Announcement: 'Top Seminar 2026' to Address Declining Birth Rates and Operational Crises

The National Association of Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Naoko Oji) is pleased to announce 'Top Seminar 2026,' a conference exploring the future of certified childcare centers and child-rearing environments in a society facing population decline.

Background: The Crisis of Facility Closures, Mergers, and Staff Shortages Due to Falling Birth Rates

Japan’s declining birth rate and population are falling at a pace exceeding initial forecasts, with 2025 births dropping to approximately 700,000. This has brought urgent issues to childcare centers nationwide, including management deterioration due to under-enrollment, severe staff shortages, and the prospect of facility closures, mergers, or transfers.

In this seminar, we aim to delve into 'long-term operational strategies' and 'cross-sectoral collaboration' that look toward the next 10 to 20 years, rather than just solving immediate problems, to survive this challenging era.

Seminar Highlights and Program

Certified childcare centers are expected to play a role as 'social infrastructure (hubs for community-based inclusive societies)' that go beyond the framework of early childhood education and childcare to take on disaster prevention, multicultural coexistence, and regional exchange. The event will feature leading experts in population trends and municipal leaders engaging in advanced initiatives to discuss challenges in solving these multifaceted issues.

Keynote Speech: '(Tentative) Changes in the Environment Surrounding Children' Lecturer: Miho Iwasawa (Director of the Department of Population Dynamics Research, National Institute of Population and Social Security Research)

Discussion: '(Tentative) The Current Status of Child-rearing in Regions and Municipal Challenges' Panelists: Takashi Nishioka (Mayor of Usuki, Oita Prefecture), Junya Tsuzuku (Mayor of Hida, Gifu Prefecture), Masayuki Yoshida (Representative of Childcare System Research Institute Inc.)

Event Overview Event Name: Top Seminar 2026: The Challenge for the Future of Childcare Starting with 'People' — What We Can Do for Character Development and Community Building Organizer: National Association of Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education Supporter: National Association for Training and Research of Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education Date and Time: Friday, June 26, 2026 (14:00–18:00) and Saturday, June 27, 2026 (10:00–12:00) Venue: Nikkei Hall (Otemachi, Tokyo) and Online Target Audience: Certified childcare center/facility staff, municipal officials, childcare support businesses, etc. Fees: Members: 12,000 yen, General: 20,000 yen Participation: Prior registration via the 'National Association of Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education Manaable' platform is required.