Laurus: Empowering Young Minds Through Innovation

In a rapidly evolving world, where scientific literacy and innovative thinking are more vital than ever. Laurus International School of Science stands as a pioneer of forward-thinking education. Located in the heart of Tokyo, Laurus is not just Japan’s only international science school. It is a thriving hub where curiosity meets creativity, and where young minds are molded into future changemakers. 

At the helm of this transformative institution is Founding Head of School, Mrs Mami Hioki. Whose vision and leadership are redefining the role of STEM education in Japan and beyond.

“Rather than treating science and technology as discrete subjects,” Mrs. Hioki explains, “we present them as tools for understanding and shaping the world.” This philosophy underpins every aspect of Laurus’ approach. From preschool to secondary, students experience a curriculum where inquiry, interdisciplinary thinking and real-world application take center stage. Drawing from the globally respected Cambridge International curriculum and layering it with a robust STEM foundation. Laurus fosters a culture where learning is active, student-driven and purpose-filled.

A Unique International School Experience in Tokyo for Future Innovators

What sets Laurus apart is the seamless continuity of its educational journey. Students often begin as early learners and remain through secondary school, allowing for sustained intellectual growth and deep project-based learning. With the opening of Laurus International Upper Secondary in September 2025, the school is poised to graduate its first cohort of students. They are equipped with globally recognized qualifications and real-world problem-solving experience. “We’re not just preparing students for university,” Mrs. Hioki affirms. “We are preparing them for a dynamic world that is constantly changing.”

That preparation is already bearing fruit. Laurus students are gaining international recognition for their creativity and ingenuity. Among them is Year 8 student Yuto, who founded a creative digital-physical hybrid art studio. Here users can create their own bear figures and turn them into NFTs. But Yuto’s vision extends beyond art and tech. He is committed to social impact, donating a significant portion of profits to combat hunger in developing nations. “Students, particularly in the older years, are encouraged to pursue meaningful, original work that connects their learning to tangible outcomes,” says Mrs. Hioki. 

Another standout is Cocone, a Lower Secondary student whose concern for the environment led her to develop hairbands from recycled baby carrier materials and repurpose bleached corals in Okinawa as a health supplement. Her story, like Yuto’s, is emblematic of the school’s mission to fuse academic rigor with social responsibility.

The school’s academic excellence is further illustrated by its students’ performance on the global stage. Recently, three Laurus International Primary School students earned gold and silver medals at the Copernicus Mathematics Olympiad at Columbia University in New York City. This is an impressive feat that highlights both the strength of the curriculum and the passion it inspires.

Hands-On STEM Learning at a Tokyo International School

At Laurus, hands-on learning is not an occasional supplement, it’s the heart of the curriculum. Students aren’t simply taught scientific facts. They’re invited to think like scientists and engineers  early on by asking questions and experimenting. Primary and Secondary School students, with access to a modern campus and cutting edge STEM equipment, can design and build solutions in immersive spaces such as the Innovation Lab (a high-tech makerspace), Life Library (an indoor biology lab) and the Singularity Space (a coding and robotics hub). “By emphasizing the scientific method as a way of thinking, rather than a procedural checklist, we enable students to approach complex problems with both confidence and curiosity,” Mrs. Hioki explains.

Projects are designed to engage students in interactive design, critical analysis and cross-disciplinary exploration. These experiences empower learners to apply what they’ve learned in meaningful contexts, whether that’s designing a new app, building a robot or launching a sustainable product.

Laurus’ entrepreneurial spirit is more than a buzzword, it’s a deeply embedded mindset. From learning about financial literacy to pitching startups and launching school-based ventures, students are taught to think boldly and act ethically. “We want our students not just to enter the workforce of the future, but to help define it,” says Mrs. Hioki.

That vision is matched by a strong cultural grounding. Despite its international outlook, Laurus International School maintains a respectful and celebratory relationship with Japanese traditions, weaving cultural events and learnings into school life. This blend of global relevance and local connection is very important to the Laurus school culture. “We are raising globally minded students who are also rooted in empathy, tradition and a sense of place,” Mrs. Hioki says.

Laurus International School: Shaping Future Leaders

With new schools  on the horizon and the Upper Secondary school opening in 2025. Laurus is expanding not out of ambition. But out of trust—from parents, educators and students who believe in its mission. Currently operating one Primary and Secondary Campus and several learning centers (preschool and kindergartens) across Tokyo and Kanagawa. Mid-2025 will see the opening of an additional early learning center in Bunkyo.

The ultimate goal is to cultivate a generation that is scientifically literate, ethically grounded and entrepreneurially minded. This way students are poised to become thoughtful leaders that are ready to solve tomorrow’s problems today. “We see Laurus not simply as a school,” says Mrs. Hioki, “but as a launchpad for purposeful innovation—where students learn to navigate complexity, act with integrity and shape the future with both intellect and imagination.” In a world searching for solutions, Laurus International School of Science is already raising the solution-makers.