Short answer
This is a Japanese notice — an おたより (otayori, newsletter/notice) or プリント (purinto, printed handout) — from your child's school or the municipal 教育委員会 (kyōiku iinkai, board of education). Some only announce events; others require you to sign and return a slip, submit documents by a deadline, or pay a fee. The key is to first sort out which ones need a response, then find the 提出期限 (teishutsu kigen, submission deadline) and the 集金 (shūkin, fee collection) amount. For the specific procedures, follow the instructions given by the school and the board of education.
What this document is
Japanese elementary and junior high schools routinely communicate with parents through paper notices carried home by the child. Common types include:
- おたより / 学年だより (otayori / gakunen-dayori): class or grade newsletters (events, schedules).
- 集金 / 給食費通知 (shūkin / kyūshoku-hi tsūchi): fee notices (such as school lunch fees or materials fees).
- 提出物 (teishutsubutsu): documents parents must fill in, sign, and hand back (reply slips, questionnaires, etc.).
- 就学案内 / 入学通知 (shūgaku annai / nyūgaku tsūchi): school enrollment or transfer notices issued by the board of education.
Common fields on the document
- おたより / 学校だより / 学年だより (otayori / gakkō-dayori / gakunen-dayori) — school / grade newsletter
- 就学案内 / 入学通知 (shūgaku annai / nyūgaku tsūchi) — enrollment-related notice (from the board of education)
- 給食費 (kyūshoku-hi) — school lunch fee
- 集金 / 口座振替 (shūkin / kōza furikae) — fee collection / bank account debit
- 提出 / 提出期限 (teishutsu / teishutsu kigen) — item to submit / submission deadline
- 持ち物 (mochimono) — items to bring that day
- 行事 / 運動会 / 授業参観 (gyōji / undōkai / jugyō sankan) — school event / sports day / class observation day
- 欠席 / 遅刻 連絡 (kesseki / chikoku renraku) — absence / lateness contact
- 健康診断 / 検診 (kenkō shindan / kenshin) — health checkup
What you need to do
- First sort out whether it is a notice for information only or one that requires submission / payment / a reply slip.
- Find the 提出期限 or 締切 (shimekiri, deadline) and the 集金 date and amount.
- If a reply slip is required, sign (サイン, sain) or stamp your seal (はんこ, hanko) as instructed and return it by the deadline.
- For enrollment, school transfers, 就学援助 (shūgaku enjo, school attendance assistance), and similar matters, contact your municipal board of education (教育委員会) or the school office.
Where the deadline / amount may appear
- Deadline: usually marked next to wording such as 提出期限, 締切, or 集金日 (shūkin-bi, collection date).
- Amount: look for 給食費, 教材費 (kyōzai-hi, materials fee), or 集金額 (shūkin-gaku, collection amount); fees are often collected via 口座振替 (bank account debit).
Which official office to check with when unsure
For everyday notices, ask the school's 事務室 (jimushitsu, school office) or the homeroom teacher (担任, tannin). For system-level matters such as enrollment, transfers, or school attendance assistance, ask the board of education of your city, ward, town, or village. For enrollment guidance aimed at foreign families, see the multilingual school enrollment guidebook from 文部科学省 (Monbukagakushō, MEXT, the Ministry of Education). Official explanations take precedence over any third-party interpretation.
Common Japanese terms
- おたより / 便り (otayori / tayori) — newsletter / notice
- 給食 / 給食費 (kyūshoku / kyūshoku-hi) — school lunch / lunch fee
- 集金 (shūkin) — fee collection
- 提出 / 提出期限 (teishutsu / teishutsu kigen) — submission / submission deadline
- 持ち物 (mochimono) — items to bring
- 欠席 / 遅刻 (kesseki / chikoku) — absence / lateness
- 保護者 (hogosha) — parent / guardian
- 就学援助 (shūgaku enjo) — school attendance assistance (financial aid)