On Saturday, 2025-03-01, Momo had her Graduation Ceremony from Yatsuyama Hoikuen. I hadn’t heard of a graduation ceremony for Day Care before I came to Japan – I suppose they must exist in America too, but it just never really struck me as a thing. Anyway, they are a thing here, and a pretty big thing! Lisa and I went out Saturday morning with Momo dressed up to go to her day care. They decorated the place with a variety of things that the kids helped make (flowers, the backdrops from some of the shows they put on for the parents). When we got there the teachers gave us paper corsages that Momo made which was super cool.

The kids and parents were separated and the parents sat down in the room that was prepared for the ceremony. The kids then came in and sat down. We had a little speech from the Principal of the Day Care, who got a bit emotional, and then as she read a child’s name, they got up, walked along the path prepared for them, walked up to the podium, and received a diploma from the Principal. Then they passed that to another teacher (for safe keeping), and received a letter that they had written previously, and walked to their parents and read their letter. One of the parents then had to say something in response as they received the letter. Momo said she was grateful that we always came and picked her up every day. I talked a bit about how we are both very proud of how she has grown and developed into an empathetic, kind, and smart young girl. Then she went back to her seat.

A lot of the parents got very emotional when they got the letters from their child! I sometimes wonder if I’m not emotional enough, but it was very nice.

After all the kids received their diplomas and gave letters back to their parents, the teachers brought out some instruments and the kids performed a song for the parents. It was very nice.

After that, everyone filed out, we took a bunch of pictures, and then the parents and kids headed over to Hiraimaru boating for a lunch cruise. One of the parents (Hirai-san) is involved with the company Hiraimaru, so we got a good deal. We all got into the boat, and off we went. There was a very nice bento, and very nice Tempura that was cooked on board. Apparently the husband was in the boat family, and his wife is from a family that is famous for their tempura that have some restaurants in Tokyo. So the tempura was quite good.

In the middle of the cruise, the boat parked in front of Rainbow Bridge near Odaiba (by the fake small Statue of Liberty) and people went up onto the roof of the boats to take in the view. Then we headed back, and were back home sometime mid-afternoon after a busy morning and lunch. It was very nice all around.

Momo will start to Jonan Elementary School in April, and still has a few weeks at Yatsuyama Day Care until the Elementary School starts. The Day Care is a bit far from our place – it was our 8th selection, primarily because it is a 45 minute walk – but it was a very nice Day Care for the five years (!!) Momo was there. What was really surprising was that in Momo’s third year, a new teacher transferred in to become Momo’s main teacher, and it was Masaki Watanabe, who by pure coincidence was Alan’s Day Care teacher when he was at Yashio Kita Hoikuen years and years ago. It was really nice because sometimes we’d bring Alan to pick Momo up, or he would come for the family day events, and it was always fun to re-connect with Masaki-sensei who could see how much Alan has grown and talk a bit about how things have been going since he was in Day Care.

We’ll miss this place – since it is so far away, that was actually a bit of a benefit because I would walk home, or walk from there to Shinagawa station to get a bit of exercise. I don’t know what my daily walking will look like when Momo goes to Elementary school. I’m very proud and excited for her start her new stage of life in Elementary school.