No doubt about it, life in Japan is busy -- and even small children have a "schedule." All of my son's first-grade friends at Japanese elementary school have at least one after-school activity, if not two or three. An informal survey revealed that piano and ballet are tops with the girls, that the boys prefer soccer and karate, while English and swimming are popular with everyone. Then there are academic classes in mathematics or Japanese, extra practice for those who need a little help -- or who want to get ahead.

My son began swimming lessons when he was 4, and I've been driving him to the sports club across town every Tuesday for the last two years. We found he needed some help with his Japanese when he started first grade, so on Monday and Thursday he goes to a teacher up the street. Then there is the tutor who comes every Wednesday evening to work with him on his English reading and writing.

He also participates in Boy Scouts one or two Saturdays a month at a nearby international school. And now he says he wants to start karate . . .