquisition support, Learning Support services, and extensive library resources. The school operates from a single campus in central Tokyo, delivering its mission through English-language instruction combined with Japanese and French language education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 College Preparatory Programme
• Advanced Placement (AP) Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates accepted to prestigious universities including Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, McGill, University of Toronto
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sacred Heart School Corporation (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body for all Sacred Heart schools in Japan. ISSH is one of five schools governed by the Corporation, alongside sister schools in Tokyo, Susono, and Obayashi, and Sacred Heart University.
• NEANZ Province (Society of the Sacred Heart)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NEANZ Province for Australia, New Zealand, and North-East Asia is an international community of RSCJ sisters striving to discover and make known the love of God. North-East Asia represents Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
• Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (Boston, USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister school in the United States participating in high school international homestay and study abroad exchange programs. ISSH students spend two weeks hosted by homestay families.
• 91st Street Convent of the Sacred Heart (New York City, USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister school in NYC participating in high school international homestay and study abroad exchange programs.
• Lycée du Sacré-Cœur (Amiens, France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe very first Sacred Heart school in Amiens, France. Students participate in study abroad exchanges including homestay programs.
• Groupe Scolaire Sophie Barat (Paris, France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis Sacred Heart school where ISSH high school French language students visit, take classes, and present to French students.
• Tokyo Sacred Heart School (Sankocho)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese sister school down the street from ISSH. Students participate in one-day exchange programs including singing, games, food sharing, and cultural activities.
• SOFIS (Sacred Heart Schools in Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of five Sacred Heart schools in Japan including Obayashi, Fuji, ISSH, and Sankocho. Annual workshops for students in Japanese language courses on social concerns and sustainability.
• AMASC (Global Alumni Association of the Sacred Heart)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal Alumni Association of the Sacred Heart providing a wide and diverse network that enhances graduates' lives professionally, personally, and spiritually.
• JASH (Japan Alumnae Association of the Sacred Heart)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapan Alumnae Association of the Sacred Heart providing network connections for Japanese alumni of Sacred Heart schools.
• Cezars KitchenminorOthersSchool lunch contractor providing hot meals prepared fresh in onsite kitchen, as well as drinks, fruit, veggies, and baked goods. Operates nut-free cafeteria.
• Sacred Heart Network (150+ Schools Worldwide)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of more than 150 sister schools across 35+ countries providing students with unique opportunities for cultural, academic, athletic, and artistic exchanges.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British School in Tokyo: The British School in Tokyo delivers a UK-based K-12 international education to a similarly diverse, expatriate student body in central Tokyo. It overlaps with ISSH on curriculum breadth, university preparation, and price point while offering a competing (British) curricular pathway.
• Canadian Academy: Canadian Academy is a K-12 international school in Kobe with a long history, English-medium instruction, IB and AP pathways, and a comparable international student mix. It represents a strong regional alternative for internationally-mobile families evaluating Japanese international schools.
• Aoba-Japan International School: Aoba operates multiple K-12 international campuses across the Tokyo metro area with IB and inquiry-based programs, serving a similar mix of expatriate and Japanese returnee families at comparable tuition levels. It is a primary substitute for families considering ISSH.
• Nishimachi International School: Nishimachi is a long-established K-9 English-medium international school in Minato-ku, Tokyo, with similar heritage, mission-driven ethos, and target demographic of international and Japanese families seeking rigorous English-language education.
• Yokohama International School: Yokohama International School is an IB K-12 English-medium school serving the Greater Tokyo expatriate community. It shares ISSH's IB-style international curriculum philosophy, AP/IB course depth, and reliance on international family enrollment.
• American School in Japan (ASIJ): ASIJ is a leading non-profit, English-medium K-12 international school in Chofu, Tokyo, with comparable tuition scale, US-style curriculum, AP offerings, and a similar target market of expatriate and internationally-minded Japanese families. It is ISSH's most direct competitor for the same admissions pool.
• Tokyo International School: Tokyo International School is a K-8 English-medium school in Minato-ku offering IB-aligned inquiry curriculum to international and Japanese returnee families. It is a relevant substitute at the lower grade levels, especially for families prioritizing progressive pedagogy over traditional college-prep structures.
• St. Mary's International School: St. Mary's is a Catholic, all-boys K-12 international school in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, with English-medium instruction, AP courses, and comparable tuition. It competes head-to-head with ISSH in the central Tokyo international market, often on the same admissions shortlists for internationally-mobile families.

Broad incumbents

• Convent of the Sacred Heart (Greenwich, CT): Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT is a sister Sacred Heart Network K-12 school with the same all-girls mission, Five Goals framework, and global network participation. It is a benchmark peer for program design and exchange partnerships, rather than a direct admissions competitor.

Regional players

• Sacred Heart School (Sankocho, Tokyo): A Japanese-medium Sacred Heart school sharing the same Tokyo campus neighborhood and SOFIS network. While it serves a different linguistic track and is not an admissions competitor, it is highly relevant for cross-school programming, exchanges, and the shared governance structure within the Sacred Heart School Corporation in Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheInternationalSchooloftheSacredHeartTokyo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SacredHeart.Tokyo
• Instagraminstagram.com/intlschool_sacredheart/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-school-of-the-sacred-heart-tokyo

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International School of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo