This document provides an overview of Japan's child care system. It discusses the underlying philosophy of education in Japan, which shifted in 1988 from a curriculum-based approach to a child-centered one. It also outlines Japan's child care system, including daycare centers for infants to age 6 and kindergartens for ages 3 to 6. About 70% of daycare centers are licensed. The document compares child benefits between Japan, Canada, and Ontario and provides a brief history of Japan's child care system since the first kindergarten and daycare center were established in the late 1800s. It also discusses classifications of daycare centers in Japan, accessibility, and the training requirements for childcare workers.