Applying for Ontario Teachers College soon — Is Junior/Intermediate license enough to teach English at Tokyo high schools, or should I go for Intermediate/Senior?

Hi everyone,

I’m thinking about applying for an Ontario (Canada) B.Ed program (deadline December 2025 for a September 2026 start). My end goal is to teach English (or possibly Biology) at a good academic high school in Tokyo.

A bit about me:
• Bachelor of Science (Biology)
• Previously worked as an ALT at a Tokyo high school
• TEFL certified
• Native English speaker, but no formal English courses in university

My teachable will be Biology, but I want to teach English in Japan—starting at an international or private school, then eventually applying for the special license, “Tokubetsu Menkyojo” (特別免許状). Would it still be possible to teach English with only Biology as my teachable, or would I need English as a second teachable?

I’m also debating whether to pursue the Junior/Intermediate (J/I) license (Grades 4–10), which might be faster and easier, or go for the Intermediate/Senior (I/S) license (Grades 7–12) so I’m qualified to teach high school-level courses. If I go the I/S route, I’ll need to take additional undergraduate English courses before applying to teachers college.

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My questions:
1. Can I teach English in Tokyo high schools with Biology as my only teachable, or do I need English as a second teachable?
2. Is the Junior/Intermediate license (Grades 4–10) sufficient to teach English at Tokyo high schools, or would I need the Intermediate/Senior license (Grades 7–12)?
3. Would choosing Junior/Intermediate limit my teaching options in Japan significantly?

Thanks so much for any advice or shared experiences!