Morning class a hit with Nagoya early birds

NAGOYA--Juggling work and family commitments and still having the time to meet friends or study is hard, granted.

Perhaps, say some analysts, that happens even more so in Nagoya, where the economy is on a roll and an increasing number of salaried workers are urged to work overtime.

But, in line with the cyclical highs of a healthy economy, Nagoya workers stretched for time are creating a new market for educators.

In fact, early-morning classes, in everything from English to bookkeeping to yoga, are catching on here like nowhere else in the country.

Nagoya Ohara Gakuen Colleges, which offer courses in accounting and financial planning, among others in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, started morning classes at two branches in Nagoya two years ago.

According to school officials, about 250 students took early-bird classes last year.
About 70 percent of them were women around 30 years old.

Kumiko Jinza, 28, attends a 7:30 a.m. bookkeeping class at the Sakae branch in central Nagoya.
"I would be too tired from work to concentrate on lectures at night. Learning in the morning for a short period of time is more efficient," says Jinza.

Although the Ohara group has schools all over the country, the early study sessions, which are generally cheaper than the regular courses, are only offered in the Nagoya region.

"We are catering to people who could not attend classes at night because of their overtime work," says Masao Koga, who heads the adult class division at Ohara. "There are also people who are taking the courses for the low fees."

Meanwhile, the Asahi Culture Center is also finding success with early risers.

It offers English conversation classes at a Starbucks coffee shop near Sakae Station twice a week.

Two thousand yen covers the cost of the hour-long, 7:30 a.m. class as well as a coffee and a croissant.

Forty-year-old Masanari Iwamoto, who takes the English class, says he previously took night classes but work always kept him from going, and he ended up wasting his money.

"The course is a good deal as it includes breakfast. I have also found friends outside work," he said.

The number of people here who head off to early gym sessions or yoga classes is also on the rise.
Pacific Sports Club, for example, offers special prices for morning workouts.

Members pay just 4,000 yen a month and can use the facilities from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

According to a club spokesperson, many people who work in central Nagoya area use the gym two or three times a week.

"Morning members say that they have raised their metabolic rates and are making better progress at work," the spokesperson added.(IHT/Asahi: August 21,2006)

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200608210090.html