So, it’s now almost April, which in Japan means: time for the new school year and fiscal year to start. Before our son was born, I had little appreciation for just how expensive this time of year can be for families, but now I know – school fees and supplies can really take a whack out of your budget! Our son will be starting preschool three days a week soon, and tuition, yearly fees, ‘kyozai’ (educational materials), and supplies were over Y80,000. Ouch! That figure can, of course, get much higher when you have children entering elementary, junior high, or senior high school – and amazing when they start university. What’s a parent to do?
Well, while your mileage will vary substantially depending on the type of school, location, and other factors, here are a two tips to help you weather the start of the school year with less of a deficit.
Save Ahead for Tuition Payments
First, let’s look at the big one: tuition. Most everyone realizes that education costs money. Even Japanese public schools have various fees (lunch, books, school uniforms, trips), and any schooling before first grade (age 7) or after junior high school (about age 13/14) is not part of gimukyoiku, or compulsory schooling, and requires even greater expense. Saving ahead is of course the best way to minimize the one-time impact on your budget.
If you’re a long term resident and plan to educate your children in Japan, there a few handy savings plans available through both the Post Office and private insurance companies. The Post Office offers ‘gakushi hoken’ or a combination savings and insurance plan with pre-determined payouts to coincide with your child’s entrance into elementary, JHS, SHS, or college. Essentially, you take out a ‘policy’ in your child’s name, preferably when they are very young. Your monthly payments for the plan are determined by the total amount of money you want paid out over the life of the plan. The policy automatically includes a small life insurance benefit for the child in question, and can also include a ’scholarship (ikueikin)’ component (payment of school fees if one or both of the parents pass away). There are of course a variety of options in terms of life of plan (ending at age 15, 18, or 22) and savings amounts. To research more, visit the Japan Post website.
Warning! It’s all in rather complicated Japanese. The best way to get details on these plans is to go to your local post office insurance (Kanpo) window during a slow period, and ask about gakushi hoken. It will take some time, but as other foreign residents have successfully managed to purchase a plan – I’m sure you can too!
If you would rather not use the post office, AFLAC also offers gakushi hoken plans through a mail order service. The plans are called Kawaii Kodomo Hoken and operate on essentially the same principles. The website is much easier to navigate than the Post Office’s. The ‘Simulation’ button found at the button of the page in katakana will automatically calculate a sample monthly payment based on the applicant’s age, their child’s age, and the desired plan amount. Note that the insurance rider (in case of death of the parent) adds extra cost.
Shop Early, and at a Variety of Places, for School Supplies
In Japan, preparing for school (especially for kindergarden, day care, or elementary school) can take a kind of Orwellian twist. Complicated requirements for homemade bags of a certain size, math manipulatibles kits with 20-30 small pieces that must be labeled with names individually, and ridiculously expensive uniforms sold through a single supplier are just some of the challenges foreign mums and dads face.
As dictated by the laws of supply and demand, prices on school supplies such as lunch boxes, nap futon, indoor shoes (uwabaki), and bags rise the closer to the end of March you approach. Conversely, mid-April is probably an excellent time to purchase these items if you know what type you’ll need and where your child will go to school next year. Besides large supermarkets or other retail outlets, there are two frugal alternatives worth mentioning. The first is the annual school bazaar at the school you plan to attend. Here, gently used uniforms and school supplies (such as required hats, smocks, recorders, painting kits, and other items) may available for a great discount. Online auctions are another good source for more general school supplies, particularly ‘handmade’ items for those of us not so talented in the sewing arena. Try typing in the name of the items from your required supplies list into Yahoo Auctions, Rakuten, or http://www.bidders.co.jp. You might find a bargain, particularly if you are shopping early.
Finally, it always pays to utilize local foreign networks. FreeStuffJapan, TellandSell Japan, and other lists are excellent places to locate free or cheap items.
© 2007 Wendy J. Imura.