Bridging Cultures: Jayne Nakata speaks to Iwaki City Kindergarten Teachers

A growing issue in regional cities is the number of families where both parents are from other countries arriving with children who will attend early education centres. On March 19th, 2026 as a representative of the Iwaki International Association, Jayne Nakata spoke on her experience of being a non-Japanese parent raising two children who attended kindergarten in Iwaki to 56 teachers from city kindergartens. Jayne says: "I wanted the teachers to see how their "usual" is "unusual" for newcomers. If teachers are warm and welcoming and make the expectations clear, then new comers will be able to adjust quickly. Often there is an assumption that parents will just understand what is required but I hear that younger Japanese parents are also struggling with these assumptions. Making the expectations clear makes it easier for everyone to have a positive experience, including teachers, too."