Many government-certified nursery schools are scheduled to open in April, but some are questioning whether some of them actually will open their doors on time.
The concern stems from two factors. The first is the shortage of construction workers amid strong demand as a result of "Abenomics," the revitalization of communities in the tsunami-hit Tohoku region, and preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The other factor is a shortage of staff, something that has been a problem for a long time.