#Japan #Tokyo #2050 Strategy #Tokyo Metropolitan Government #Children First

Tokyo Invites Children to Impact Future Policies

As part of its commitment to creating a 'Children First' society, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) is launching a new initiative aimed at understanding children's perspectives and needs. This initiative involves recruiting 1,200 child monitors, including students from elementary to senior high school and parents of preschool-age children, to engage in a dialogue that will help update policies from a child’s point of view.

Overview of the Child Monitor Program

1. What is the Child Monitor Initiative?

The program seeks to gather insights directly from children to better understand their opinions and needs. Selected monitors will participate in a series of web-based surveys regarding Tokyo’s policies. This will occur approximately six times during their tenure.

2. Duration of the Monitor Program

The tenure for the selected monitors will extend from their selection date until March 31, 2026.

Recruitment Details

1. Number of Monitors Needed

The program will consist of a diverse group bifurcated into six categories, each comprising 200 participants:

• - Parents of preschoolers aged 0-2 years
• - Parents of preschoolers aged 3 and above
• - Lower-grade elementary school students (grades 1-3)
• - Upper-grade elementary school students (grades 4-6)
• - Middle school students
• - High school-equivalent youths (ages 15-18)

2. Application Timeline

The application period runs from April 23 to May 25, 2025.

3. How to Apply

Parents and students can apply through the dedicated application page on the TMG website: Child Monitor Application.

4. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, candidates must meet the following conditions:

• - You must be a parent of the eligible age group or fall within the eligible age group yourself (students under 18 require parental consent).
• - You must reside within Tokyo.
• - You should be able to access the internet and communicate via email in Japanese, either independently or with parental support.
• - Parents of preschool children should not be public servants to comply with the Public Service Law.
• - Further eligibility details can be found in the application guidelines on the dedicated page.

5. Notification of Results

All applicants will be informed of their application status via email by late June 2025. Should applications exceed the available spots, selections will be made considering factors such as gender, residence, and age.

Benefits for Participants

Monitors will receive tokens of appreciation for their valuable contributions:

• - All participants will receive a certificate of gratitude.
• - Elementary school students will earn a ¥500 bookstore gift card for each survey completed.
• - Other participants will receive either a ¥500 Amazon gift card or 500 Tokyo Points per survey, once all surveys have concluded.
• - Tokyo Points are unique rewards redeemable within the 'Tokyo Official App'. For more details, visit Tokyo App.

Additional Resources

For further information, flyers designed for elementary and secondary students can be downloaded from the following links:

• - Elementary School Flyer
• - High School Flyer

This initiative is part of the 2050 Tokyo Strategy, focusing on promoting child-centric policies and fostering a joyful atmosphere for children in the city, aptly referred to as the 'Child Smile Movement'. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive environment for the next generation of Tokyo's leaders!