d. The Development of Kindergartens

After the opening in 1876 of a kindergarten in Tokyo Women's Normal School, similar institutions gradually developed in other parts of the country. The Department of Education encouraged the establishment of simple kindergartens, and in February, 1884, it gave a notice that under-aged children should not be permitted entrance to elementary schools but rather should attend kindergartens. By 1885 there were a total of thirty such institutions (one government, 21 local public and eight private) with an enrollment of 1,893 pupils.