• Yuki Nagae Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo

• Kenneth McElwain Professor, Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo

This study looks at one Japanese preschool in an area that has historically been home to people from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. Using children’s names as a key point of inquiry, it examines how people interpret “culture” and attempt “co-exis-tence” in their daily lives. There are two reasons I consider preschools. First, preschools are community centers that build relationships with local residents through child-raising. Second, preschools are institutions which provide early-childhood educa-tion and childcare to develop children’s social skills.