[April New Academic/Fiscal Year] 'Invisible Housework' Surges in New Year, About 70% Feel Increased Burden - Mini Maid Service Conducts Survey on 'Housework and Childcare Burden in the New Academic Year'

【Survey on Housework Burden in the New Academic Year】Conducted by Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd.

Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takami Kato), a company providing housekeeping services, conducted a survey targeting child-rearing households on the 'Housework and Childcare Burden in the New Academic Year (April).'

The new academic/fiscal year is a period when living environments change significantly due to kindergarten/school enrollment, advancement, or job transfers. This survey focused on 'invisible burdens = nameless chores' that arise behind these changes to reveal the actual situation.

Background and Purpose of the Survey

The new academic/fiscal year is a time when living environments change significantly due to kindergarten/school enrollment, advancement, or job transfers. On the other hand, it is also a period when invisible burdens increase, such as preparing documents and adapting to changes in daily routines, in addition to daily housework.

These 'nameless chores' tend to be difficult to visualize and share within families. This survey aimed to clarify the actual situation of housework and childcare burdens unique to the new academic/fiscal year and to grasp the underlying issues.

Survey Overview

Survey Theme

'Awareness Survey on Nameless Chores in April (New School Term/New Academic Year)'

Survey Method

Web questionnaire survey

Survey Period

April 6 (Monday) – April 15 (Wednesday), 2026

Target Audience

Child-rearing households

Valid Responses

237 people

This survey was conducted by Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd., collecting 237 data points.

Survey Summary

Regarding the housework and childcare burden in the new academic/fiscal year (April), 51.5% answered 'increase' and 22.1% answered 'significantly increase,' totaling 73.6%, meaning about 70% experienced an increased burden.

The most burdensome nameless chore in the new academic/fiscal year was 'filling out/submitting documents' at 32.4%, with repetitive analog tasks being a major stress factor.

Many comments included voices like 'Mornings are a battlefield with documents and bento boxes,' 'Can't keep up with print organization,' and 'Even children's mental care piles up,' revealing an increase not only in workload but also in mental burden.

[Survey Result ①] Approximately 70% responded 'Housework and childcare burden increases in the new academic year'

[Survey on Housework Burden in the New Academic Year] Conducted by Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd. 'How do you perceive the housework burden in the new academic year compared to a normal month?'

Regarding the housework and childcare burden in the new academic/fiscal year (April), 51.5% answered 'increase' and 22.1% answered 'significantly increase,' totaling 73.6%, meaning about 70% felt an increased burden. On the other hand, 'no change' was only 25.0%, clearly showing the burden unique to the new academic/fiscal year.

It is believed that 'invisible housework' increases in addition to daily chores, as preparations for kindergarten/school enrollment or advancement and adapting to changes in daily routines overlap. Free comments also showed efforts to reduce the burden, such as 'preparing for morning the day before' and 'processing documents in batches.'

[Survey Result ②] The most burdensome nameless chore is 'filling out/submitting documents' at 32.4%

[Survey on Housework Burden in the New Academic Year] Conducted by Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd. 'What nameless chores do you find burdensome in the new academic year?'

The most burdensome nameless chore in the new academic/fiscal year was 'filling out/submitting documents' at 32.4%. It requires repeatedly filling out similar information for multiple submission destinations such as daycare centers, schools, and習い事 (after-school activities), concentrating the burden as a time-consuming task.

Second was 'increased housework due to new life,' and third was 'preparing lunchboxes and water bottles,' revealing the reality that tasks unique to the new academic/fiscal year are added on top of daily housework. There was a tendency for the burden to concentrate in the morning, with comments such as 'Mornings are hectic with documents and bento box preparations.'

Furthermore, many comments like 'It's hard to write the same content every year' and 'Can't keep up with print management' were received, indicating that inefficient analog tasks and the accumulation of small tasks are stress factors.

[Survey Result ③] Many voices indicate an increase in mental burden

[Survey on Housework Burden in the New Academic Year] Conducted by Mini Maid Service Co., Ltd. 'Stories of hardship and common experiences in the new academic year'

In 'stories of hardship' and 'common experiences' regarding April housework and new semester preparations, many voices indicated an increase in mental burden. Indeed, 73.6% responded that housework and childcare burden 'increases,' and it is believed that psychological pressure, not just workload, significantly influences this background.

Free comments included 'Mornings are a battlefield with documents (checking) and bento boxes (making) (task concentration in the morning),' 'Can't keep up with print organization,' and 'Always chasing deadlines,' in addition to stress from being pressed for time. Voices like 'No余裕 (leeway/time) even with caring for children's anxieties about new life' were also seen. Furthermore, opinions like 'Don't know what to prioritize' and 'No time to relax' were also expressed, suggesting that daily housework combined with tasks unique to the new academic/fiscal year and the resulting psychological burden leads to a sense of exhaustion and loss of personal time. This points to a deeper issue beyond just the volume of tasks.