A combined elementary and junior high school in Kochi Prefecture, widely known for having Japan’s longest school name, will be permanently closed next spring due to a continued decline in student numbers.
The school, located in Ainan and officially named Kochikensukumoshiehimeken Minamiuwagun Ainancho Sasayama Shogakko Chugakko Kumiai Ritsu Sasayama Chugakko Shogakko, has already suspended operations this month, with its final graduation ceremony held in March.
With a history spanning around 70 years, the institution served communities straddling the border of Kochi and Ehime prefectures. It was originally established as a junior high school in 1949, followed by an elementary school in 1952, reflecting long-standing cooperation between the two regions despite the prefectural divide.
At its peak in the late 1950s, the school had around 300 students. However, enrolment steadily declined over the decades, falling to just nine students in the 2025 academic year.
The school’s unusually long name—derived from the multiple districts it serves—became something of a local talking point. Students were even known to practise memorising it, while alumni often regarded it with a mix of pride and amusement.
Following the closure, remaining students have been transferred to other schools in Ainan as the local community adjusts to the continued impact of rural depopulation in Japan.
