Michiko Sonobe (not her real name) was nervous before an interview with authorities at a prestigious kindergarten in Yokohama as part of her 21/2-year-old son's entrance examination last November.
Many questions sprang to her mind. How should her son behave during the interview? What kind of answers should she prepare? What should she wear on the day of the interview? Which would give a better impression -- a conservative Hanae Mori dress or a Burberry suit?
Every year at entrance examination time Yokohama and other major cities are abuzz with rumors that kindergarten application forms will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis, prompting parents to line up in front of popular kindergartens to ensure their child doesn't miss out.