“Free schools” are on the rise in Japan, as the number of k-12 students with extended absence from classrooms (futoko) continues to grow, reaching the record high of 200,000 in 2022. Often triggered by bullying, the ratio of truancy is highest in...
By this time of the year, parents in the United States have planned out what their children could do for three months of summer break, with their jaws clenched over how much it will cost. Summer camps in the US are almost cultural phenomena: the...
Japan is endowed with greenery as 67% of its land is covered with forests. Yet it ranks 50th in the Climate Change Performance Index, below countries such as Egypt, Colombia, South Africa and Belarus. The low-level rating stems from insufficient...
In 2018, I spent a year in Tokyo with my then 3-year-old son. At first, it was a breeze, coming from New York City. Train stations have an elevator, and bathrooms are clean and everywhere. Over time, though, I began to sense unspoken social...
The outline of the “unprecedented” policies to reverse Japan’s declining birthdate were announced on March 31, but many are shaking or scratching their head. Some of the suggested measures are: Increase of lump-sum payment to offset the cost of...
It’s been 12 years since the magnitude-9 earthquake and 40-meter (130-feet) high tsunami hit northern Japan in March 2011. Prolonged evacuation is finally ending in Fukushima around the flooded nuclear facilities. Unfortunately, these deadly...
Have you seen photos of kyara-ben (short for “Character Bento”)? They are lunchboxes packed with homemade food decorated to look like animals and anime characters. When I moved to Japan with my 3-year-old and saw these pieces of art, I was impressed...