noun
vocational school; technical school
Refers to a type of secondary school in Japan that provides vocational or technical education, historically under the pre-war education system. In modern contexts, it may be used to describe similar institutions or in historical discussions.
彼は実業学校で機械工学を学んだ。
He studied mechanical engineering at a vocational school.
専門学校 refers to post-secondary vocational schools in the modern education system, while 実業学校 is a historical term for secondary-level vocational schools.
Compound of 実業 (jitsugyō, 'practical business, industry') and 学校 (gakkō, 'school'). The term was officially used in Japan's pre-war education system.