The problem is that neither Abe's remarks nor the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's notice have substantial administrative effect. Whether or not schools at all levels should suspend classes is up to the local education committees, not the central government. Even Koichi Hagiuta, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, said that it is necessary to "listen to the voice of the locality".
Whether it is to suspend banner design classes, adjust the time of spring break, or choose not to suspend classes, all the decisions of local governments should be respected. RTS34TZX Photo Credit: Reuters / Dazhi Image Suspension or no class? Out of sync across Japan Letters without substantial administrative effect have created the result that the policies of various local governments in Japan are not synchronized. For example, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, Nagoya City, Fukuoka City, Kitakyushu City decided to suspend public elementary, junior high and high school classes from March 2 in accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
However, there are also local governments that need more time to prepare and suspend classes after a few days, such as: Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Yokohama City and Shizuoka City will suspend classes from March 3rd, Yamanashi Prefecture will suspend classes from the afternoon of the 3rd, Ehime The prefecture suspended classes from March 4, and Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, suspended classes until the 9th. As for Naha City, because the expert meeting of the central government said that the next 1-2 weeks is the key to preventing the spread of the epidemic, Naha City will only release the two weeks from March 3 to 13.