75% in Nikkei poll favor September start to Japanese school year

Coronavirus may force major change upon students used to beginning in April

A Tokyo elementary school held its entrance ceremony for new students on April 6, the day before the country declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic. Scenes like may be pushed back to September if the crisis persists. (Photo by Kai Fujii)

FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writer

April 30, 2020 20:31 JST

TOKYO -- More than half the 1,500 respondents to a social media poll by the Nikkei Asian Review on Thursday agreed with moving the start of Japan's academic calendar to September.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament yesterday that he would look into the change, as the coronavirus pandemic may further delay the start of the school year, which typically begins in April.