At Namics, the project to make a nursery school to look after employees’ children as a fringe benefit for employees dates back more than ten years. To provide an environment where employees could have peace of mind to work was an idea dear to the heart of both the current President Odajima and the previous President. When the new child support system for raising children in Japan was introduced by our government in 2015, the project gathered momentum.
Adopting this system, in spring 2016 we opened “Ebigase Nursery School Amic”, an in-house nursery school which not only looks after the children of employees but also children from the local community. A new business that contributes to the local community has launched.

The nursery school takes its name “Amic” from the Latin word “amicus” and its various derivatives such as French “ami” and Spanish “amigo” meaning “friend.” It is located in Ebigase in Higashi Ward, Niigata City. Children aged under one year to five years old are put in classes according to their age, but since we also practice team daycare, the children live up to the name by playing together and spending time with children from different age groups. We want to create a fun nursery school where children are keen to go to play every day.

To lessen the burden on guardians who work, we provide full meals, futons for an afternoon nap, and diapers. We organize professional teachers for extracurricular activities such as music, gymnastics, art, and English so that guardians don’t need to drop the children off in a different place and pick them up later: instead children can do all classes here. This is convenient and reassuring for guardians and popular with children who can enjoy activities with their friends.

Mrs. Yamada (local quota)
Both of my kids take part in four different types of extracurricular activities including music and art and they love it. When I go to open days and festivals, it’s exciting because the children’s work and the program they present are unique. Teachers and children have a very friendly relationship. There are lots of smiles and the atmosphere is great. If I have any questions about the children at the center, I appreciate the way the teachers always take time to answer courteously.

Mrs. Yoshii (employee quota)
Since the head of the nursery school is the President of Namics and the teachers are also Namics employees, the system is familiar and reassuring. One helpful thing is that they look after children on public holidays when Namics employees have to work. My three-year-old daughter has English lessons twice a week and loves them. In the course of my work I have to deal a lot with other countries. This makes me very aware of the need for English so I’m glad my daughter has the opportunity to come in contact with English at a very young age. I also feel it will give her more options for the future.