As the number of foreign workers in Japan rises, Yokohama City is witnessing an increase in children of foreign descent. Three Japanese language support centers in the city offer education on Japanese language and lifestyle to help newly arrived children integrate smoothly into school life. On January 8, children in the 'Hanagumi' class, comprising six students from China and the Philippines, attended lessons at the 'Himawari' support facility in Chukagai, Yokohama, where they learned vocabulary and everyday objects through engaging and interactive methods. Teacher Kana Yamashita used gestures and expressions to connect with the kids during lessons about items like backpacks and indoor shoes, helping them grasp the meaning of words like "aru" (there is) through visual aids and repetition.

One of the reporters, who moved to Japan from a region in northwestern Russia during elementary school due to family circumstances, shared a personal connection to the challenges of language learning. Born in Japan but with limited Japanese skills at the time, he recalled his first day at a public elementary school in Ibaraki, where understanding was a significant barrier. The relevance of these language support centers is underscored by stories like his, exemplifying how such programs aim to ease the transition for foreign children, fostering a more inclusive educational environment in Japan and addressing cultural and linguistic hurdles.