Category Archives: Japanese culture

Daddy-daughter vacation (kind of)

Posted on August 29, 2016 by MThomas

Friday, my two daughters (aged 7 and 4) and I set off on a four-hour bullet train (Shinkansen) ride without my wife. She did see us off at the Shin-Osaka bullet train station, but since she had a week-long business … Continue reading →

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Self-reliance starts young

Posted on April 12, 2016 by MThomas

Two weeks ago, my daughter graduated nursery school. Last week, my grandmother passed away (my daughter’s great-grandmother). Today, my daughter walked to elementary school for the first time. And the cycle continues… This is cherry blossom (sakura) season in Japan, … Continue reading →

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“Dutch backpacks” in Japan

Posted on February 26, 2016 by MThomas

It’s the end of February, and our oldest daughter is nearing the end of her nursery school experience. What a ride it’s been. Now she and her classmates are learning the “goodbye, our nursery school,” song which they will sing … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese society, parenting, school | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments