National Dec 21, 2020
Japan aims to boost nursery school capacity by 140,000 over four years
Under the new program, the government will also aim to reduce the number of children on the nursery waiting lists to zero as soon as possible.
World / Science & Health Oct 15, 2020
How the pandemic is affecting what babies and toddlers learn
by Laura Van Straaten
Without preschool and playgroups, young children around the world are missing out on important educational opportunities.
National / Social Issues Oct 6, 2020
Virtual tours become new normal for pandemic-era nursery hunting
Physical tours of many facilities have been canceled in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
National Sep 27, 2020
The goal will be included in the government's new child care policy to be compiled by March next year, informed sources said.
National Sep 4, 2020
Record-low 12,000 on Japan's nursery waiting lists, but zero goal out of reach
The tally was down 4,333 from the year before, even though there was a record-high of 2.84 million applications for spots, up 58,000.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Aug 15, 2020
Waking up to child abuse by caregivers
by Philip Brasor
Children who are sexually abused may not understand what is happening to them or are cowed into silence by their abusers.
National / Social Issues Jun 26, 2020
Record 1,744 accidents took place at Japanese child care facilities in 2019
The data are likely to spark public concern about the safety and quality of care at facilities subsidized as part of the government's free education program.
National / Politics Jun 21, 2020
Great expectations: Has Koike delivered on parenting, gender and climate?
by Ryusei Takahashi
Some believe support from the marginalized voices that christened Koike's first victory may no longer be present during the upcoming vote.
National | FOCUS Apr 25, 2020
Children of nurses in Japan excluded from day care over virus fears
by Marika Katanuma and Isabel Reynolds
The Education Ministry earlier this month urged schools to battle such prejudice, saying it could weaken the health care system.
National Apr 8, 2020
Tokyo local governments split on shutting nurseries in virus emergency
Municipalities in Tokyo are divided over whether to close the nurseries they operate after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency Tuesday over the virus crisis. Shibuya Ward in the capital has decided to shut nurseries as early as this week, except for ...
National Jan 22, 2020
Toyooka promotes short-hour jobs for prospective workers with child care concerns
The city of Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, is attempting to solve the dilemma facing mothers with child care time constraints who still want to work. By promoting the introduction of jobs with working hours as short as two hours per day, two days per week, ...
Editorials Dec 23, 2019
The government has to get more serious about maintaining a sustainable national budget.