This study examines the family language strategies used to maintain Spanish as a heritage language (HL) in Japan. Some families choose to divide their linguistic roles and language choices according to the context, parents teaching practices, learning resources, school policies and community activities. As the majority of the Spanish Heritage Language Learners (SHLLs) are attending public schools, language shift to the dominant and majority language is usually the major trend among the SHLLs.
This research discloses the main problems and needs of the SHLLs and their families outside the formal education in Japanese schools, and examines how parents are coping with the HL maintenance in Japan. This research focuses on international couples with one Spanish-speaking parent and his/her Japanese partner. Based on online, structure and unstructured interviews and questionnaires to parents, we present the results of the families' characteristics, parents' approaches and the main SHLLs' needs and motivations to maintain the HL.

研究論文