MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Thusrday, September 24, 2026 – From 13:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Yae | Half-Farmer, Half-Singer

The guest for the 51st Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Yae.

Her father was the late Toshio Fujimoto, who devoted his life to taking action and speaking out on issues that mattered to society. Her mother is singer Tokiko Kato, who has continued to share her messages with the world through music.

Yae has inherited that powerful spirit of expression. Describing herself as a “half-farmer, half-singer,” she follows two paths—farming and music—while continuing to communicate the values and ideas that are important to her.

Rather than simply preserving what she has received from her parents, she nurtures it, allows it to grow, and passes it on to the next generation.

In this edition of the Oyako Day Online Talk Live, we look forward to hearing about Yae’s way of life and exploring how her experiences resonate with the values at the heart of Oyako Day—the connections between parents and children, and what we receive from one generation and pass on to the next.

 

Profile:

Yae is the second daughter of the late Toshio Fujimoto and singer Tokiko Kato.

She made her debut as a singer in 2001 and celebrates the 25th anniversary of her musical career in 2026. Her work includes performances for NHK’s Minna no Uta and the video game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.

Yae lives with her family at Kamogawa Shizen Okoku in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, where she combines farming and everyday life with a wide range of activities centered on music, the environment, and food.

She serves as an ambassador for Japan’s Ministry of the Environment’s Mori-Sato-Kawa-Umi Project. In 2025, she released the new song “Inochi no Hi” (The Light of Life) and brought her voice and message to audiences at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as well as COP30 in Brazil.

 

⁠Yae Official Website – “Half-Farmer, Half-Singer”
https://www.yaenet.com

⁠Yae Official Instagram (@yaefujimoto)
https://www.instagram.com/yaefujimoto/

⁠Living as a “Half-Farmer, Half-Singer” – BLUE GRAY GREEN JOURNAL (KYOCERA Corporation)
https://blue-gray-green.com/journal/07/

⁠Farming in Kamogawa, Singing in Brazil – Weekly Economist Online
https://weekly-economist.mainichi.jp/articles/20260421/se1/00m/020/006000c

⁠Yae / Half-Farmer, Half-Singer – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD-SYkujtAk

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Monday, August 24, 2026 – From 13:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Junko Kitazawa | Public Relations Manager, Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.

The guest for the 50th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Junko Kitazawa, Public Relations Manager at Tsuburaya Productions.

Kitazawa joined Tsuburaya Productions in 1996. After working in new business development and licensing, she helped establish the company’s public relations department in 2008 and currently serves as its PR Manager.

She is also a core member of the Ultraman Foundation, established following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 to support children today and in the future. Through the foundation, she continues to be involved in initiatives supporting disaster-affected communities and children living with serious illnesses.

Kitazawa has also been a longtime supporter and partner of Oyako Day, working closely with us over the years and helping the project grow into what it is today.

This July marks a major milestone: the 60th anniversary of the Ultraman Series, celebrated through a wide range of commemorative projects and events.

Together with Kitazawa, we’ll look back on the journey of Oyako Day, revisit some memorable moments, and share behind-the-scenes stories that only someone who has helped nurture the project over so many years could tell.

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a warm and enjoyable conversation!

Profile:

Junko Kitazawa joined Tsuburaya Productions in 1996. After working in the company’s new business and licensing divisions, she helped establish its public relations department in 2008 and has continued working in PR ever since.

She is a core member of the Ultraman Foundation, established together with affiliated group companies following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 to support children in the present and for the future. Through the foundation, she continues to take part in initiatives supporting disaster-affected communities as well as children living with serious illnesses.

In July 2026, the Ultraman Series celebrates its 60th anniversary, with a variety of commemorative projects underway, including special events and theatrical productions.

As the longtime representative of Tsuburaya Productions, a dedicated supporter of Oyako Day for many years, Kitazawa has also played an important role in supporting and nurturing the activities of Oyako Day.

suburaya Station – Official Ultraman & Tsuburaya Productions Website
https://m-78.jp

ULTRAMAN Official Global Instagram (English)
https://www.instagram.com/tsuburayaglobal/

ULTRAMAN Official Global X (English)
https://x.com/tsuburayaglobal

Oyako Day 2026 Special – Connecting, Expanding, Together – A Look Back at Oyako Day (2003–2024) Through the Five Biggest Highlights of Each Year and the Photography of Bruce Osborn

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Sunday, July  26, 2026 – From 13:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Rie Asabuki • Go Asabuki | Riku Emoto | Go Ono | Takeshi Sakurai | Setsuko Sawada | Kaori Takamatsu | Taisuke Yokoyama

…and special surprise guests.

The Baton of Humanity

Every one of us shares one universal connection—we are all part of an oyako, a parent-and-child relationship.

Through this shared perspective, Oyako Day encourages us to recognize the preciousness of life while inspiring conversations about the challenges facing our world today, including declining birthrates, aging societies, environmental issues, war, and many other social concerns.

As we celebrate the past 24 years of Oyako Day, we invite you to look back on the journey through Bruce Osborn’s photographs and the five defining milestones from each year between 2003 and 2024, reflecting on how these moments continue to shape the future we pass on to the next generation.

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Monday, July  20, 2026 – From 13:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Kazuko Koike | Creative Director

The guest for the 48th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Kazuko Koike, creative director.

Koike began her career creating copywriting for the Seibu Saison Group, and after the establishment of the Seibu Museum of Art, she became active as an associate curator. She also played a key role in the launch of MUJI in 1980, and went on to found and direct Sagacho Exhibit Space, helping lead Japan’s cultural and design scene for decades.

It was around this time that Bruce, not long after arriving in Japan, first met Koike. We look forward to hearing what stories the two will share—from their first encounter to the many episodes that followed over the years.

Profile:

Born in Tokyo in 1936. Graduated from the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences at Waseda University. From the 1970s onward, she created numerous copywriting projects for the Seibu Saison Group, and after the establishment of the Seibu Museum of Art, served as an associate curator.

She was involved in the founding of MUJI in 1980 and has served on its advisory board ever since. In 1983, she founded and directed Sagacho Exhibit Space, introducing many contemporary artists from Japan and abroad until 2000.

Her books include Art / Intermedium: Kazuko Koike’s Sites (Heibonsha), and her translations include Eileen Gray: Architect / Designer (Misuzu Shobo), among others.

She is Professor Emerita at Musashino Art University. In 2022, she was named a Person of Cultural Merit, and in 2024, she received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

 

Kazuko Koike | Tokyo Art Research Lab
https://tarl.jp/people/koike/

Kazuko Koike — Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/小池一子

Kazuko Koike and Masato Nakamura Launch a New Project in Bakurocho: Creative Base “Art Base / There Is No Coincidence”
ARTnews JAPAN
https://artnewsjapan.com/article/79217

Alternative! Kazuko Koike Exhibition — A Gentle Movement of Art and Design
3331 Arts Chiyoda
https://alternative-kazukokoike.3331.jp

Kazuko Koike: The Continuous Present Progressive — For an Alternative View
T JAPAN: The New York Times Style Magazine
https://www.tjapan.jp/art/17488785

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Sunday, June  28, 2026 – From 13:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Ryouichi Yuki | President and CEO of Jidaimura Co., Ltd. (Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura) & Shogun

The guest for the 47th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Ryouichi Yuki, President and CEO of Jidaimura Co., Ltd. (Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura) and the holder of the title “Shogun.”

Yuki Shogun has devoted himself to preserving and passing on Japan’s intangible cultural heritage, including Bushido, traditional etiquette, and performing arts. His connection with Bruce Osborn dates back nearly forty years.

“Culture is not something to be preserved in storage; it is a living asset that must be passed on to the future.”

How will this philosophy resonate with the values that Oyako Day has cherished over the years?

Once again, this promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation.

Profile:

With the guiding philosophy “Edo is the Answer,” Ryouichi Yuki has worked to share the value of Edo culture with contemporary society and the world.

Long before inbound tourism became a major trend, he recognized its potential and developed ways for visitors not merely to observe Japanese culture, but to experience it firsthand.

His efforts extend to the preservation and transmission of Japan’s intangible cultural heritage, including Bushido, traditional etiquette, and performing arts.

In the field of education, he helped establish a joint venture with BørneLund, while in environmental conservation he forged a sister-facility partnership with the C.W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust. His work spans a wide range of cultural, educational, and environmental initiatives.

Beyond operating his own cultural facilities, Yuki has produced projects throughout Japan—including in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and Chuo City, Tokyo—that blend cultural preservation, regional revitalization, and entertainment.

Guided by the belief that “culture is not something to be preserved, but a living asset to be passed on to future generations,” he continues to create new pathways for Japanese culture to thrive in the future.

 

Jidaimura Co., Ltd.
https://www.jidaimura.com

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
https://edowonderland.net

The Clues to Diverse Learning Can Be Found in Edo
BørneLund Online Shop
https://ec.bornelund.co.jp/shop/pages/asobinomori_detail_asobi_edo.aspx

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura Announces Sister Forest Partnership
C.W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust
https://afan.or.jp/news/5116/

Carrying Forward a Legacy Forest: Why Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura Is Creating a Satoyama
Forbes JAPAN BrandVoice
https://forbesjapan.com/articles/detail/68284

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Sunday, May  23, 2026 – From 12:30 (LIVE)

Guest: Hirofumi Gomi | President & CEO, Office Burn Co., Ltd. / Haunted House Producer

The guest for the 46th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Hirofumi Gomi, who has created more than 100 haunted houses over the past 30 years, beginning with Maro Akaji’s Panorama Mystery House at Korakuen Yuenchi (now Tokyo Dome City Attractions) in 1992.

Through the experience of fear, Gomi has mastered the art of stirring human emotions and transforming them into entertainment and excitement.

Bruce first met Gomi while working on the promotional poster for one of Korakuen’s haunted house attractions. What lies behind fear? This promises to be a curious, thrilling, and delightfully unsettling conversation.

Profile:

Since launching Maro Akaji’s Panorama Mystery House at Korakuen Yuenchi in 1992, Gomi has produced over 100 haunted house attractions over more than three decades. By introducing original concepts of storytelling and missions, he transformed haunted houses into immersive entertainment that adults could enjoy as well.

His notable works include Baby Hell, The House of Leg Cutting, and The Pinky Promise House, among many others. He is also the author of numerous books.

 

Office Burn – Haunted House & Horror Event Planning / Production
https://officeburn.jp

Hirofumi Gomi – Haunted House Producer
https://officeburn.jp/horrorproducer/

Tokyo Dome City Attractions
https://www.at-raku.com/attractions/laqua/obakeyashiki/

Hirofumi Gomi Official X Account
https://x.com/obake_gomi

MC: Satoshi Seki / Editor & Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn, Yoshiko Inoue
Organized by: OYAKO Day Promotion Committee

Streaming Date & Time: Sunday, April  26, 2026 – From 15:00 (LIVE)

Guest: Yumiko Minegishi | Representative Director, Yushin General Incorporated Association

The 45th Oyako Day Online Talk Live welcomes Yumiko Minegishi, who has spent 35 years engaged in nature experience programs, the management and instruction of nature schools, and the training of educators. Through her independently developed Yushin Method, she promotes activities that connect local nature, people, and culture.

What hints for the future might emerge through Minegishi’s connection with Oyako Day?

Profile:

For 35 years, Minegishi has worked in nature-based experiential learning, nature school management, and educator training. She developed the original Yushin Method, later expanding it into corporate training, early childhood education, and family education.

After establishing her organization in 2010, she began offering hands-on sensory programs for urban families, with approximately 1,500 participants in 2024 alone. She is also involved in inquiry-based learning programs using zoos and museums.

Since 2021, she has led the Kanda Ai Association, dedicating her efforts to preserving and passing on local cultural traditions.

 

Yushin General Incorporated Association
https://yushin.or.jp/

Kanda Ai Association (currently applying for NPO status)
https://team-kanda-ai.jp/

The online talk event commemorating “OYAKO Day 2023” will be held on Saturday, July 22nd. You can watch the live video on YouTube. We will announce it with more details soon.

The online talk event commemorating “OYAKO Day 2022” was on Sunday July 24th. You can watch the archive video on YouTube (above). Please enjoy!

The online talk event commemorating “OYAKO Day 2021” was held with Misaki Kuroe as MC and five creators giving presentations on the theme of ~ Present to the Future ~.

The speakers include manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, who created “Ashita no Joe” which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Kazuyoshi Nomachi, a documentary photographer who is highly acclaimed in Japan and overseas. Mr. Naotake Hibiya, a cross-sectoral connector working under the theme of connecting information and increasing the number of protagonists to change society, After traveling around the world 9 times as a staff of Peace Boat, Ai Onodera realized that the answer to global issues begins by working locally and is passionate about neighborhood activities in Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Nobuya Miyata connects the communities and people through matsuri (traditional festivals) and works share its culture and heritage with the next generation.