SENDAI, May 23 (News On Japan) - Refund troubles are mounting across Japan over a now-defunct English camp program promoted through elementary schools, with a former staff member revealing that unpaid debts linked to the operation could total billions of yen. Run by a general incorporated association based in Sendai called the Miyagi Reconstruction Support Center, the international exchange program—where local children interacted with foreign students—was abruptly canceled without refunding participation fees.
One parent, who paid 30,000 yen after seeing a flyer distributed through a school, said her son contracted influenza just two days before the scheduled departure. "I understood I wouldn't get the full amount back due to the last-minute cancellation, but we had also purchased ski gear. I hoped at least the tour fee would be refunded," she said. According to the cancellation policy listed on the application, a 30% penalty should apply for cancellations two days in advance, meaning around 20,000 yen should have been returned. However, no refund has been received.
Many parents say they trusted the program because the flyers were distributed at schools. "That gave us a false sense of security," one parent said, adding, "I just hope no more children end up going to camps run by this organization."
While many education boards were listed as sponsors of the events, a former employee revealed that about half of the camps had not actually been approved by local governments. "Some parents started contacting city offices because of refund issues," the former employee said. "That's when cities started refusing to grant approvals. It affected about half of the events."
The scope of the problem extends beyond parents. Hotels that hosted the camps and bus companies that provided transportation have also reportedly gone unpaid. "There are likely hundreds of millions of yen in unpaid fees to facilities, and between 150 million to 200 million yen still owed to bus companies," said the former employee. "As for the refunds to parents, we’re talking tens of millions of yen. Altogether, the total could easily approach the one-billion-yen mark."
When FNN visited the association’s Sendai office on May 22nd, there were no signs of activity, though a file labeled "2025 Refund Documents Sent" was seen on a shelf. A visit to the home of the organization’s current registered representative also yielded no response.
The former staff member described the group’s leader as being financially desperate. "It seems like he’s just trying to collect money to get by. He keeps opening up recruitment simply to make ends meet."
FNN later spoke with the group’s former representative director, a woman who said she had resigned three or four years ago and had no knowledge of the current situation. "My heart aches when I think of the children," she said.
According to the Miyagi Prefectural Government, consultations over refund issues surged beginning in March 2025. On May 1st, the prefecture conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed that at least 216 refunds were overdue. On May 21st, Governor Murai expressed strong regret over the situation, saying, "As the registering authority, we find the continued refund issues deeply concerning. This may be the result of overly aggressive sales practices."
The prefecture has issued administrative guidance instructing the organization to issue refunds by May 23rd. If payments are not made, it is considering an operational suspension.
As government authorities begin to intervene, parents remain dismayed not only by the financial losses but by the breach of trust. One parent commented, "We’re not just talking about money—this is an organization we entrusted our children to. It’s shocking and painful. My child not only missed the camp but also lost the money. It’s a double blow." There is growing urgency for the organization to respond sincerely and fulfill its refund obligations.
Source: FNN
