I'm currently up here in Niigata. To answer your question, I teach in three elem schools and two JHS. With today's English education situation here in Japan, teachers like me usually have much more control over elem than JHS. Especially in Japan, where rural areas tend to stick more strickly to the book. Meaning, more emphasis is placed on the crappy English textbooks rather than really trying to gain a true understanding of the English language. This has been my experiences living in two different places in Niigata. I will admit that Niigata's education system is frowned on by other prefectures but that's a different story.
My situations thus far have proved showing a competent level of teaching, JHSs still tend to stick to the book but elem schools tend to listen and be a bit more flexible.
The reason for this flexibility is obvious....elem schools aren't geared towards tests but JHSs are extremely dependent on them.