A day at the Buddy Sports kindergarten in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, starts with a morning run, with the children usually jogging about 3 km before class starts at 10 a.m.
It's tough, especially for younger children who aren't yet used to the strict Buddy Sports style. If they fall behind their peers, they are told to pick up the pace. If they start to cry, teachers will tell them to stop.
This is the morning ritual at the physical education-oriented kindergarten, known for its demanding style that some in the media have dubbed the "new spartan."