Schools with Longest Names in Japan to Close Next Year Due to Declining Number of Children

By Tadashi Okubo / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Photograher

13:06 JST, April 5, 2026

An elementary and a junior high school in Kochi Prefecture, which have Japan’s longest names, will close next year due to the declining number of children.

The name of the schools in Ainan, Kochi Prefecture, which is read in Japanese as “Kochiken sukumoshi ehimeken minamiuwagun ainancho sasayamashochugakkokumiairitsu sasayama shogakkko/chugakko,” [“高知県宿毛市愛媛県南宇和郡愛南町篠山小中学校組合立篠山小・中学校”], mainly consists of the names of places in which the schools’ district extends. They share the same grounds.

Operation of the schools has been suspended this month, and they will be formally closed next spring. The last graduation ceremony at the schools was held in March.

The schools, with their history of about 70 years, have their districts extending into Ehime and Kochi prefectures. The residents of the area, though separated by the prefectural border, have gotten along with each other for a long time. In 1949, the junior high school was established in the districts, followed by the elementary school in 1952.

The schools boasted about 300 pupils at their peak in around the late 1950s. However, the number continued to decline over time to 9 students in the 2025 school year.

After enrolling in the schools, students used to practice memorizing the name. For those related to the school, including their alumni, their long name have been a source of annoyance, yet something they are proud of.

Students at the schools have been transferred to other schools in Ainan.