Thanks for a great read Diane. I've been married to a Japanese for over 30 years, and still discover differences. While living in Japan, and seeing Elementary aged children all around, my daughter attended the school on base. Later, stationed back in the U.S., my daughters attended a Japanese weekend school, and I saw many of the Japanese-styled educational norms in action.

The weekend schools were located in most of my mainland assignments, and I believe sponsored by either the Embassy or the nearest Japanese Consulate (for the syllabus, some funding for a rented facility). Classes were led by parents and local Japanese business or medical pros. The idea was that the weekend school would augment a student's weekday education (whether public or private) while they lived in our country, to help prevent them from falling behind their peers when they returned to Japan.

In our case, and other "hafu" families, it was a great way for our daughters identify with both sides of their heritage equally. The homework was tough and the pace challenging - but I'm thankful for what it gave them, that they wouldn't have fully received at home from just the two of us.