Unfortunately, sexual abuse against children exists. Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is working to detect sexual abuse against students by school staff as early on as possible.

What Is Sexual Abuse?

There are various examples of sexual abuse:

○Unnecessary physical contact

○Receiving lewd messages or images via social media

○Being secretly observed while changing clothes

○Being told sexual jokes or sexually teased

○Being stared at in a sexual way

○Being invited to dinner (or home) alone

Any sexual interaction with a child, regardless of their consent and whether or not they are assaulted or threatened, is defined as sexual abuse, including cases that are exempt from criminal penalty. You can consult with a designated organization regarding sexual abuse, if your child feels uncomfortable with the behavior of adults around them.

What Measures Are Schools Taking?

Many schools have established rules to prevent sexual abuse against children and prevent behavior that could be mistaken as sexual abuse, including requiring teachers/staff to tell the school when giving individual consultation to students, prohibiting personal communication with students that use social media, etc., and prohibiting physical contact with students other than assistance necessary for teaching.

What Approach Should Be Taken When Talking to Children About Sexual Abuse?

There are some cases when children may not recognize sexual abuse, like same-sex sexual violence. It is recommended that you create an opportunity to talk about school life with your children and listen carefully, especially if there is something that they feel is wrong or unpleasant, and then consult with school staff or a specified organization.

“Third-party consultation desk to protect children against sexual abuse by school staff”

offers consultation services by phone or email.

Is Special Consideration Necessary for Children With Foreign Roots?

Greeting gestures and someone’s sense of distance from others may vary depending on their cultural background. Consider cultural differences between Japan and a child’s roots when talking to children.

Other Consultation Organizations

Besides public consultation desks in Tokyo, there are some other places that offer consultation services regarding sexual abuse. It is recommended that you respond to the problem in accordance with the suggestions of the specialized organization (as in the police, one-stop support center for sexual crime victims and sexual abuse victims, child consultation center, etc.), with consideration to the child’s situation.

*There are more consultation organizations available other than those listed above, such as private organizations like NPOs.

Check Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office’s website

In Japan, there is a holiday called Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro-No-Hi in Japanese). This is a day to express gratitude to elders, and celebrate their good health and longevity, and sometimes give gifts.

Respect for the Aged Day Is a National Holiday

Respect for the Aged Day is a national holiday that was established in 1966, and is now celebrated on the third Monday of September every year. It is a day to show respect to elders who have contributed to society for a long time, and celebrate their good health and longevity. It applies to elderly people around you including grandparents, parents, and former teachers.

What Age is Considered Elderly?

There is no age limit for elders who are celebrated on Respect for the Aged Day. As a rough guide, it seems that people over the age of 60 are considered to be elderly. It is best to start celebrating it at a time when you want to express gratitude, instead of being overly sensitive about age. These days, it is often celebrated when someone becomes a grandparent.

How Do You Celebrate Respect for the Aged Day?

Some families get together for dinner, or send gifts or letters to celebrate this holiday. However, what is important is respecting the elders and celebrating their longevity. Take it as an opportunity to express your gratitude to elders around you instead of worrying too much about giving gifts.

There are many natural disasters in Japan, including typhoons, heavy rain, heavy snow, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. While you cannot predict natural disasters, you can take steps to prepare by assembling a disaster supply kit and getting into a habit of checking evacuation routes so as to minimize the impact of the unpredictable events.

What to Prepare for a Disaster Supply Kit

A disaster supply kit is a collection of various kinds of goods, and what you need to prepare will differ depending on when and where you will use it. It is a good idea to prepare three different kinds of disaster supply kits: a “portable” kit for use in the event of a disaster when you are away from home, an “evacuation” kit to take with you when you go to an evacuation center from home, and a “stay-at-home” kit for use when taking shelter at home during a disaster.

”Portable” Disaster Supply Kit to Take When You Are Away from Home

While you cannot predict when and where disasters happen, it may be comforting to have a disaster supply kit in your bag when going out. It may be a good idea to have it prepared in a small pouch. Here are the items you should prepare:

○Food:
・Water (about 500ml. Water is more recommended than tea as it can also be used to clean wounds, etc.)
・Candies, energy bars, etc. (quick and easy to eat)
○Cash (you may not be able to use transportation IC cards, apps, and credit cards)
○A small light (due to the possibility of moving during a power outage)
○A whistle (to let others know where you are)
○Mobile battery(s) for smartphone
○Valuables:
・Insurance card　・Driver’s license
○Hygiene products:
・Mask　・Sanitization sheet/spray　・Lightweight emergency blanket (available at 100 yen stores)
○Individual needs (as needed):
・Regular medicine　・Glasses　・Contact lenses　・Hearing aids

“Evacuation” Disaster Supply Kit to Take When You Go to an Evacuation Center

You may evacuate to a school gymnasium or community center in your neighborhood depending on the situation when a disaster happens. The evacuation disaster supply kit that you take to go to the evacuation center is sometimes called “emergency carry-out bag”, and it can carry items that allow you to spend 2-3 days at an emergency center. It may be a good idea to have one bag per person. You may want to prepare baby food and diapers as needed, if you have infants or elders in your household.　If you are looking to prepare general emergency supplies, some bags are sold as a set of the supplies inside.

[Emergency carry-out bag for one person]

○Food
・Water (500ml x 4 bottles)
・Emergency food (food that can be eaten as is or cooked with water) x 3 days
Note: You may want to prepare food that provides protein, vitamins and dietary fiber including canned vegetables and fish, as carbohydrates such as bread and rice are often distributed at evacuation centers.
○Hygiene products:
・Toilet paper　・Sanitization gel　・Wet wipes　・Face towel　・Mask　・Toothpaste sheet (sheet for wiping the inside of the mouth. No water required)　・Sanitary items (as needed)
○Medical supplies:
・First aid kit　・Regular medicine　・Pain reliever　・Stomach medicine
○Electronics:
・LED light/lantern　・Mobile battery for smartphone　・Emergency radio
○Items to protect yourself:
・Helmet　・Work gloves　・Raincoat　・Hand warmers　・Lightweight emergency blanket(s)　・Utility knife　・Writing materials　・Copy of insurance card

“Stay-At-Home” Disaster Supply Kit for Use While Taking Shelter at Home During a Disaster

It may take up to a week for electricity and water to be restored after a disaster. Having supplies for your family ready will allow you to stay home without panicking. As for stockpile food, it is recommended to store it in a rolling stock method, “consume in order from the earliest expiration date and replace what you have consumed”.

[Household stockpile (1 adult x 7 days)]

・Water (2L x 11 bottles, *3L/day for drinking and cooking)
・Portable gas burner and gas canister (about 9 gas canisters)
・LED light/lantern (1 per person and 1 per room)
・Battery operated portable battery
・Dry-cell battery (as many as you need for your equipment)
・Dry noodles (thin wheat noodles and pasta, 600g x 2 bags)
・Packed cooked rice (9 packs)
・Canned food (proteins such as meat and fish, 9 cans)
・Instant soup
・Vegetable juice
・Canned fruit, chocolate, other snacks that last
・Portable toilet (7 uses/day x 7 days x number of family members)
・Emergency radio
・Gas canister operated heater and hand warmer
・Toilet paper
・Sanitary items

* You may want to prepare baby food and diapers as needed, if you have infants or elders in your household.

In Japan, there is a saying, “If you are prepared, there is nothing to worry about.” Disasters can happen to anyone at any time. Anticipate these disasters and prepare for them as much as possible.

Some Japanese public elementary schools give supplementary classes during summer vacation. The purpose of the supplementary classes is to help students retain what they have learned at school. Whether the supplementary classes happen or not depends on the local government.

What Are the Supplementary Classes Like?

Supplementary classes are held at elementary schools during summer vacation. The classes are to help students who are struggling to remember what they have learned or getting behind in school. Not all students attend these classes. The students who should participate in the supplementary classes will be notified by their teachers in advance. The supplementary classes may last for up to ten days.

What Will Happen in the Supplementary Classers?

The supplementary classes are different from regular school classes. Teachers will help students individually with what each student is struggling with, as the goal is to ensure that each student retains what they have learned. Students are encouraged to participate in the supplementary classes if they are struggling to keep up with regular school classes.

Do the Supplementary Classes Happen in Schools All Over the Country?

Summer supplementary classes do not always happen in public elementary schools. Each principal will decide whether they offer the supplementary classes or not. In some areas, the board of education will know the situation. You may want to contact the board of education in your community or the elementary school that your child is enrolled in for information on supplementary classes.

This allowance is paid to households with children with severe disabilities, and is distributed four times a year. The arrangements for this allowance can be made at the local government office in the area you live in.

What Is Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities?

The purpose of this welfare allowance is to help reduce mental and physical burdens of households with children with severe disabilities, as well as to improve the welfare of children with severe disabilities.

Who Is Eligible for the Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities?

This welfare allowance applies to those with severe mental or physical disabilities that need daily care, and who are under the age of 20 and living at home. The eligibility is determined by a prescribed medical certificate. Even if you do not have a disability certificate, you may still be considered eligible for the welfare allowance if a severe disability is recognized. It can be provided with the Special Childcare Allowance available through Parent and Child Support Division.

When Is the Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities Paid?

It is paid four times a year, in February, May, August, and November, and the payment will cover the allowance money for the past three months. The monthly allowance amount is 15,220 yen.

Are There Restrictions to Receiving the Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities?

There are restrictions to receiving this welfare allowance. Those who fall under any of the following are not eligible:
-are in a support facility for those with disabilities or an institution for children with disabilities (except if it is day care only)
-are receiving public pension with disability being the reason for payment

*Note: Short-term admission (short stay) and group homes are eligible for payment

Is There an Income Limit to Receiving the Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities?

There is an income limit to receiving this welfare allowance. The allowance will not be paid if income from the previous year for the qualified recipient, their spouse, or their dependent who maintains livelihood of the recipient (parents etc. who live together as specified in the Civil Code), exceeds a certain amount.

Qualified recipient, spouse and the person responsible for support each have a separate income limit.

What Are the Procedures to Receiving the Welfare Allowance for Children With Disabilities?

To apply for this welfare allowance, go to the disability welfare division desk at your local government office.
The following are required to apply:
-Certification invoice and prescribed medical certificate (available at disability benefit section and each support section)
-Handicapped person’s notebook or special education record book (if you have one)
-Something that shows the bank account information in the name of the allowance recipient

What Needs to Be Done to Continue to Receive the Allowance?

A status report as of August 1st of each year needs to be submitted in order to confirm if the recipient is eligible to continue to receive the allowance after August, such as the income of the person concerned, and whether or not the recipient is hospitalized or placed in a facility. Make sure to submit this report so you can continue to receive the allowance after August.

In Japan, festivals are held in many places during the summer. Carriages for gods called mikoshi (portable shrine) or dashi (festival float) move throughout the town to the unique music of ohayashi. Festival stalls called yatai sell food, such as yakisoba and shaved ice, and provide fun activities for children like raffles and goldfish scooping. Japanese summer festivals are fun events that bring people together.

What Is Natsu-Matsuri Like?

Natsu-matsuri are held in summer between July and September. They have a long history that is said to go back to the age of Japanese mythology. They began at shrines and temples as an event dedicated to the gods and have changed over time. In the Heian period, mikoshi, carriages for gods, began to be used. Then in the Edo period, dashi and fireworks were introduced.
Japanese festivals have different meanings for each season. Natsu-matsuri were meant to be held to protect crops from pests and typhoons as agriculture began to be practiced in ancient times in Japan. In modern days, it is also an opportunity for people to interact with others in their community.

Where Is Natsu-Matsuri Held?

There are various festivals all over the country. There are big festivals that many people travel to from all over the country, including Nebuta in Aomori Prefecture, Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and Awa Odori in Tokushima. There are also ones that are held at local shrines or held by neighborhood associations and local shopping organizations. The scale of natsu-matsuri varies from region to region.

Natsu-matsuri may be advertised on local bulletin boards. You can also search for ones that are somewhat large-scale online. Although there were many festivals that were not held due to the influence of Covid-19, many regions have resumed festivals recently. Enjoy summer in Japan!

Radio-taiso is an exercise where you stretch and move your body to music at a fixed time every day. Many Japanese neighborhood children get together to do radio-taiso during summer break.

What Is Radio-Taiso Like?

Radio-taiso is an exercise where people stretch and move their body to music and a voice over the radio. It has a long history and started in 1928 for the purpose of improving Japanese citizens’ physical strength and health. The broadcast of radio-taiso starts at 6:30 every morning. It is also broadcast during periods other than summer break.

Summer Radio-Taiso

Children in Japan get together in the park or school in their neighborhood to do radio-taiso during summer break. It is often hosted by a neighborhood association or PTA. The period when communities host radio-taiso vary depending on where you live. It may happen every day during summer or only for a certain period of time. Families can also participate.

What Is the Purpose of Radio-Taiso?

As radio-taiso starts at a fixed time every day, it gives children a regular routine during their summer break. It may also be an opportunity for those without smart phones to make plans with their friends, in addition to its original purpose of improving physical strength. Some neighborhoods provide treats or stationery to children on the last day as a reward for working hard over the summer.

Although the weather can be very hot over the summer, it may be refreshing to start your day by sweating a little doing radio-taiso. Try to participate in radio-taiso if there is a program in the area you live in and your child’s physical condition permits.

Children’s cafeteria, (“kodomo-shokudou” in Japanese), are places that children can visit on their own to eat. Their meals are provided for free or at a low price.

What Are Kodomo-Shokudou Like?

Kodomo-shokudou are led by local volunteers and/or local governments and provide free or inexpensive meals to children in the community. Children can use this service on their own. The purpose of kodomo-shokudou is to help all children to get enough nutrition through their meals, as well as to provide a place where they can be supported by their community instead of staying home alone. In some communities, kodomo-shokudou also provide services that support families with foreign roots, including Japanese language classes.

Who Can Use Kodomo-Shokudou?

Kodomo-shokudou are available to children living in the community and their guardians. Some kodomo-shokudou may have different fees for children and adults. There are also some communities that offer the services for adults living in the community even if they have no children.

Where Are Kodomo-Shokudou Located?

Kodomo-shokudou are located in many different locations. Check your local government’s website to find the information. There is also a website where you can search for a kodomo-shokudou in your area:

Gaccom x Musubie Kodomo-Shokudou MAP

Kodomo-shokudou are also places where children can get to know people in their community. It may be a good idea to try using the service with your children if there is one in the community where you live.

"Kotokoto", the information support service for families with foreign roots, now has accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow us:

Japanese summer break is from the later half of July to the end of August. There are different kinds of homework given out for summer break. The main purpose of assigning summer homework is to encourage children to continue learning and keep up the habit of studying during the long break. It is also to help children review what they learned before summer break. It is recommended that parents look through the homework that was given with their children so that they can work on homework in a structured way.

What Kind of Summer Homework Will Be Given?

There are various types of homework given out for summer break:

-Review of basic learning

Children will review what they learned before summer including math and kanji, using workbooks and handouts. Some schools may advise children to study little by little every day. It is recommended to get a grasp of the total amount of homework, and make a plan at the beginning of summer break.

-Journal

Children will record daily events in an illustrated journal or a single line journal. It is very important that they put some effort in every day to do so, so that it does not build up. It may be a good idea for them to set the time that they want to work on their journal.

-Book review

Children will write an essay on a book they read, using the school-designated papers or manuscript papers. Books can be borrowed from the local library.

-Independent research

Independent research is often given as part of summer homework to children in 3rd grade or above. It is an assignment where children will choose a topic that interests them and summarize what they researched in a paper or notebook. Parents may help children choose what to research and how to do it.

-Daily routine

Helping at home like cleaning and daily shopping may sometimes be a part of homework. Parents may help children choose what is easy for them to continue doing.

What Parents Can Do to Help With Their Children’s Summer Homework

Parents can check workbook answers. They can also help their children get a grasp of the total amount of homework they got, and help them make plans so that they can finish all the homework during the summer break. Then when they have a plan, parents can talk to their children every day to make sure they make progress on their homework. Parents can talk to their child’s teacher, if, for some reason, they could not finish their homework within summer break.

There may be some days that you go out for fun or travel with your children during the summer. You may want to help your children check their schedule and support them so that they can complete their homework without difficulty.