MAEBASHI -- In response to a rising number of children with foreign roots, the government of this Gunma Prefecture capital has started offering a program to help non-Japanese children fit into municipal elementary and junior high schools.

The program, overseen by specialized instructors, Japanese language teaching assistants and others, will provide introductory guidance for three to 14 days, conveying to students school rules, basic Japanese, daily living norms and other things that will help them adjust to the Japanese classroom. These will be taught by instructors with knowledge of Japanese language education, among others.

As of the end of September, there were 259 children with foreign roots in the city, around 50 more than there were five years ago. Many are from the Philippines, Nepal and China, and others are from countries and regions such as Bolivia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. About 100 of the students need Japanese language instruction.

Previously, Japanese language instruction at the schools took the form of visits by instructors to schools for one to two hours per week, but the new program was started after it was determined that more support was needed, considering students who were in classrooms without knowing about school rules, Japanese lifestyle habits and more.

The teachings will include methods to do greetings and self-introductions, rules on student participation in school cleaning and lunch serving tasks, and how to contact the school in case of absence. Customs will also be taught, such as how to use traditional Japanese seatless toilets and how to use pedestrian crossings, as well as how to play the game of tag.

Participation is to be decided upon consultation between parents and schools, and will mainly take place at the city's Sogo Kyoiku Plaza facility.

(Japanese original by Ryuko Tadokoro, Maebashi Bureau)