Record low of 16,772 children on day care waiting lists in Japan, welfare ministry says
The ministry says the lists are at their shortest since it began tracking them in 1994, but demand is expected to grow when free services kick off in October.
Foreign day care worker reported for physical abuse against children in Kitakyushu
A foreign worker at an unlicensed day care facility in Kitakyushu has been reported for physical abuse against children while on duty, and the allegations were confirmed Tuesday by municipal officials. The incident came to light when video footage showing the man slapping a 2-year-old ...
Instead of simply offering free preschool education and day care services, the government needs to take further steps to make sure that the services are available to all families that need them.
Local governments in Japan get creative in bid to secure child care workers
Local governments are desperately trying to recruit licensed child care workers in a bid to address an acute shortage in day care staff. As part of their strategy, they are emphasizing favorable labor conditions, such as short commuting distances and reasonable working hours, in a ...
Financial woes leading some nurseries created under government plan to close doors
Several nurseries provided by private companies for their employees in line with the government's attempt to resolve the chronic lack of day-care facilities are closing or are thinking of doing so due to financial difficulties, Kyodo News learned Saturday. At least eight such nurseries have ...
Day care centers in Japan need some help with soiled diapers
For a country with a reputation for cleanliness and hygiene, Japan has taken waste disposal in an unsavory direction with parents usually being asked to carry their children's soiled diapers home from day care. To lighten the load on concerned parents, some municipalities are now ...
How Japan can fix its gaping gender gap
The World Economic Forum's 2017 gender gap index ranks Japan 114th out of the 144 countries surveyed — this must change.
Waiting lists persist at Japan's municipal day care facilities
A 32-year-old woman recently received a letter of rejection from Meguro Ward in Tokyo saying her 3-month-old son had failed to land a slot in any of the 10 municipally funded day care facilities she had applied for. "I didn't think it would be this ...
Day care centers are resorting to the sensors to prevent sudden death syndrome at a time when major staff shortages are being caused by low pay.
As Japan's day care shortage bites, government approves bill to permit enrollment beyond hometowns
The government approved Tuesday a bill to promote the enrollment of children at nursery schools beyond their own municipalities to address serious day care shortages that have put tens of thousands on waiting lists. Parents can in principle apply for their children's enrollment only at ...
Teachers and schools in Japan brace for icebergs in 2018
After a year of scandals and promises, the "five-year rule" and demographic woes cast a shadow over education in 2018.
What can we do to make a bright future for Japan?
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plans to increase day care capacity fall far short of Japan's needs. Answers might be found overseas.
