Beyond the Textbook: A Child's Flourishing Life in Japan

Day 858 of Living in Japan

In the evening, I went to pick up my daughter from her piano lesson. She and the teacher were communicating fluently in Japanese in the music room, chatting and laughing. When the teacher saw me, she told me in English that the music school was actually closed for the day and there were no classes; she had just come in to tidy up and clean. But since my daughter had shown up, she still gave her a lesson. She apologized for wearing casual clothes today.

I was very surprised and quickly apologized to the teacher and thanked her profusely.

The teacher smiled and said, "It's no problem at all. I really enjoy spending time with your girl."

A few days ago, my wife was chatting with some of the other mothers in the neighborhood, and they were all praising our daughter for being so healthy, full of energy, and doing well in school. This made my wife and I feel a little sheepish.

We reflected on whether we were too strict with our daughter at home, constantly worrying about her dragging her feet on homework, practicing piano sporadically, and sprawling out haphazardly while reading. We had endless concerns every day.

However, over the past two years, we’ve witnessed her increasingly strong physique, the gradual tan she's developed from spending so much time outdoors, and her sturdy limbs built up through regular exercise. Combined with her cheerful and spirited personality, we now feel completely at ease.

Isn't this exactly what we set out to achieve, overcoming countless difficulties to restart our lives?

This is our third year in Japan. Aside from the first three months when we were all a bit unwell and getting used to the new environment—with the whole family getting sick in turns—I don't recall our daughter ever having a serious illness again. Even catching an occasional cold is rare.

Drinking ice water year-round and wearing shorts and skirts in the winter are completely normal for her now.

I’ve visited the school a few times to observe the children’s lunch. Although the meals are simple, they are nutritionally balanced, and the homeroom teacher eats the exact same food with the children. They serve small portions each time, allowing seconds if needed, which discourages waste.

I read a report that Japan established the "School Lunch Act" in 1954, which has been continually refined. Later, the certified Nutrition Teacher system was created in 2004, and the "Basic Act on Shokuiku (Food Education)" was further introduced. School lunch is not merely a meal; in Japan, it is treated and implemented as a national educational policy.

Beyond the traditional triad of moral, intellectual, and physical education, Japan integrates "Shokuiku" (food education) from a young age, positioning it as the foundation for the other three.

British author and journalist Johann Hari said he was surprised to find that Japan is the only economically prosperous country in the world that has not gotten fatter, which he attributes significantly to the country educating children and providing them with healthy diets from an early age.

Statistics show that the entire nation of Japan experiences no more than three collective food poisoning incidents in schools per year.

After experiencing and hearing so many things, my wife and I both feel that our children’s health and happiness are more important than anything else.

Anything.

We are not sure if they have a knack for academics or talent in arts or sports. We just hope they have a strong, healthy body. In Japan, as long as they are not lazy, they can live a relatively respectable life, even working part-time jobs. As for their upper limit, that is entirely up to them.

On the way home, my daughter and I were each cycling up a hill.

I’m starting to feel like I can barely keep up with her.

这里是中文版。