Students in Japan participate in career education programs

Middle school students in Japan are engaging in various career education initiatives to help them explore future professional paths.

At Joetsu Higashi Junior High School, first-year students participated in a session titled ‘Welcome, Seniors,’ where alumni shared insights into their professional lives. Speakers included professionals in childcare, beauty, and caregiving, as well as Shingo Ohira from Tanaka Sangyo, who emphasized the importance of expressing gratitude to parents as a foundation for professional maturity.

In Otaru, 75 second-year students from Otaru Municipal Nagahashi Junior High School conducted work experience programs at 25 different local companies and institutions. Three students focused on civil service by visiting the Otaru City Hall. Their experience included learning about urban planning and population measures, as well as touring the waterworks bureau and the assembly hall. The students also visited the fire command center and fire station, where they learned about emergency response operations, inspected specialized firefighting vehicles, and experienced the weight of protective gear and oxygen tanks.