01 June

Elementary and junior high schools in Tokyo resumed classes on Monday for the first time in about three months.

At Higashidai Elementary School in Mitaka City, Tokyo, each class has been divided into two groups to protect children from the coronavirus.

First-graders attended their first class with a teacher as they have been studying at home for the past two months since their enrollment.

They learned how to write hiragana letters in their language class.

One boy said he was really excited as he has been dreaming about going to school.

He said that writing hiragana was difficult but fun, and he likes to play with his classmates.

More than 1,800 public elementary and junior high schools in Tokyo restarted the spring term on Monday.

They are facing the challenge of making up for the educational disruptions caused by the virus while trying not to impose an excessive burden on the students.

The principal of Higashidai Elementary School, Yamashita Hiroshi, said he is thrilled to see children returning to the school.

He said he wants to compensate for their lost learning opportunities while putting priority on safety, especially if there is a second or third wave of infections.

nhk