Why so many Japanese children...

More and more Japanese children are refusing to attend school, a phenomenon known as "futoko". Reasons for their refusal include bullying, strict school rules, personal problems with friends, and family circumstances. In response to this growing problem, the government recently announced that absenteeism among primary and junior high school students had reached a historic high, with 164,528 children absent for 30 days or more in 2018, up from 144,031 in 2017. However, the number of students attending alternative schools rather than regular schools has increased from 7,424 in 1992 to 20,346 in 2017. These schools operate on principles of freedom and individuality, and offer an alternative to compulsory education. While they do not give children a recognized qualification, the aim is to encourage them to pursue their individual skills and interests. The Tamagawa Free School in Tokyo, for example, is an alternative school where students do not need to wear a uniform and are free to choose their own activities. There are classrooms with computers for Japanese and math classes, as well as a library with books and manga (Japanese comics).