At that time, I was living in Osaka, where my husband had been transferred for work.
It was an unfamiliar place, my family was far away, and my husband worked in sales, often coming home late into the night.
It was what you would call a “one-person operation.”
My young son often had fevers.

That day, I was incredibly sleepy.
My husband had come home late the night before, and the housework stretched into the early hours of the morning.
Even though he told me, “You can sleep,” I stayed up, waiting for him to come home.

My son, who had been napping, woke up.
I think he was around three years old.

“Mom, wake up! I want to go on the slide!”
I was too sleepy and replied, “Just a little more sleep,” but he insisted, “Ken-chan isn’t sleepy. Let’s go for a walk.”

I said, “There’s pudding in the fridge,” and my son ate it skillfully, then came back to persuade me again.
I still wanted to sleep, so I said, “My head hurts. I think I have a fever. Watch the Tomica video.”
In reality, I didn’t have a headache or a fever. I was pretending to be sick.
My son became quiet and left my side.

Just when I thought I could sleep for another 20 minutes, I felt something cold on my forehead.
“Mom’s head, ‘Itai no itai no tondeike!’ (Pain, go away!) This will make your fever go down!”

My son had taken a cooling pad from the fridge and placed it on my forehead.
There was a small chair in front of the fridge.
I could picture him saying, “One step, two steps,” as he carefully carried the chair and stretched up to grab it.

Tears quietly fell. The mix of guilt and emotion over his growth moved me deeply.
“Ken-chan, thank you! I’m better now.
Let’s go for a walk. I’ll get ready right now, so wait for me.”

My son, who had been waiting by the door with his shoes on, muttered,
“Mom, you’re so slow! How long are you going to make me wait?”
That was exactly my husband’s tone.
I burst out laughing.

Children observe their parents well.
I held his small hand and we went outside.
My son, who will soon turn 29, is likely to become a father soon.
I’m sure he’ll be a kind father.
But please, take your time while your wife gets ready.

by Masae Matsuda / age: 58 / Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Japan

#OyakoDay
#OYAKODAY
#Essay
#ThankYouforthePainRelief
#PresentToTheFuture
#MotherAndSon

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Yae | Half-Farmer, Half-Singer / Singer-Songwriter

Our 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. 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, she nurtures it 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 journey resonates with the values at the heart of Oyako Day—what we receive from one generation, how we nurture it, and what we pass on to the next.

The post 51st Oyako Day Online Talk Live — September 24, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. (JST) appeared first on 「親子の日」Oyako Day.

A photograph capturing a precious moment between parent and child.
A story of family told through carefully chosen words.

Through each and every entry, we had the privilege of discovering the many different forms that OYAKO—the bond between parent and child—can take.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated.

The judging process will now begin, and the results will be announced at a later date.

The photograph accompanying this post was taken after the Oyako Day Super Photo Session in 2014.

Although we were unable to hold the Super Photo Session this year, the same joyful energy we felt that day continues to live on, nurturing and inspiring Oyako Day today.

Thank you for your continued support of Oyako Day.

#OyakoDay
#OYAKODAY
#PhotoContest
#EssayContest
#OyakoStories
#PresentToTheFuture

The post Submissions for the Photo & Essay Contests Are Now Closed appeared first on 「親子の日」Oyako Day.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has entered.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, August 31.

If you’ve been thinking, “I haven’t sent mine yet!”—there’s still time!

You have until the end of today, so please don’t forget to send in your entry.

We’re looking forward to receiving your special OYAKO photographs and stories right up until the deadline.

The photo accompanying this post is one of our own summer memories, taken with our daughter and grandchild when they came home for their summer vacation.

#OyakoDay
#OYAKODAY
#PhotoContest
#EssayContest
#OyakoPhotography
#ParentAndChild
#FamilyStories
#FamilyMemories
#PowerOfPhotography
#PowerOfWords
#PresentToTheFuture

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Live Streaming: Monday, August 24, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. (JST)

⁠Watch the Oyako Day Online Talk Live

Guest: Junko Kitazawa — Public Relations Manager, Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.
Moderator: Satoshi Seki — Editor / Producer
Hosts: Bruce Osborn / Yoshiko Inoue
Organizer: Oyako Day Promotion Committee

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 and invaluable supporter of Oyako Day, working closely with us over the years and helping the project grow.

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

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

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

The program will be moderated by Satoshi Seki, editor, producer, and member of the Oyako Day Promotion Committee. Photographer Bruce Osborn and Yoshiko Inoue, representative of the Oyako Day Promotion Committee, will also join the conversation.

#OyakoDay
#OyakoDayOnlineTalkLive
#TsuburayaProductions
#Ultraman
#UltramanFoundation
#JunkoKitazawa
#BruceOsborn
#OYAKODAY
#PresentToTheFuture
#Ultraman60thAnniversary

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The exhibition will run from May 30 (Saturday) through June 26 (Friday), 2026.

This year, photographers from Japan and around the world have once again contributed works exploring the theme of Oyako—the bond between parent and child.

Afghanistan, Cambodia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Gaza, Iran, Japan, Poland, Syria, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam.

Though cultures, religions, environments, and ways of life may differ, each photograph reveals something universal: the time shared between parent and child, and the continuity of life itself.

“Oyako transcends borders, cultures, and religions—it is a universal language.”

At a time when conflict and division continue in many parts of the world, we hope this exhibition will encourage visitors to reflect on the everyday lives of families and the enduring connections that sustain us.

As many families, as many stories.

We hope that the parent-child relationships captured in these photographs will resonate with you in a meaningful way.

Exhibition Dates

May 30 (Sat) – June 26 (Fri), 2026

Venue

Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ)

Opening Hours

Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: Open from the afternoon
Closed on Sundays and public holidays

Exhibition Details

https://www.fccj.or.jp/exhibition

A reception with participating photographers will also be held on Thursday, June 4.

If you would like to attend, please register by email:

E-mail: staff@oyako.org

We look forward to welcoming you.

The post 7th Oyako Photo Matsuri – As Many Stories as There are Families – appeared first on 「親子の日」Oyako Day.

The Tokyo exhibition is being held at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum from May 27 (Wed) through June 5 (Fri).
It will be followed by the Kansai exhibition, taking place at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art Annex from June 9 (Tue) through June 14 (Sun).

For details, please visit:
https://www.jps.gr.jp/jpsten2026_session/

Bruce Osborn is also exhibiting as a member of JPS.

His selected work this year comes from the Flying series.

Reverberation

A discarded trash bin,
having fulfilled its purpose,
drifts through the air,
carrying with it the memories of people
and the scent of the city.
The reverberations of urban life
echo into the sky.

Flying is a photographic series that explores the moment of departure for objects created to serve people after their original purpose has come to an end.

If you are in the area, we hope you will stop by and visit the exhibition.

The post JPS Exhibition Now Open appeared first on 「親子の日」Oyako Day.

May 3 (Constitution Memorial Day)

Screening of the film work Spring 1982 (@ Lanai)

A rare film capturing the atmosphere of the Showa era through the eyes of Bruce Osborn, shortly after his arrival in Japan.

The evening will also feature a DJ night with Bruce and friends.

Venue

Lanai

Home of the Masaru & Bruce Two-Person Exhibition.

Bruce first met painter Masaru Fukuda when Fukuda was still working as an art director.
Now, nearly fifty years later, that friendship has become the exhibition Masaru & Bruce.

Official Website

https://www.hayama-artfes.org

Inquiries

yoshiko@intheozone.net

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The post Format Magazine appeared first on 「親子の日」Oyako Day.

Please check the article from HERE

Books can be purchased from HERE

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