Nagoya's only Brazilian school, Colegio Brasil Japao, is closing down after running into financial difficulties due to a falling number of students.

Many of the students' parents, who emigrated from Brazil in search of work, have lost their jobs in the tough economic climate and are now unable to afford the tuition. But parents are still hoping the school can somehow keep running and educating their children.

"I managed to keep operating the school until now by borrowing money, but a subsidy from the education ministry ended last year so I can't keep it going any more," the school's 55-year-old principal, Carlos Shinoda, said during a meeting Sunday with parents.