TOKYO -- The shift in club activities from school-run to "community-based" private clubs and other organizations is seen as an increased burden by 80% of parents, according to a nonprofit organization survey about junior high school club activities and household budgets.

While the aim of the shift is to secure opportunities amid a declining birth rate and to reduce the burden on teachers, the costs and transportation involved are weighing heavily on parents, raising concerns about widening disparities.

Kidsdoor, a Tokyo-based NPO working to solve child poverty, conducted an online survey from October to November 2025 on impoverished families raising children who are the target of their assistance, asking about the shift to community-based clubs and its impact on their households.

Among the 524 households with junior high school students participating in club activities, 19% said their children were involved in club activities outside of school. When asked for their impressions, with multiple answers allowed, 45% said "there was nothing particularly good," the most common response, followed by 26% who said "the quality and content of instruction improved," and 24% who said "interaction with students from other schools increased." When asked if the burden on households had increased, 80% responded affirmatively.

When 1,392 households, including those with elementary school children, were asked whether they support the shift to community-based clubs, 48% were in favor and 51% were opposed, showing a close split. When asked about difficulties and concerns, with multiple answers allowed, "pick-up and drop-off will be necessary" was the most common response at 71%, followed by 67% who said, "club fees will increase," while 64% answered "transportation costs to activity locations will rise." Many parents appeared to support the shift to community-based clubs out of consideration for teachers, despite their concerns.

On the other hand, when asked whether they think disparity in experiences would widen, 89% answered "yes," far exceeding the 10% who answered "no."

Kidsdoor pointed out that government help is insufficient and said that ongoing support, setting limits on the burden of the beneficiary such as equipment costs, and a system that does not require parents to carry out pick-ups and drop-offs are necessary.

(Japanese original by Buntaro Saito, Tokyo City News Department)