His journey took him from the United States through Europe and on to Asia, where he eventually encountered Japan.

Once Upon a Time is the story of the surprises, discoveries, and unforgettable experiences that followed.

It was a time when it was still relatively uncommon for foreigners to make Japan their permanent home. A young photographer settled in one of Tokyo’s old downtown neighborhoods and began observing the society around him, meeting people from all walks of life along the way.

The stories trace what Bruce has witnessed from those early days to the present—the changing scenes of Japanese society and the many encounters that have shaped his life.

Told in Bruce’s own words, Once Upon a Time is also a personal record of an era.

We hope you’ll enjoy following the story with us.

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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.

This photograph was taken in 1986, when NTT organized an initiative called “Talk Day.” Bruce Osborn was commissioned to create a series of oyako portraits for the project, and photographed Keiko Kishi with her daughter, Delphine.

In this portrait, we catch a glimpse of Kishi not as the glamorous, poised and accomplished professional so familiar to the public, but simply as a mother with her daughter.

We offer our deepest respects and prayers for Keiko Kishi.

#KeikoKishi
#BruceOsborn
#OYAKO
#OyakoDay
#ParentAndChild

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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 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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Since then, the two families have shared a warm and lasting friendship that has continued for many years.

This year, in celebration of Oyako Day, One Day Kitchen has created a special Oyako Bento to help introduce more people to the spirit of Oyako Day.

As quantities are limited, we encourage you to stop by the restaurant early to enjoy this special offering!

One Day Kitchen
Phone: +81-42-854-0497
Address: Casa I Building 1F, 1-8-2 Nakamachi, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/one_day_kitchen_/

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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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Oyako Day Essay Contest 2025 — Prize-Winning Entry

The Home to Which the Noise Returns

There came a day when I stopped going on family trips.
I had been glued to my desk preparing for university entrance exams… or perhaps, I had just come up with that excuse.
The truth was, I simply couldn’t find a reason to go to noisy places with my family anymore.

— In other words, I longed for silence.

My family silently accepted it. Gradually, the number of trips they took without me increased.
They must have sensed that I was yearning for “serenity.”

In my house, silence never truly existed.
The TV was always on, laughter shook the walls, the ventilation fan hummed, and the air conditioner groaned.
Even if I curled up in the furthest corner of the house, the noise would follow me.

— However, when my family was gone, silence would unexpectedly arrive.
A silence so empty it felt almost unnatural.
The body left behind in the stillness experienced a strange sense of liberation.
The air spreading from corner to corner of the room didn’t clear with a “shh” but instead carried a tension, as if it were on the verge of snapping. I tried to merge with it.

I wanted to live in that stillness forever.

…That was my feeling for the first three hours.

Soon, the silence turned into a ringing in my ears, summoning phantom sounds that gnawed at my mind.
I started feeling ill, and in the end, I turned on the TV and played music…

— Ah, please come back.

When the door opened, the noise rushed in.
Laughter bounced through the air, the clinking of dishes echoed, and the TV blared noisily.
I frowned, but deep inside, I felt relieved.

The stillness certainly comforted me.
But it was the noise that connected me to something.

I hear there is something called “OYAKO Day.”
I want to celebrate that day not as a day to give flowers or exchange special words, but simply—
as a day to truly appreciate the value of the noise.

The discomfort of being alone.
The disharmony born from the interactions between parent and child.
That disharmony is my life, my comfort,
— and the place to which I belong.

Nao Sasaki
Age: 22
Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

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