Two days of Japanese university entrance examinations got underway on Saturday across the nation. According to Japan’s national center for university entrance examinations, 575,966 students—12,198 more than last year—are sitting for the exams. /CFP Photo

The test began at 9 a.m. and features exams in geography, history, civics, Japanese and foreign languages on Saturday, while mathematics and science exams await students on Sunday. /CFP Photo

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology plans to introduce a new test system in 2020, which would be taken two or three times each year, with the student’s highest grade being accepted for final consideration for a university place. /CFP Photo