[fma]

Can confirm..in my trips to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China...Kids take mass transportation by themselves to and from school. Hoards of kids play at the park with few adult supervision.

Up to elementary school (1994) I would walk to the park with some friends after school and play or go to the library (next to the park) for 2.5 hours till my mom picked me up. It's where a lot of kids went.

Generally if there is only one or two kid left at the park, a parent would stay after to ensure everyone is picked up.

My middle school was in a different part of the city so not sure how much longer I would have continued that.