Children’s Book Sales Remain Strong

Changes are emerging within PTAs that support children's school lives as growing numbers of dual-income households make it increasingly difficult for parents to participate in traditional school activities.

As the number of foreign residents living in Japan continues to rise, so too does the number of foreign children attending Japanese schools, prompting educators to strengthen support not only for language learning but also for cultural adaptation.

The remains of Ainu people held at the Natural History Museum in London were returned to Japan, marking the fourth case of repatriation of remains taken overseas.

The rapid spread of artificial intelligence into classrooms is transforming how students learn and how teachers work, with pilot programs across Japan highlighting that the key lies not in relying entirely on AI but in using it effectively.

The number of children in Japan continued its long-term decline, with those aged 15 and under falling by 350,000 from a year earlier to a record low of 13.29 million as of May 4th, just ahead of Children’s Day, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

A children’s book sales event held in a park in Tokyo’s Ueno area on May 4th drew 18,300 visitors including families, highlighting the resilience of the children’s book segment even as overall print publishing continues to decline.

A former professor at Hokkaido Education University who had been detained in China on suspicion of espionage while temporarily visiting the country seven years ago and later sentenced to six years in prison has been released, though concerns remain over his situation.

A preview video for the program "Hokkaido Fact: Who Fights Discrimination—Ainu and the Majority" is set to air from 3:24 p.m. to 4:24 p.m. on May 10th, examining the evolving nature of discrimination surrounding Japan’s indigenous Ainu people and the growing debate over how society should respond.