Japan to Cover Fees for Nonlicensed Nurseries

May 9, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government plans to provide subsidies to certified households to cover costs for having their children attend nonlicensed nursery facilities, informed sources said.

Under the plan, households certified by municipal governments as in need of childcare will be eligible for subsidies of up to 35,000 yen per month, the amount equivalent to a monthly average fee for licensed nurseries, the sources said.

The move is part of the central government's plans to make preschool education free of charge starting in the fiscal year that begins in April 2020.

As part of the plans, the government has already decided to exempt households with children aged between 3 and 5 from fees charged for having them attend kindergartens and nurseries meeting state standards.

Households with children aged up to 2 will be free from nursery fees if their income is low enough to qualify for resident tax exemption. Jiji Press