Mahoutokoro School of Magic

• Type: Wizarding School
• Location: Minami Iwo Jima, Japan
• Owner/Residents: Students and Faculty of Mahoutokoro
• Key Features: Palace of mutton-fat jade, enchanted color-changing robes, exceptional Quidditch reputation

Mahoutokoro is the ancient and esteemed Japanese school of magic, one of the eleven great Wizarding Schools in the world. According to information released on Pottermore, the school is located on the topmost point of the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, which is considered uninhabited by Muggles. The school's edifice is an exquisite and ornate palace constructed entirely from mutton-fat jade. (Pottermore) Mahoutokoro is noted for having the smallest student body of the eleven major schools. It accepts students from the age of seven, although they do not begin boarding at the school until age eleven. Younger day students are flown to and from their homes each day on the backs of a flock of giant storm petrels. (Pottermore) Upon arrival, students are gifted enchanted robes that grow with them. The robes begin as a faint pink color and change to reflect the wearer's increasing magical knowledge and academic achievement. A student who has achieved top grades in every magical subject will see their robes turn to a brilliant gold. However, if a student betrays the Japanese wizarding code by practicing the Dark Arts or breaking the International Statute of Secrecy, their robes will turn white. This is considered a mark of immense disgrace, resulting in the student's immediate expulsion and a trial at the Japanese Ministry of Magic. (Pottermore) The school has a formidable academic reputation. It is also renowned for its prowess in Quidditch. The legendary Japanese Quidditch team, the Toyohashi Tengu, attributes its skill to the rigorous training regimen at Mahoutokoro, where students practice over a turbulent sea in stormy conditions, needing to be wary of not only Bludgers but also Muggle airplanes from a nearby airbase. (Pottermore) Wands made of cherry wood are highly prized by the students of Mahoutokoro, and the owner of such a wand is held in special esteem. (Pottermore)

Mahoutokoro is not mentioned in the original seven Harry Potter novels and therefore plays no direct role in the primary story arc concerning Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. The school was introduced by J.K. Rowling on the Pottermore website to expand the lore of the wizarding world beyond Europe. Its existence provides context on the global nature of the magical community and offers a cultural contrast to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, showcasing different traditions in magical education, such as the unique enchanted robes, early-age attendance, and transportation methods.

Specific areas within the Mahoutokoro palace, such as classrooms, common rooms, or a headmaster's office, have not been described in any official source material.

• All known information about Mahoutokoro originates from writings by J.K. Rowling published on the Pottermore website in January 2016 as part of a collection on the eleven great Wizarding Schools. (Pottermore)
• The name Mahoutokoro (魔法所) is a Japanese term that translates directly to “place of magic” or “magic place”.
• The architectural material, mutton-fat jade, is a type of nephrite jade highly prized in East Asian cultures, lending an authentic cultural detail to the school's description.
• The use of cherry wood for wands is also culturally specific, as cherry blossoms (sakura) hold significant cultural importance in Japan.