Ikanoosushi: A Road Education Plan for Child Safety in Japan

In Japan, to protect children and students on the streets, schools together with the Metropolitan Police Department have created a program on the prevention of crimes against minors. Boys and girls in Japan walk to school, as it is generally close to them. Sometimes they go in a group of friends but other times they go alone, and that is when they are most exposed to someone seeking to harm them.

For this reason, a road education plan has been developed so that boys and girls are alert when this bad situation arises and its slogan is いかのおすし ”Ikanoosushi”

“Ikanoosushi” is an acronym of five words: Ikanai, Noranaide, Ookinakoewodasu, Sugunigeru, and Shiraseru. Each of these words represents a specific action that children should take to stay safe in dangerous situations.

Where:

いかない – Ikanai

The first word, Ikanai, means “don’t go”. This refers to situations where children should avoid going to dangerous places or being near suspicious people. Children should learn to recognize the dangers and avoid them instead of approaching them.

のらない – Noranai

The second word, Noranai, means “don’t get on”. This refers to the rule of not getting into the car of strangers or people who do not have direct permission from the parents. Children should know that they should never accept to go with someone who doesn’t have direct permission from their parents, even if that person seems friendly and trustworthy.

おおきなこえをだす – Ookinakoewodasu

The third word, Ookinakoewodasu, means “scream loud”. This refers to the importance of screaming loudly in dangerous situations to attract the attention of others and ask for help. Children should know that it is important not to stay quiet and ask for help in case of danger.

すぐにげる – Sugunigeru

The fourth word, Sugunigeru, means “escape quickly”. This refers to the importance of quickly escaping from dangerous situations instead of facing them directly. Children should learn to recognize dangerous situations and escape quickly instead of trying to fight or confront the danger.

しらせる – Shiraseru

Finally, the fifth word, Shiraseru, means “inform”. This refers to the importance of informing a trusted adult about suspicious or dangerous situations. Children need to know that they are not alone in dangerous situations and that they should always seek help from a trusted adult, or even the police.

In summary, the Ikanoosushi motto is a valuable tool for teaching children how to stay safe in dangerous situations. Children should learn to recognize dangerous situations and take measures to stay safe, including avoiding dangerous places, not getting into cars with strangers, shouting loudly to ask for help, escaping quickly, and seeking help from a trusted adult. It is important for parents and caregivers to reinforce these messages at home and for children to receive comprehensive safety education to stay safe at all times.