The Yokohama city education board announced that Ekoda Elementary School would cancel lunch and classes on two days in January as higher oil prices led to food cost increases. Meal costs for the school up to October already surpassed initial estimates by nearly 10%.

Every Wednesday, students climb out the classroom window, standing on a 10 centimeter (less than 4 inches) wide platform and clean the windows without any safety protection. Some windows are as high as 3 stories.