After Setsubun at the start of the month (a celebration in Japan marking the end of Winter and the start of Spring), we've been feeling the hint of Spring in the air on some days and have seen many changes in how we work, play, and interact with our friends! Setsubun filled the classroom with little Oni (ogres), scaring away bad luck and bringing in all that is good into the classroom and our lives! We have been looking at animals that live in the Arctic region. We compared o

January has passed by quickly, and it has been a wonderful start to the new year. We introduced our new 2026 calendar and learned that it is the Year of the Horse. The children enjoyed making movable horses and learning a song about horses and their hooves, clipping and clopping along. We also celebrated the Japanese New Year by exploring traditional customs. The children created their own "osechi" displays, pasting various foods into a "jyubako" (stacked box). A few of us r

We are delighted that despite the recent drop in temperatures, the children have remained healthy and continued to enjoy their time at school. We have observed changes in the social dynamics as the children grow older and become more aware of their own and others’ feelings. We have been focusing on the importance of giving friends personal space, even when they are loved very much, and recognising that friends may sometimes need time alone. One day, we took a look at some kni

Our recent days at the park have focused on nature exploration, particularly collecting beautiful leaves and acorns. We learned that acorns grow on oak trees, not "acorn trees," and explored the many varieties of oak trees and their leaves, especially looking at those found here in Tokyo. We discussed how animals help transport and plant acorns, finding it quite amusing that they sometimes forget where they’ve hidden them! A bit like all of us, guides included! We had a fun t

October seemed to fly by so quickly! The days of taking blocks of ice to the park were quickly replaced by days requiring jackets. We have been finding bright yellow leaves in the park, which inspired us to do some painting with fall colours. We celebrated Jyugoya, a time to admire the full autumn moon. We learned about the rabbit on the moon, according to Japanese folklore! We were gifted Japanese pampas grass and beautiful yellow chrysanthemums, as round as the moon, to sha

We've been together daily at school for just four weeks, but it feels like we have known each other forever. Our returning students have been wonderful, showing kindness by helping our new friends learn the school routines and helping them in many ways, whether it's figuring out whose turn it is to ring the music box at the end of the morning or setting the table for lunch. Our school day begins at 8:30, with children getting ready for school and then engaging in various acti