This blog is a service to our Education in Japan Yahoo Groups community and complements our main website EDUCATION IN JAPAN which seeks to provide information on the education system in Japan and on the local educational scene generally. This blog seeks to provide resources and to inform to empower practitioners of education – which in most cases, are parents, teachers, educators, researchers and students – people practically involved in education in Japan. Via our blog posts, we also try to keep our pulse on events, happenings, news on the local educational scene and educational products in Japan.
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All the pages on this website are copyrighted. Where copyright is not indicated, the features are the copyright of the editor A. Kawagoe. Where other authors are indicated, copyrights are reserved and remain with the authors indicated. Where articles are published, permission to reprint is nearly always sought, or permission may be pending.
EDUCATION IN JAPAN COMMUNITY Blog 
i had a very important question regarding the disaster victims, and relocating them to a safer living environment. My father and I were discussing how people treat each other these days and we felt it was important that we extend our hand in hopes that a person or family would except a hand up and come live with us in Florida, USA. We are committed to have a few people share our home till they can make it on there own in the USA or back home, please get back to me.
I have channeled your offer to the Disaster Japan website, and am looking for more places to post your information. It would be more helpful probably if your info were translated. Some of the disaster victims have begun to move out of the evacuation shelters. Many will not move out because they are still hoping to be reunited with missing people, others are staying to help others, rebuild towns. What’s holding still others back are administrative reasons and financial reasons. In the worst hit areas, banks and town offices have been swept away along with the records or in some cases, they are trying to salvage their records, repair computer hard disks. Family registers in Japan are decentralized, and all banking matters and proof of existence, taxes, etc. issue from the records there. It is a huge, huge problem, many people are left with no papers, no proof of their existence. They have no choice but to stay put until their local governments/town offices are able to sort out the administrative nightmare. They also have to stay put to wait for government handouts, aide. I don’t think they could get papers to travel to the U.S. at this point. It is possible however that you might be able to reach the rare few who did escape the tsunami with documents in hand. Anyway, I will continue to find a local network to post your info, but it should be translated first. Perhaps, fuller details would be helpful, most people do not have access to computers, snail-mail addresses, names…and more details to make it worth their while to write to you, might be more helpful.
I have a question regarding testing. I teach in Hiroshima. I would like to know if you have any resources for creating reading proficiency tests for 8th/9th grade Junior High School students.
My 8th Gr. Junior High School have asked me if there is a way put together a reading proficiency test for students. What is this is test. A test designed to assess their reading level, and in hopes prep them for possibility having reading comprehension as part of their term examinations. What I am looking for is some method or site etc where I can find material that would match the level of reading for 8th Grade students. Down the not to distant road 9th Graders would be tested as well. The reason I need material is because, our school only has the New Horizon books and material. Additionally students aren’t actually allowed to practice for the test because by practicing pre-hand we can’t actually judge their real reading level or ability.Many students masquerade behind their friends work and barely pass tests, so we want to see who should really be an advanced student and who would benefit from a basic lesson.
I have been looking for resources for for awhile but it’s proving to be very difficult. I have scoured the school for old textbooks etc, in addition to going to a variety of bookstores. Everything is New Horizon. Even the journals printed with English doesn’t meet the level required.
Do you have any advice?
I really have enjoyed reading your press for some time, and I will continue to do so.
Warmest Regards,
Benjamin.
This reply from a member of our EIJ discussion forum:
If you look on line at the Oxford, MacMillian, or Longman sites you may find the material that you are looking for. For the most part, it is difficult to find standardized material in Japan, so you might have to order it from overseas. If you have a local international school you may also contact them because they may have assessment materials, or leads through their suppliers on how to find the materials you are looking for. I ended up contacting one of my school districts in the states for leads on reading assessment tests for ESL students.
Tim in Kobe
Hi to everyone! I come from Ukraine and currently make a research on the aesthetic education in Japanese schools. There is not much infomation on this question and I would like to ask you for some assistance. I need some new information about what and how are Japanese pupils taught to be developed aesthetically. My work is connected with traditional arts and crafts and how it is used in Japanese education system.
Would be extremely grateful for you help.
My name is Hicham Belbay; an environment and sport philosopher from Algiers.
I am looking for a group of volunteers who can practice with me in Chiba area, an Anti-Tsunami sport created few months ago and which I will give a name to this sport at the end of my research. This sport will reduce 80% of Tsunami mortality.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
My Contact details:
Email : hichambelbay@yahoo.com
Phone : 00213 551 351 991
Would you care to elaborate on the details of the anti-Tsunami sport of which you speak?
This anti-Tsunami sport is classified in the Athletics category; it make people fit, but also it’s good way to reduce the risk of being caught by a huge tsunami.
I am looking for a contract which allows me to test the practical side of this sport from companies, universities, spot clubs or prefectures in the east coast such as Tokyo, Ibaraki, Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Mie, Kochi, Wakayama, Miyazaki, Miyagi, Iwate, and Hokkaido. I will reveal the details and the name of this sport after being copyrighted and then mediatised by TV, Radio and Newspapers and Hopefully this sport will become a national sport and national heritage of Japan .
DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FURTHER INFORMATION.
THANK YOU.
HICHAM BELBAY
ENVIRONMENT, SPORT & CULTURAL PHILOSOPHER
Email : hichambelbay@yahoo.com
TELEPHONE : 00213551351991