Is it true that the video shows a labor lesson in a Japanese school?

In the fall of 2024, a video of children assembling car engines spread on social networks. It is alleged that this is how labor lessons are taught in Japan. We have checked the correctness of this description.

The video shows a group of elementary school-age girls wearing blue uniforms with the Toyota logo. With the help of adult instructors, they are said to assemble engines, inspect the underbody of the car and change tires. “This is how a labor lesson goes in Japan - instead of stools, schoolchildren assemble engines,” write the authors of posts with this video. The video began circulating on Telegram in early September and remained popular in October. At different times it was posted by such channels as “Voblya • news"(158,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), "Yaplakal.com"(145,000), "Tiny Raccoon | Humor" (79,000) and "Schrödinger's cat | Science and facts"(52,000). In the “Lost Sheep” profile on the social network X video gained 104,000 views. In addition, the video was published in Facebook, on YouTube And entertainment sites.

Toyota is one of the most famous Japanese automobile companies, but its factories are not only located in Japan. The inscriptions on the signs that are visible in the video are in English. Judging by virtual tour According to one of the Japanese Toyota plants, most of the similar signs and screens there are equipped with texts in Japanese. IN classrooms in Japanese schools English inscriptions are also rare. Based on this, we can assume that the video was most likely not filmed in Japan.

Using Google's reverse image search, Verified found examples of posts featuring the video in multiple languages. The authors of many of them too claimedthat this is a labor lesson in a Japanese school, but some said that this is happening in China or in the Philippines. In the Philippines, unlike Japan and China, English is one of two official languages, so this option seems the most realistic. One of the Instagram posts, which appeared back in early August, is accompanied by a more detailed commentary than the others. In it it says: “In one corner of the Philippines, Toyota is sowing the seeds of automotive knowledge in the hearts and minds of the youngest. Their program, called Toyota Alabang Kids Tech, is an inspiring example of how to teach children the basics of cars in a fun, hands-on way.” This program is also mentioned in some similar posts, also published in August.

Toyota Abalang Inc. is an authorized Toyota dealer and service center in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. On his Facebook page published some video, which show children wearing exactly the same uniforms as in the viral video, and working at exactly the same stands. 

Starting in the summer of 2024, Toyota Abalang invites young residents of Manila to take part in an entertainment and educational program "Become a Toyota Technician for a Day" In a playful way, children of different ages (from four to 18 years old) get acquainted with the structure of modern cars, learn how to repair and change filters, wheels, engines, etc. In addition, during the classes, program participants assemble radio-controlled cars and race them on a special track.

Thus, the viral video has nothing to do with Japan or school education. The video shows scenes from events organized by a Toyota dealer in the Philippines.

Cover photo: screenshot of a video posted on the Facebook account of Toyota Abalang Inc.

Not true

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