October 19 small boat permit exam

[osakajuku]

We are about 6 weeks away from the October 19 exam date for the small boat operator’s permit. Time to start lining up your approach.
There are three known schools to assist you:
TSPS in the Tokyo area offers a weekly seminar starting a month before the exam and they assist you with the application process. They also have a boat to assist you with the practical. Good solution if you are in the Tokyo area.
http://www.tspsjapan.org/
Rivre Boat License School at Lake Biwa offers free PDF instructional materials for self study. Their paid portion includes a day seminar and a boat experience. Included in their fee is an application process where they will collect the necessary information and submit your application to the Osaka office for your exam. This offer is not extended to other sites like Tokyo.
http://www.rivre.ne.jp/license/english.html
Small Boat License Juku is a do it yourself operation that offers free samples of forms needed to apply for the exam (including sample forms) and information to assist you in the application process. Although the samples are written for the Osaka exam, they provide a format for any exam site. The Juku also offers mini essays for each section of the exam and catalogs of related questions drawn from past exams. The Juku does not have a boat for practice but offers an essay on the practical that has never failed a student.
http://www.japansmallboatlicense.com
Please confirm all information with the appropriate schools, some information may have changed...
Good luck to all!

[jukuosaka]

2012 tests April 18, 2012
Applications available March 28 to April 11
Information at:
http://www.japansmallboatlicense.com/SBLJ/SBL_J.html