Our Planet

Text : Saeko Imai

On March 31, when the winter chill still lingered, a graduation ceremony was held to send off the Karappo children (a.k.a. the 11 Akebi class members*) graduates in 2022.

*If you want to know more about the origin of Team Karappo, please read the following article.
Encounter With Food

Due to the continuous closure of Yamanoko for Covid, the events planned for March had to be cancelled, but the days leading up to the graduation ceremony at the remaining Yamanoko were joyful and glorious.

 

We had a karaoke contest where everyone performed their favorite songs, and we held a pool day by bringing a plastic pool from home. When asked “What do you want to do?”, the children seemed to be satisfied, even though they found it difficult, by sharing with their peers what they wanted to do and how they envisioned the process of achieving it. For their last excursion before graduation, the children took the train to Atsumi Onsen Hot Springs, walked to the foot of Mount Atsumi, and then bought buns and soaked in the footbath. In the process of thinking and deciding for themselves, the children showed us a variety of faces. Some were distressed, some were thinking together, and some were filled with a sense of accomplishment. These were days that will remain in the hearts of not only the children but also the adults who were involved.

 

Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the graduation ceremony, but everyone came dressed up for the day more fashionably than usual. The day before, the staff stayed late to decorate the room with wildflowers and think about how best to welcome the departure of their long-time friends. The children were a little nervous because the ceremony had a different atmosphere than usual, but the time spent with their friends, parents, and other preschoolers who had come together over the years was very special.

 

I thought to myself, “Why do we have a graduation ceremony?” Ithought it was to pay respect to the wonderful time we shared with our friends

 (including the parents), to wish the graduating children happiness, and to be aware of our best wishes for the future. Many thanks were exchanged that day, and 11 children graduated from Yamanoko Childcare Center. I wonder what they are doing now.

 

Two months have passed since the graduation ceremony, but the relationship is still strong and deep, with families of graduates and Yamanoko staff playing at the beach and parks on weekends, and Yamanoko staff visiting elementary schools to see what is going on. Itwas the words of I, a 2020 graduate, that made me realize that it is also very

 

 important to sustain relationships after preschool life at Yamanoko. The children who graduated in 2021 wanted to stay at Yamanoko until the night before they graduated. They all went for an evening walk together. At that time, I, who was accompanying his younger sister, Y, to pick her up, saw us going out for a walk and said, “I want to go too!” and we went out together to explore. We spent about 30 minutes exploring together in the dark with flashlights. After we finished, he said with a sparkling smile, “Thanks everyone. See you later!” and went home. Later that day, I’s mother told me that I said, “I love video games, but that (yesterday’s walk) was a million times more fun.” These words showed me how our sustainability as a community is connected to the wellbeing of our children.