外国にルーツを持つ子どもの教育支援 「ことこと」

The Japanese School System

In preparation

Summer Supplementary Classes at Public Elementary Schools

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.

Japanese Summer Festivals: Natsu-Matsuri

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!

Summer Radio-Taiso: Radio Exercise

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.

“Kodomo-Shokudou” – Children’s Cafeteria

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.

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Children’s Summer Homework

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.

How to Use the Library: A Place of Endless Books

Libraries are places where a lot of resources are kept, including books, newspapers, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s. Most areas in Japan have a library that anyone can use for free. You can do research with the resources you find. There are many events held at the library, such as story time for children, and study sessions for adults.

How Do You Use The Library?

Public libraries can be used by anyone, and most resources can be checked out. However, the ability to check out books is limited to those who live, go to school, or work in that area. To be able to check out books, you need a library card, which you can get at the front desk. Some form of identification that shows your address will be required to apply for a library card.

When Is the Library Open?

In most cases, public libraries are open 10:00 – 18:00, Tuesday through Sunday. You might be able to return the book you checked out by dropping it off at the dedicated return window, even if the library is closed. Check with the library to see if such a system exists. Libraries are closed on Mondays and New Year’s holidays.

How Can You Find the Book You Want to Read?

If there is a book you would like to read, you can search for it on the library’s website or by using the dedicated device in the library. You can also put a book on hold online. In addition, some libraries give book recommendations according to the season and theme.

Libraries also have children’s books and picture-story materials available. It may be fun to visit a library with your child.

Refund of Children’s Medical Expenses Subsidy

In Japan, some children’s medical expenses are refundable. If your child does not have the “medical certificate issued under children’s medical expenses subsidy system, maru-nyu, maru-ko, or maru-a-o”, apply for it before claiming a refund.

Reimbursement can be claimed when your child goes to see a doctor outside the area where you live, or when you pay the co-payment for health insurance treatment without presenting your child’s medical certificate. Whether standard meal cost for hospitalization is eligible for a refund or not varies by local government.

Examples of Medical Expenses That Can Be Refunded (Claimed for Refund)

1. If you visit a medical institution outside Tokyo, and pay the co-payment for health insurance treatment
2. If you visit a medical institution that does not handle medical certificates, and pay the co-payment for health insurance treatment
3. If you visit a doctor without a medical certificate, and pay the co-payment for health insurance treatment
4. If your child’s registration for National Health Insurance/National Health Insurance Association is outside Tokyo, and you pay the co-payment for health insurance treatment
5. If you visit a doctor without your child’s health insurance card, and there is coverage from the health insurance
6. If you purchase an assistive device (glasses for pediatric amblyopia, corset, insoles/sole braces, etc.), and there is coverage from the health insurance
7. If you receive treatment abroad, and there is coverage from the health insurance
Eligible medical expenses are the co-payment amount for health insurance treatment. Medical treatment not covered by health insurance (free medical treatment) is not subsidized.

Examples of Non-eligible Medical Expenses

Some medical expenses are not covered by the subsidy.
-Expenses for dietary treatment for inpatients (for maru-nyu)
-Expenses not covered by health insurance
(vaccination, health check, extra bed charge, medicine container fee, first visit fee for large hospitals without a referral letter from another medical institution, etc.)
-Expenses for treatment covered by Japan Sport Council Injury and Accident Mutual Aid Benefit System
-High-cost medical expenses and additional benefits, paid by health insurance
-Medical expenses in case of injury due to the actions of a third party, such as a traffic accident
-Medical expenses applicable to the other publicly-funded subsidies

What You Need for Your Application

When applying for medical expense subsidies, you will need the following materials:
-Child medical subsidy payment application form
-Receipt (original)
* with patient’s name, insurance score, date of medical treatment, medical institution name, receipt amount (if these items are not listed, have it filled out at the medical institution where you had a medical examination). You can also apply with a copy of the receipt, only if the original was submitted for health insurance procedures.
-Copy of identity verification documents with a photo of the guardian listed on the medical certificate (driver’s license, my number card, etc.)
-Copy of child health insurance card
* when applying for the first time or when there are changes from previous applications.
-Copy of passbook or cash card of your banking facility
* when applying for the first time or when there are changes from previous applications.
** parent’s name listed on the medical certificate. Payment will not be made to an account other than the parent’s account listed on the medical certificate.
-Payment decision notice from health insurance (only those who are applicable to item 5, 6 or 7 above. Original required if applicable)
-Copy of credit limit certificate (if applicable)
-Copy of recipient certificate for pediatric chronic specified disease medical expenses subsidy/monthly management slip (if applicable)

There may be other items required if you fall under 5, 6 or 7 of “Example of Medical Expenses That Can Be Refunded (Claimed for Refund)”. Check with your local government office.

High-cost medical expenses payment decision notice is only required for those who are members of the National Health Insurance or National Health Insurance Association, and have a receipt corresponding to high-cost medical expenses. High-cost medical expenses complies with regulations when medical expenses for National Health Insurance benefits become high (High-cost medical care benefit payment decision notification is not required, if you are a member of a social insurance/mutual aid association)

A qualified recipient can make a refund claim for multiple receipts, which may include receipts from different medical facilities or receipts for different months.

Note that claims for more than one child need to be made separately. Claim deadline is 5 years from the day after the day of medical payment.

Claim Application Location and Refund Money Transfer

Applications should be made at the local government office in the area where you live. If there are no defects in the application, the refund will be made to the designated account. Although the procedure may seem time consuming, be sure to apply if you are eligible.

Let’s Visit Art Galleries, Museums and Libraries!

There are many art galleries, museums and libraries run by Japanese local governments. These places can help enrich children’s spirits, and we recommend that you take advantage of them.

What are the Art Galleries and Museums Like?

The art galleries are places where various types of artwork, such as paintings and sculptures, are exhibited. At the museums, you will see many types of items related to history, culture, nature and industries of the region that have been collected for exhibition. There are different types of art galleries and museums, including galleries that display artwork created by an artist with some connection to the region, and museums with exhibits related to the nature and industries specific to the region. Some places offer workshops and study sessions in addition to exhibits. Check their website for information. An entrance fee is usually required to visit any art galleries and museums.

What are the Libraries Like?

At the libraries, you can find various types of informational materials, such as books, magazines, DVD’s, and CD’s. Children’s books and picture books are also available. You can also check out these materials by following necessary procedure. Some libraries offer story time for children. The public libraries are usually free of charge.

Use the Facilities in Your Region

Places like art galleries, museums and libraries stimulate children’s intellectual curiosity. Visiting these places is also an opportunity for children to get to know the area they live in. Consider visiting the facilities in your area with your children.