"Welcome to the Classroom of the Elite" (abbreviated as "You-Jitsu") is a Japanese light novel series that has garnered attention not only in Japan but also overseas. Set in a school where meritocracy is the only way forward, the third season is scheduled to air in January 2024, creating a buzz. As mentioned above, the story is set in a school where ability is the deciding factor, and it's no exaggeration to say that everything is decided by ability. Some people who aren't familiar with "You-Jitsu" may be planning to read the original novel or watch the anime. This time, as a preliminary introduction to the series, I'd like to explain the setting of the story, Advanced Nurturing High School!
Story Summary
The story is set at a prestigious school called Advanced Nurturing High School. The school boasts a nearly 100% rate of students going on to higher education and finding employment, and is a laissez-faire school where students are paid points worth 100,000 yen per month. Our protagonist, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, is assigned to the school's D class, which is full of problem children. One month after enrolling, it is revealed that the points that are supposed to be deposited into the student's account every month are not being deposited into the D class students' accounts, and that this is due to the students' self-indulgent lifestyles. In fact, the system is set up so that only students with excellent grades receive preferential treatment. This is where school life begins at this ultra-meritocratic school.
What is Advanced Nurturing High School?
Established by the Japanese government with the goal of cultivating the talent that will lead the future, this prestigious school is one of the most prestigious in the country. It boasts a nearly 100% success rate in both higher education and employment. While there are some drawbacks, such as limited contact with the outside world and students living in dormitories, the school campus is a small town, allowing for a comfortable and convenient life.
About the System
Each grade is divided into four classes, A, B, C, and D. Which class students are enrolled in at graduation can significantly affect their career paths. Students use their student IDs to earn private points. They are awarded 100,000 points each month, with each point converting to 1 yen. These points serve as a form of currency that can be used on school grounds, and all items can be purchased with them. They are also used to access campus facilities. Points can also be transferred to students in other classes or grades, and are sometimes used by classes to help students who drop out.
The True Nature of Advanced Nurturing High School
You might think that students at Advanced Nurturing High School are extremely fortunate, with a promising future and the ability to live comfortably on campus. However, that's only on the surface. In reality, this school does not treat all students well; only those with excellent grades receive preferential treatment. It's truly a meritocracy. Each class has a class point system, and the class point system multiplied by 100 equals that class's private point system. As mentioned earlier, students receive 100,000 points each month, but in reality, only the most highly-scholarly students with high class points receive that many points.
About Class Placement
Upon enrollment, students are placed in Class A, starting with the most outstanding. Class D is considered low-level, and some refer to it as "defective." However, the term "defective" at this school isn't necessarily used derogatorily; it conveys the nuance that "a student could achieve excellent results if they properly utilized their abilities, but doesn't know how to utilize them or lacks the awareness to do so." That said, if someone who doesn't know the circumstances were to be treated as "defective," it would likely be a shock and a loss of confidence.
Class Placement Criteria Vary
The protagonist, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, is also in Class D. Other students who would normally be considered for Class A, such as Horikita Suzune, Koenji Rokusuke, and Houzen Kazuomi, are enrolled in Class D. The school's evaluation criteria include not only academic ability and athletic ability, but also cooperation and sociability, and there are quite a few students who have no choice but to be placed in Class D after a comprehensive assessment. For freshmen, past behavior is a major factor in the evaluation, so students who caused problems in elementary or middle school will start in lower classes even if they are excellent. The opposite is also true: even if you have low academic ability or athletic ability, you may be able to be placed in a higher class if you excel in other areas.
About Exams
There are very strict rules regarding exams. Even a single failing grade on a regular test each semester results in immediate expulsion. A failing grade is defined as a grade below half of the average, and the higher the average, the higher the failing grade threshold, placing a great deal of pressure on students. This school also has special exams. While these are generally held between classes, cooperation with students from other classes may be required. Performing well on these exams can earn students private and class points. Depending on the results of these exams, students may be switched classes.
In some cases, expulsion is a possibility...
Once enrolled at Advanced Nurturing High School, students believe they must graduate at all costs. Therefore, if they were to drop out, they would be virtually dead socially. This school allows students to be expelled for poor grades or by voting, which can lead to expulsion for reasons unthinkable in real schools. Incidentally, students can avoid expulsion by spending 20 million private points and 300 class points. However, this option is not practical, as it would cost too many points, and spending class points could potentially affect the entire class. Because there's a reason for expulsion, other students have no desire to help those expelled. It's no exaggeration to say that once expulsion is decided, there's no turning back.
Summary of Advanced Nurturing High School
Advanced Nurturing High School, the setting of the story, appears to be a wonderful school on the surface, but inside, a fierce battle is waged, where only the most skilled can survive. Perhaps this is exactly what they mean when they say there's a dark side to every sweet deal. If you're interested, be sure to check out the original light novel and anime! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
