Do parents of children attending Chinese, North Korean and South Korean schools in Japan receive a subsidy from the Japanese government, while families with children in Japanese schools get no financial assistance? No, that's not true: Tuition assistance and subsidies are available to any low-income family, regardless of their nationality or the type of school.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on January 15, 2024. It opened (translated from Japanese to English by Lead Stories staff):
What is wrong with Tokyo!!
Yuriko [mayor of Tokyo] Quit fooling around!It has been revealed that each ward in Tokyo provides large amounts of subsidies every year to parents of students attending foreign schools such as 'Chinese Schools', 'North Korean Schools', and 'South Korean Schools'. From 72,000 yen per person per year to a maximum of 132,000 yen per person.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Jan 25 15:19:48 2024 UTC)
The claim used the term "revealed," yet there is no secrecy surrounding the subsidy for international schools. Such details for international schools (China, North Korea and South Korea) are publicly documented on Shinjuku City's website (as translated):
The ward provides tuition assistance to children attending municipal elementary and junior high schools, etc., whose families are considered to be in need of support for attending school, for financial reasons.
Chinese and Korean families get subsidies, and Japanese families get the tuition assistance, according to the city website's translation. Since the tuition assistance and the subsidy are almost the same amount, all low-income families get more or less equal financial support for their children's education.
The tuition assistance (archived here) comprises a fixed amount covering items such as school supplies and club activity fees, along with coverage for actual expenses like social studies field trips and medical costs.
As demonstrated on the Funabashi City website (archived here), the annual cost breakdown for school supplies includes 22,730 yen for basic supplies, 2,270 yen for additional school supplies and 5,910 yen for consumables, totaling 30,910 yen ($209). Additionally, fees for school lunches, extracurricular activities and school excursions will be covered. This annual amount equates to approximately 6,000 yen ($40) per month, aligning with the subsidy provided to parents of children attending Chinese, North Korean and South Korean schools in Japan.
