Day cares struggle to stay open as COVID-19 surges across Japan
On Monday, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry announced that a record 327 licensed day care facilities nationwide were closed as of Jan. 20 due to the virus.
Virus resurgence forces closure of record 300-plus day care centers in Japan
The 327 that have temporarily suspended services as of last Thursday, excluding privately operated or locally licensed ones, exceeded the previous high of 185 in September.
Child care issues have driven a workforce gender gap for decades. The pandemic has made it undeniably worse.
Japanese nurseries' attempts to cut operations during pandemic spark confusion
Requests to keep children at home, made by municipalities in coronavirus hotspot areas, come amid the closure of a number of nurseries due to cluster infections among staff and children.
How the pandemic is affecting what babies and toddlers learn
Without preschool and playgroups, young children around the world are missing out on important educational opportunities.
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.
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.
Waking up to child abuse by caregivers
Children who are sexually abused may not understand what is happening to them or are cowed into silence by their abusers.
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.
Great expectations: Has Koike delivered on parenting, gender and climate?
Some believe support from the marginalized voices that christened Koike's first victory may no longer be present during the upcoming vote.
Children of nurses in Japan excluded from day care over virus fears
The Education Ministry earlier this month urged schools to battle such prejudice, saying it could weaken the health care system.
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, ...
