Parents of students attending Musashino Higashi Gakuen raised concerned about the appointment of Kenzo Matsumura as early as February 2024. In their change.org petition, parents express their concerns that the school as a “safe haven for our children is in a deep state of crisis, and with an ever growing concern about the future of our school”.
Parents of students attending Musashino Higashi Gakuen raised concerned about the appointment of Kenzo Matsumura as early as February 2024. In their change.org petition, parents express their concerns that the school as a “safe haven for our children is in a deep state of crisis, and with an ever growing concern about the future of our school”.
Musashino Higashi Gakuen is an educational corporation that has two kindergartens, an elementary school, a junior high school, and a higher vocational school under its umbrella and is known for its inclusive education model, in which children with and without autism study together. A teacher at Musashino Higashi Gakuen says this with a grim resolve: “For the sake of the students and parents who remain, even though the school has had so many problems since the president was replaced, all the remaining teachers have no choice but to do what they can.”
Some parents have noted that “few places offer inclusive education for children with autism,” amid growing unease about the institution’s future: “Will the safety of children and the quality of education be maintained as before with so many teachers quitting? Many of my friends have already transferred to other schools. I’m just anxious about the new school year.”
A school operator in the Tokyo suburbs required parents of newly enrolled students to submit a written pledge promising not to leak internal school information to outside parties, sources have told the Mainichi Shimbun. Musashino Higashi Gakuen is known for its inclusive education model, in which children with and without autism study together. Some parents have noted that “few places offer inclusive education for children with autism,” amid growing unease about the institution’s future.
Musashino Higashi Gakuen, chaired by businessman Kenzo Matsumura, operates an elementary school, junior high school and vocational high school in the city of Musashino. The pledge included a clause stating parents would be subject to claims for damages if they violated its terms, prompting some to voice strong concerns, describing the measure as “suppression of free speech.”
Inspired by the hope that he might help even one person to stop losing important documents at work, a Tokyo resident with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has set about selling a bag with multiple functions that people like him can easily use.
“ADHD affects 1 in 5 people nationwide in Japan. It was believed to be a minor problem in the past, but nowadays “adult ADHD (adult developmental disorder)” is attracting attention.”
Barrier Free Japan