American Daughter Participates in Health-Promoting Japanese Holiday! (Sports Day with her Yōchien)

[@mummamarsh1180]

Well done Willa, must be a proud moment for you all. You can tell a lot of work has gone into this day. The children were awesome 🎉

[@OurStorytoTell]

We were very impressed with how much time and energy had gone into it! Such a fun experience to participate in!

[@indrahx5905]

That's definitely something we don't have in Germany. I mean we do have sports day, but not so fancy. Just different events, like throwing a ball, running, jumping, but no show. Good job Willa! I love watching her in this new environment.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yeah same with in the States! Thank you!

[@elisabethsolbakken121]

My daughter attended yochien in Nishinomiya many years ago, and I remember that the dads did a tug-of-war as well. The parents made okonimyaki, the Japanese giant pancake, and as a mom I had to report with a nice apron and help out. Fun memories and I am glad your family is enjoying the experience as well. As expat families, we are indeed fortunate!

[@OurStorytoTell]

That is so fun to hear about your family’s experience!! So cool! 😊

[@アイワブルー]

I'm glad you got to experience the kindergarten sports day👏🙂 I think Willa will be a big star in sports in the future😊 Cheers to your wonderful family🥂❤️Good job👍

[@OurStorytoTell]

We think so too! From a young age she has always loved running!

[@Tnakamura11]

Japanese kindergartners are impressive. But kindergarten teachers make it happen. Gotta give them lots of credits to them.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes that is so true!! They do so much!

[@kei07210]

Perhaps one of the best aspects of Japanese education is that students can have many diverse experiences at school, such as athletic meets, instrumental performances and choruses, and plays. Adults cannot help but be moved by the way friends try their best to cheer on children who do not do well during practice sessions🎵 I know that kindergartens have a lot of events and it must be hard work, but please look forward to seeing children's moments that pass so quickly and their expressions that you cannot see at home🌱🌱

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes all of what you said resonates with us! Thank you for your comment! 😊❤️

[@柴犬さくら-l4i]

運動会のパラバルーン、感動しますね。

[@jjivy6310]

Willa is such a fantastic young lady! How exciting to see her excel. This is just one of the blessings of getting an international education and at her age she just absorbs it. She will go so far in her future. Yall are great parents! Have a wonderful week!

[@skru2476]

This is so cute 😅

[@OurStorytoTell]

❤️❤️

[@npnl973]

There are many sporting events like this in Japan. If you have the opportunity to come to Japan, I hope that foreigners will not only visit the country but also see these events.

[@K__a__M__I]

My condolences to Tanner, I hope you're doing okay. I always loved the japanese mentality around exercise. I especially love seeing the taxi drivers getting out of their cars and doing some stretches or jumping jacks and stuff. 😂

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! 🫶 And yes we love seeing that too! Just this week we saw someone stretching in the grocery store line! It’s the best!

[@Herzschreiber]

So sorry for your loss, Tanner! 🖤 Wow, this event is so awesome, I wish we had that in Germany. The only sports event at schools we have here is the "Bundesjugenspiele", or just called "Sportfest" in unofficial German. And it is a pain in the a** for all kids not so good in sports. There is no fun, parents are not invited and even if it is hot as hell (it takes place during summer), the schools don't supply any water or beverages at all. In some years a lot of the pupils will pass out because of the heat and the exertion when they didn't think of bringing something to drink. When you did well you'll get sort of a certificate, but when you can't offer good performances, you will get nothing but mockery from half of your class mates! It was always a horror for me, being a fat child and really unsporty. I used to be sick because of anxiety one day before, so my Mom most of the times told the teachers I will not be there at the day. But what I saw in your video shows that it is possible to make it fun for all kids, even if it is like a competition it is more about "reaching an aim together". Well sure..... Japanese are community people more than individuals in their cultural behaviour. Really lovely, this event. And Willa won the race for the white team, that is great! I would have been overly proud too!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for your comment! It was really interesting to hear about the German event and how it was poorly executed from those planning! That would be hard! You’re exactly right when you talk about the Japanese culture. They are very respectful and aware of the community. ☺️

[@simoneb1454]

In Australia we have a sports carnival in winter which is track & field based and a swimming carnival in summer. In primary school the highest placed winners of events at their school move onto interschool carnivals where different schools compete against each other.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Those sound like fun events!! Super fun for us to hear you’re watching from Australia too!! 👋😊

[@ojisaitaro]

1:16 willaちゃんのカメラ目線がかわいい😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

She was keeping her eyes out for us! 🙂

[@f15eagle40]

It was fate that we ended up in Japan as a family. Please immerse yourself in the various cultures while you are here. Enjoy food, clothing, and shelter, and make lots of good memories!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! 😊

[@justani]

運動会と音楽会は皆が団結して物事を成し遂げることを学びます。授業の一部が削られ一定の練習期間ができます。 それは最低でも中学校を卒業するまで続きます。なつかしいです。 競技や演技でヒーローにもなることができます。成長とともに年々それらは高度になっていきます。 親も、応援、撮影、参加、お弁当！お祭りであり競技会でもあります。楽しんでください。

[@OurStorytoTell]

It’s really fun to learn amour! Thanks for sharing information about it 😊

[@maryabreu6924]

Way to go Willa ! She is going to be a runner like her dad!

[@OurStorytoTell]

We think so too! 😊

[@zousanda1]

か、可愛すぎ 😛

[@rybackhi]

beautiful mom❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you 😊

[@シノブコマツ]

歌や音楽は違いますが、私も同じ様な事をして居ました。 集団行動、例えば、電車を待つ時に並ぶ、仲間と同調する思いやりetcを、習って来たのかも知れません。 日本独特の、教育だと思います。

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes we can see how it would create patience, consideration & the things you mentioned, for sure!!

[@klausklausen1700]

Congrets, little Willa 👍

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! 😊

[@サンパチ-o4o]

軍隊的だと思う人が居るかも知れませんが、子供達からすれば有り余った体力や 経験の無い事をチャレンジする気持ちは 他人に認めてもらいたいという協調性の 現れでも有るのです

[@TheBlackbirdii]

sorry for your loss guys

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you 🫶

[@van03de]

Thank you for this very interesting video! Does Willa ever compare Yōchien to German kindergarten and comment on her experiences? Or does she just adapt and take the best of each culture?

[@OurStorytoTell]

She says she misses her German friends, but she doesn’t compares them to each other. Maybe if she was a bit older, but honestly she takes the best of them it seems! :)

[@van03de]

@OurStorytoTell When visiting grandparents in Tokyo our kids attended yōchien and primary school in the neighborhood. It's been a culture shock, but a good experience for them. Both majored in Japanese and use the language on their jobs in Germany now.

[@shefchenko]

Once your kids go up to elementary school, there's more interesting education like sewing, cooking, woodworking, calligraphy, pool, taking care of animal & plants and much more

[@OurStorytoTell]

That does sound so cool!!

[@amateras-g8p]

kawaii〜🙆

[@ヘルミッショネルズ]

Basically, it's similar all over the country, but video schools seem to have more budget than normal schools.

[@OurStorytoTell]

That makes sense to us! Cool to hear it’s nationwide!!

[@VVV953]

Somebody told me Japanese children like being friends with foreign children way more than Japanese teenagers and young adults wanting to be friends with foreign teenagers and young adults

[@makotito73]

Maybe as they grow up they like foreigners less.

[@VVV953]

@makotito73 indeed 👍

[@OurStorytoTell]

So interesting!

[@pinkhope84]

In germany we have Bundesjugendspiele and i hated it. Its only fun for the really sporty kids.

[@K__a__M__I]

Yeah. It also isn't as well organized or inclusive as in Japan (not really surprising). Also, no parents, just all the students crammed onto the field and told to run, jump, throw...really not a fun experience, even as one of the more sporty kids.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh we can see that being something difficult for those not as interested in sports! Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It definitely gives us another perspective about the sports day holiday! We wonder if there is much of a choice of participation or not? I don’t think so with Willa’s Yochien, but maybe when they’re older? We liked how they had dance performances and a band. Maybe it could be more well-rounded with everyone participating in something, but not everything?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for sharing!! We appreciate the insight. Interesting no parents involved as well as not very organized or inclusive. Would love to learn more about this with different ages and public schools.

[@伸縮性パンダ]

この中から将来のオリンピック選手が誕生する訳ですね。

[@OurStorytoTell]

We believe it!!

[@Jack-k7q]

Yes the kids in at sports day are great… that said, you didn’t blur any of the kids or adult faces. You are required in Japan to get permission from anyone you get catch in a video. I can see my child in this video and I did not give permission. Please correct the video or take it down.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are correcting the video right now! Our apologies.

[@Jack-k7q]

Hello. It is better, but there are still a lot of items that should be blurred that are not. You can still identify kids from the side and school they go to. The way you videoed this event makes it extremely difficult to make sure you are meeting the requirements for privacy. You still have work to do. Recommend taking the video down until you thoroughly fix it or completely remove it.

[@クルーク大好き]

【養池園】では無く、【幼稚園】ね！

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oops! Thank you!!

[@starseed8087]

Japanese people sometimes do weird things. But for kids sure is fun..

[@タカさん-d7z]

日本の教育は、権利や平等や自由を主張し手にする前に、義務と責任がそれぞれにある事を教える・・・徹底的に。 だからこそ日本は治安が良く平和で秩序があるのだ。