Chapter III Kindergarten
第三章 幼稚園
第二十二条
A kindergarten is to cultivate the foundations for compulsory and further education, provide childcare, provide an appropriate environment for the healthy growth of young children, with the purpose of nurturing their mental and physical development.
幼稚園は、義務教育及びその後の教育の基礎を培うものとして、幼児を保育し、幼児の健やかな成長のために適当な環境を与えて、その心身の発達を助長することを目的とする。
第二十三条
Education in kindergarten is to be provided with the aim of achieving the following purposes, in order to realize the objectives provided in the preceding Article:
幼稚園における教育は、前条に規定する目的を実現するため、次に掲げる目標を達成するよう行われるものとする。
nurturing basic habits necessary for a healthy, safe, and happy life, and promoting the harmonious development of various bodily functions;
健康、安全で幸福な生活のために必要な基本的な習慣を養い、身体諸機能の調和的発達を図ること。
nurturing an attitude of participation, deepening a sense of trust towards family and familiar people, and developing the formation of independence, discipline, a cooperative spirit, and normative consciousness, through group living;
集団生活を通じて、喜んでこれに参加する態度を養うとともに家族や身近な人への信頼感を深め、自主、自律及び協同の精神並びに規範意識の芽生えを養うこと。
nurturing interest towards familiar social life, life and nature, and developing the formation of a correct understanding, attitude, and ability to think towards them;
身近な社会生活、生命及び自然に対する興味を養い、それらに対する正しい理解と態度及び思考力の芽生えを養うこと。
guiding towards the correct use of words, and nurturing an attitude of intention to understand others' words, through daily conversation, and familiarizing with picture books and stories, etc.;
日常の会話や、絵本、童話等に親しむことを通じて、言葉の使い方を正しく導くとともに、相手の話を理解しようとする態度を養うこと。
nurturing rich feelings and the ability to express oneself, through familiarizing with music, physical expression and creating things, etc.
音楽、身体による表現、造形等に親しむことを通じて、豊かな感性と表現力の芽生えを養うこと。
第二十四条
In kindergarten, education is to be provided in order to realize the purposes provided in Article 22, as well as working to support education in early childhood provided locally and in the home, such as giving advice and providing necessary information in response to relevant persons including custodians and local residents seeking advice, for a wide range of issues regarding education in early childhood.
第二十五条
Matters for kindergarten curriculum and others relating to the contents of childcare are to be prescribed by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, under the provisions pursuant to Articles 22 and 23.
When the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology prescribes matters for kindergarten curriculum and other things relating to the contents of childcare pursuant to the provisions under the preceding paragraph, it must ensure consistency with the standards of the child welfare facilities specified by Cabinet Office Order pursuant to the provisions of Article 45, paragraph (2) of the Child Welfare Act (Act No. 164 of 1947) (limited to the parts related to the portion of childcare in a nursery center of item (iii)), and curriculum and other matters related to the contents of education and childcare of child center in coordination between kindergarten and center for early childhood education and care specified by the competent minister pursuant to Article 10, paragraph (1) of the Act on Advancement of Comprehensive Service Related to Education, Child Care of Preschool Children (Act No. 77 of 2006).
文部科学大臣は、前項の規定により幼稚園の教育課程その他の保育内容に関する事項を定めるに当たつては、児童福祉法（昭和二十二年法律第百六十四号）第四十五条第二項の規定により児童福祉施設に関して内閣府令で定める基準（同項第三号の保育所における保育の内容に係る部分に限る。）並びに就学前の子どもに関する教育、保育等の総合的な提供の推進に関する法律（平成十八年法律第七十七号）第十条第一項の規定により主務大臣が定める幼保連携型認定こども園の教育課程その他の教育及び保育の内容に関する事項との整合性の確保に配慮しなければならない。
When the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology prescribes matters including kindergarten curriculum relating to the contents of childcare under the provision of paragraph (1), the Minister must consult with the Prime Minister in advance of doing so.
文部科学大臣は、第一項の幼稚園の教育課程その他の保育内容に関する事項を定めるときは、あらかじめ、内閣総理大臣に協議しなければならない。
第二十六条
A person eligible to enter a kindergarten is to be a young child from three years of age until reaching the time of commencement for entering elementary school.
幼稚園に入園することのできる者は、満三歳から、小学校就学の始期に達するまでの幼児とする。
第二十七条
Kindergartens must have a principal, vice principal, and teachers.
幼稚園には、園長、教頭及び教諭を置かなければならない。
Kindergartens may have a deputy principal, senior teacher, advanced skill teacher, chief teacher, yogo teacher, diet and nutrition teacher, administrative staff, assistant yogo teacher, and other necessary staff, beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph.
幼稚園には、前項に規定するもののほか、副園長、主幹教諭、指導教諭、主務教諭、養護教諭、栄養教諭、事務職員、養護助教諭その他必要な職員を置くことができる。
Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (1), it may not be necessary to have a vice principal when staffed with a deputy principal or when there are other special circumstances, or a teacher when there is a chief teacher (excluding one placed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (12) (limited to the part pertaining to item (ii))), respectively.
The principal is to take charge of kindergarten duties, and supervise staff members.
園長は、園務をつかさどり、所属職員を監督する。
The deputy principal is to aid the principal, and take charge of kindergarten duties under the kindergarten principal's orders.
副園長は、園長を助け、命を受けて園務をつかさどる。
The vice principal is to aid the principal (in kindergartens with a deputy principal; the principal and deputy principal), organize kindergarten duties, and take charge of childcare for young children as necessary.
教頭は、園長（副園長を置く幼稚園にあつては、園長及び副園長）を助け、園務を整理し、及び必要に応じ幼児の保育をつかさどる。
The senior teacher is to aid the principal (in kindergartens with a deputy principal; the principal and deputy principal) and the vice principal, organize a part of kindergarten duties under their orders, and take charge of childcare for young children.
主幹教諭は、園長（副園長を置く幼稚園にあつては、園長及び副園長）及び教頭を助け、命を受けて園務の一部を整理し、並びに幼児の保育をつかさどる。
The advanced skill teacher is to take charge of childcare for young children, and give necessary guidance and advice to staff members including teachers, for the improvement and enhancement of childcare.
指導教諭は、幼児の保育をつかさどり、並びに教諭その他の職員に対して、保育の改善及び充実のために必要な指導及び助言を行う。
The chief teacher is to take charge of childcare for young children, and, under orders, perform comprehensive coordination among teachers and other staff regarding the educational activities of the relevant kindergarten.
主務教諭は、幼児の保育をつかさどり、及び命を受けて当該幼稚園の教育活動に関し教諭その他の職員間における総合的な調整を行う。
Teachers are to take charge of childcare for young children.
教諭は、幼児の保育をつかさどる。
In the case of special circumstances, assistant teachers or lecturers may be positioned in place of teachers, notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (1).
特別の事情のあるときは、第一項の規定にかかわらず、教諭に代えて助教諭又は講師を置くことができる。
When it is found necessary in light of the actual circumstances of the school, the following staff may be positioned, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (7) and (9):
a senior teacher who aids the principal (in kindergartens with a deputy principal, the principal and deputy principal) and vice principal, organizes a part of kindergarten duties under their orders, and takes charge of the protective care or guidance and management of nutrition for young children;
園長（副園長を置く幼稚園にあつては、園長及び副園長）及び教頭を助け、命を受けて園務の一部を整理し、並びに幼児の養護又は栄養の指導及び管理をつかさどる主幹教諭
a chief teacher who takes charge of the protective care or guidance and management of nutrition for young children, and, under orders, performs comprehensive coordination among teachers and other staff regarding the educational activities of the relevant kindergarten.
幼児の養護又は栄養の指導及び管理をつかさどり、並びに命を受けて当該幼稚園の教育活動に関し教諭その他の職員間における総合的な調整を行う主務教諭
第二十八条
Provisions of Article 37, paragraphs (6), (8), and (13) through (18), and Articles 42 through 44 apply mutatis mutandis to kindergartens.
第三十七条第六項、第八項及び第十三項から第十八項まで並びに第四十二条から第四十四条までの規定は、幼稚園に準用する。
The provisions of Chapter IV of the Act on Advancement of Comprehensive Service Related to Education, Child Care, etc. of Preschool Children apply mutatis mutandis to kindergartens. In this case, the phrases listed in the middle column of the following table in the provisions of that Act listed in the left column of the table are deemed to be replaced with the phrases listed in the right column of the table, respectively.
| Article 27-2, paragraph (1) | regarding a kindergarten child | regarding a kindergarten child (meaning a young child enrolled in a kindergarten; the same applies hereinafter) |
| Article 27-2, paragraph (2), item (iii) | facilities located in designated cities, etc. | kindergartens established by a local government (including public university corporations) |
| head of a designated city, etc. | board of education of the prefecture in which the relevant kindergarten is located | |
| Article 27-5, paragraph (1), proviso | prefectural governor or mayor | prefectural governor |
| Article 27-6, paragraph (1) | order of the competent ministry | Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
| council, etc. | persons designated in advance by the relevant competent administrative agency from among those with expert knowledge of education, medicine, psychology, welfare, or law (hereinafter referred to as "person with expert knowledge") | |
| Article 27-6, paragraphs (2) and (3) | council, etc. | person with expert knowledge |
| Article 27-7 | order of the competent ministry | Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
| competent minister | Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology |
就学前の子どもに関する教育、保育等の総合的な提供の推進に関する法律第四章の規定は、幼稚園に準用する。この場合において、次の表の上欄に掲げる同法の規定中同表の中欄に掲げる字句は、それぞれ同表の下欄に掲げる字句と読み替えるものとする。
| 第二十七条の二第一項 | 園児について | 園児（幼稚園に在籍する幼児をいう。以下同じ。）について |
| 第二十七条の二第二項第三号 | 指定都市等所在施設 | 地方公共団体（公立大学法人を含む。）が設置する幼稚園 |
| 指定都市等の長 | 当該幼稚園が所在する都道府県の教育委員会 | |
| 第二十七条の五第一項ただし書 | 都道府県知事又は市長 | 都道府県知事 |
| 第二十七条の六第一項 | 主務省令 | 文部科学省令 |
| 審議会等 | 教育、医療、心理、福祉又は法律に関する専門的な知識を有する者のうちから当該所管行政庁があらかじめ指定する者（以下「専門的な知識を有する者」という。） | |
| 第二十七条の六第二項及び第三項 | 審議会等 | 専門的な知識を有する者 |
| 第二十七条の七 | 主務省令 | 文部科学省令 |
| 主務大臣 | 文部科学大臣 |