The relationship between Oyako Day and The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper goes back many decades.

And throughout the years, it has been Bruce Osborn’s photographs of parents and children that have graced the newspaper’s covers.

In the early years, the editors selected images from Bruce’s existing collection of OYAKO portraits. Later, the covers featured photographs of families who had participated in the Oyako Day Super Photo Sessions.

There was also a period when special photo sessions were organized specifically for The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper, with Bruce photographing mothers together with their children.

Today, the covers feature fathers and their children.

Every photograph captures a moment unique to that particular parent and child, and the words that accompany each portrait are just as moving.

Featured on the cover of this month’s issue are Rio Segan and his son, Ka’imi.

Along with their portrait came this beautiful message from father to son.

To Ka’imi, from Dad

To love someone is more than simply being together.

It means giving your time to the person in front of you, being present, and continuing to truly see them.

To me, that is love in its most beautiful form.

I grew up without my father always by my side, and there were many days when I felt lonely.

Now that I am a father myself, there is something I understand more deeply than ever.

What a father can give his son is more than words.

It is the simple assurance of his presence—the feeling that “I will always be here for you.”

And so, I want to make sure you always have a place you can come home to, no matter what happens.

It’s okay to have days when things don’t go well.
It’s okay to be different from everyone else.

Whoever you are, my love for you will never change.

Someday, there may come a time when you choose your friends over me, or when you don’t want to hear what I have to say.

Even then, I will always be your father.

As you grow from a boy into a man, I want to be there beside you for as much of that journey as I possibly can.

The fact that you came into this world is a gift more precious to me than anything else in my life.

Ka’imi, you are the son I always dreamed of having.

All I ask is that you simply be yourself.

I will love you always.

#OyakoDay
#OYAKODAY
#MothersDay
#FathersDay
#PresentToTheFuture
#GladToBeBorn

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We are deeply grateful to everyone who took part.

And today is A Day for Mothers to Toast Their Dreams, organized by The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper, which has always been a wonderful supporter of Oyako Day.

At 7:30 p.m. on July 30, mothers throughout Japan are invited to raise a glass together. As part of the celebration, the organizers are collecting declarations of mothers’ dreams, with the goal of gathering 1,000 dreams.

My dream is:

“As the mother of two daughters, and as someone who has helped nurture Oyako Day, I hope to see the day when Oyako Day belongs to people everywhere in the world—and when I can entrust its future to them with complete confidence.”

The second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day.

The third Sunday of June is Father’s Day.

And the fourth Sunday of July is Oyako Day.

Created in 2003 as a commemorative day following Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Oyako Day carries the hope of building a society in which every life can feel, “I’m glad I was born.”

Why not declare your dream, too?

#ADayForMothersToToastTheirDreams
#OneMillionDreamDeclarations
#DreamDeclaration
#OyakoDay
#OYAKODAY
#MothersDay
#FathersDay
#PresentToTheFuture
#GladToBeBorn
#ConnectingLives

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The celebration begins at 7:30, on July 30.

This year’s theme is:

“A Mother’s Dream Journey—Leading the Way to Her Child’s Future.”

The event is organized by The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper (Okaasan Gyokai Shimbun), the only media outlet in Japan dedicated to sharing one simple message: “Mothers are amazing!”

Written by mothers themselves, the publication tells authentic stories drawn from everyday life—capturing the world within a three-meter radius and transforming ordinary experiences into meaningful voices.

The cover photograph of every issue is taken by Bruce Osborn.

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Simply because every single day we spend together is filled with joy, surprise, and color.

Watching her grow a little more each day. Seeing the endless expressions that dance across her face. Hearing the unexpected words she invents and watching the little things she does that make us laugh. Nothing brings me greater happiness than seeing my wife and daughter smiling together. The fact that scenes like these have become part of our everyday life feels like an incredible blessing.

The other day, we visited her great-grandmother. Once again, our daughter had the entire family laughing with her spontaneous remarks and playful antics. Even as her parent, I find myself amazed by her ability to brighten a room the moment she walks into it.

That’s why I tell her “Thank you” every single day.

After we read a picture book together, I say, “Thank you.”

After we share a meal, I say, “Thank you.”

She always answers with her own adorable version: “Aa-to.”

I don’t know how much she understands the meaning of those words just yet. But hearing her little voice echo them back is enough to fill my heart with warmth.

There will surely be tears, setbacks, and difficult days ahead.

Even so, I have a feeling—one that doesn’t need any proof—that we’ll keep smiling and saying, “Wasn’t today fun?”

Rei, thank you so much for coming into our lives.

— Hisashi Makimori

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It still feels almost miraculous that one book I published led me to meet my partner, and eventually connected me to Sara—an irreplaceable life.

Before marriage, even while sharing dreams and goals with my partner, I couldn’t picture us raising a family together. But when Sara was born and our family began to take shape, I discovered her strength and kindness, and something inside me began to change as well.

Thanks to this precious being, I—someone who had always lived with myself as the priority—found myself thinking more about others, gaining experiences that added depth to who I am as a person.

In her name, Sara (桜來), we placed the wish that “no matter how long the winter, spring will always come.” We hope she will grow into someone who blossoms with hope like a cherry tree.

From now on, as the three of us, I want to see the wonderful scenery that only we can share, and experience life’s joys and challenges together. Through tears and laughter, in every moment, my greatest happiness is to live as a family.

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Having played baseball since childhood, I am trying out various things now, hoping that he will become interested in ball games. At the moment, he can’t beat Anpanman, but I hope that we can play catch together someday.

I have a lot of business trips and busy days, but I want to get home as early as possible so that I can take a bath with him. I want to show my son a wide world and give him various experiences. To that end, I am reconsidering how I work and use my time.

When I used to live in Hiroshima, I often looked at ships. I want him to sail the ocean of life with brilliance. I named him with that feeling in mind. I’m sure that things I can’t even imagine are waiting for him from now on. It is at such times that I want him to overcome any difficulties with his natural power and generosity. I need to train hard so that I don’t lose to my son in running.

(Interviewer: Yuki Yamami / Text: Hiromi Uechi)

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Right now, I’m doing my best just to get through each day, but when I think of how these experiences will lead to the future, I want to cherish each day and spend it with a smile.

I grew up in a family-run restaurant, and the regulars loved me in place of my busy father. One of my fondest memories with my father is playing shogi (Japanese chess). We enjoy it in the same way at home, but my children have improved so quickly that we can now even hold small tournaments. I can’t wait for the day when these children grow up and tell me about their own happiness.

(Interviewed by Suzuki Shogo/Text by Uechi Hiromi)

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I feel that time spent together as a family is very precious and flows slowly. Although it can be confusing as it is my first time raising a child, I try to hold my son tight and shower him with love.

I think that the environment in which people such as fellow moms and dads, neighbors, and people I meet on the train or in stores talk to me and laugh with me is something that is only possible now while raising a child.

My only wish is that my son’s life will be rich and precious, with many encounters and lessons to learn.

(Interview: Ito Taro/Text: Uechi Hiromi)

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I’ve loved to be active since I was little, and my main hobby is watching martial arts such as karate and ball games such as table tennis on YouTube.

I have two mischievous boys, one year apart in age. Before my first son was born, I honestly wondered if I could really become a father.

It was awkward raising children, with so many things being new to me… Just as I was slowly getting used to life with my children, I was blessed with my second son.

When they were born, it was much harder than I imagined to look after them at the same time… I used all my wisdom and physical strength to find games that the siblings could play together and take them to the park. I’m always conscious of wanting to be a cool father in front of my children, who will surely become even more powerful in the future.

I also believe that it’s important to make time for my wife, and I try my best to do so. I hope that in the future, they will grow up to be kind people who care for others, as well as their family.

(Interview: Shin Ayato / Text: Hiromi Ueji)

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