Survey on Universal Children's Childcare System: Over 60% of Parents Feel Stressed, 47.7% Hesitate Due to Unknown Facilities; 66.1% of Facilities Anxious About Staffing

Asuka Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yoshitaka Hagino; https://www.g-asuka.co.jp/index.htm), which operates 'Konnect-Labo' (https://konnect-labo.jp/)—a childcare research project connecting children, the future, and everyone—has announced the results of a survey on the 'Universal Children's Childcare System.' The survey targeted 104 parents with preschool children aged 6 months to under 3 years old, and 109 facility directors, vice directors, and chief managers at nursery schools, certified center-based early childhood centers, small-scale childcare businesses, kindergartens, and company-led childcare businesses to understand usage conditions, awareness, and reception frameworks.

01 | Over 60% of parents replied they 'feel isolation and stress' in daily parenting. 61.6% feel that a system usable regardless of employment status 'will reduce the parenting burden.'

02 | Awareness of the system among parents is 62.5%. The top reason for hesitating to use it, at 47.7%, is 'not knowing if there is an accepting facility nearby.'

03 | 66.1% of childcare facility operators answered that they are 'anxious' or 'have no clear prospects' regarding securing personnel, and 46.8% replied that 'flexibility in the staffing standards for dedicated workers' is necessary for the safe and sustainable operation of the system.

Survey Overview

<Parent Survey>

Survey Name: Survey on usage conditions and awareness of the 'Universal Children's Childcare System'

Survey Method: Internet survey planned by 'Reserch PR,' provided by IDEATECH

Survey Period: April 28, 2026 - May 5, 2026

Valid Responses: 104 parents of preschool children aged 6 months to under 3 years old

<Childcare Facility Operator Survey>

Survey Name: Survey on the reception framework of the 'Universal Children's Childcare System'

Survey Method: Internet survey planned by 'Reserch PR,' provided by IDEATECH

Survey Period: May 1, 2026 - May 2, 2026

Valid Responses: 109 individuals working as facility directors, vice directors, and chief managers at nursery schools, certified center-based early childhood centers, small-scale childcare businesses, kindergartens, and company-led childcare businesses

*Because the composition ratios are rounded to the nearest tenth, the total does not necessarily equal 100.

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[Parent Section]

Over 60% of parents with preschool children answer they 'feel isolation and stress' in daily parenting

When asked, 'Q1. Do you sometimes feel isolation or stress in your daily parenting?' (n=104), 41.3% answered 'sometimes feel it,' and 19.2% answered 'frequently feel it.'

- Frequently feel it: 19.2%

- Sometimes feel it: 41.3%

- Rarely feel it: 23.1%

- Do not feel it at all: 10.6%

- Don't know/Cannot answer: 5.8%

While awareness of the 'Universal Children's Childcare System' reaches 62.5%, 33.7% 'do not know' it

When asked, 'Q2. Do you know about the 'Universal Children's Childcare System,' which will be institutionalized in FY2025 and fully implemented nationwide from FY2026?' (n=104), 46.2% answered 'have heard the name but do not know the details well,' and 33.7% answered 'do not know.'

- Know the details of the system well: 16.3%

- Have heard the name but do not know the details well: 46.2%

- Do not know: 33.7%

- Don't know/Cannot answer: 3.8%

44.6% of those aware of the system answered, 'have not used it yet but want to try it'

When asking those who answered 'Know the details of the system well' or 'Have heard the name but do not know the details well' in Q2: 'Q3. Have you used the 'Universal Children's Childcare System'? Or do you want to try it?' (n=65), 44.6% answered 'have not used it yet but want to try it,' and 23.1% answered 'hesitating whether to use it or not.'

- Have already used it (including trial programs): 7.7%

- Have not used it yet but want to try it: 44.6%

- Hesitating whether to use it or not: 23.1%

- Do not intend to use it: 21.5%

- Don't know/Cannot answer: 3.1%

Top reason for hesitating to use it: 'Not knowing if there is an accepting facility nearby' at 47.7%

'Q4. For those who answered 'have not used it yet but want to try it' or 'hesitating whether to use it or not' in Q3, please tell us the reason you are hesitat