By this time of the year, parents in the United States have planned out what their children could do for three months of summer break, with their jaws clenched over how much it will cost. Summer camps in the US are almost cultural phenomena: the...
In 2018, I spent a year in Tokyo with my then 3-year-old son. At first, it was a breeze, coming from New York City. Train stations have an elevator, and bathrooms are clean and everywhere. Over time, though, I began to sense unspoken social...
Parents who raise their babies with milk have a hard time every day. Every time the baby cries, they boil water to make milk, adjust the milk temperature, and sterilize the bottle after feeding. To reduce the burden of childcare, liquid milk that...
In Japan, women still bear most of the burden of child care, which hinders the realization of gender equality. In the first place, both men and women can take child care leave in Japan legally. You can take a rest for childcare until the day before...
The number of women who have had a breast cancer screening in Japan significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The screening rate nationwide dropped by 30% in 2020. Mothers with small children are even more hesitant to visit clinics and...
The rainy season in Japan may pose an inconvenience for many, but it gives the Kyoto townhouses a welcoming, rustic atmosphere. That is the feeling one gets as they walk into the pathway tucked between the row of traditional Kyoto machiya (wooden...
From October 2019, preschool education and childcare will become free in Japan. This initiative is under the preschool subsidy program introduced by the government as an effort to reduce the burden on child-rearing households. The revenue from...