Tag Archives: child care

“Japan should rethink gender roles”? Yeah, no kidding

Posted on December 13, 2019 by

On December 5th, I gave an invited lecture-slash-workshop at a university in Gifu, where conservative values reign and men and women think they can run the families like it’s 1899. The very same I made the trek up there, an … Continue reading →

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Ten Years of Taking Leave

Posted on December 6, 2019 by

Looking back, it’s amazing to me now that I dared to even apply for a year of paternity leave while living in a foreign country. But I’ve never regretted the decision. As I told an audience of university students and … Continue reading →

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End of an Era: Goodbye, Nursery School

Posted on April 17, 2018 by

And so it begins. The end of the start of the rest of my children’s childhood. By which I mean our youngest daughter graduated from nursery school / kindergarten. Thinking back, we’ve been coming to our local nursery school every … Continue reading →

Posted in coming of age, day care, education, festivals, Japan, Japanese, Japanese society, nursery school, parenting, school, separation anxiety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Come out, damned spot!

Posted on February 4, 2016 by

One aspect of bathrooms in Japan that surprised me at first was the water everywhere around the sink. I mean, everywhere. Not having a habit of waiting for people to wash their hands in public lavatories, I found it a … Continue reading →

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Taking Leave: 2015 in review

Posted on December 30, 2015 by

Taking Leave: 2015 in Review! Continue reading →

Posted in book, book signing, child abuse, child safety, Japan, Japanese, Japanese society, parenting, Paternity leave, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Taking Leave: the Book!

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

UPDATED. Published through Perceptia Press (Nagoya), Taking Leave: An American on Paternity Leave in Japan is currently available through englishbooks.jp in paperback/soft cover format (retail price: 1500 yen plus tax). I’d love to say the book is available through Amazon; … Continue reading →

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Summer Festival: Beat your own drum!

Posted on July 19, 2015 by

Four months ago, we gave away our long-used/abused baby barriers. Yesterday, we helped our children celebrate their nursery school’s summer festival. Time flies… Once again, my wife volunteered to be a member of the Ai-go-kai (愛護会, literally “love protection association,” … Continue reading →

Posted in education, festivals, Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese society, parenting, school, summertime | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment