Photographer Bruce Osborn arrived in Japan at the end of the 1970s after a journey that took him from America through Europe and Asia. Once Upon a Time, now being published on note, tells the story of the people, places, surprises, and changing times he has witnessed in Japan ever since.
「親子の日」エッセイコンテスト２０２５入賞作品 いたいのいたいの ありがとう」
「かぁかのあたま、いたいのいたいのとんでいけ！これでおねつさがるよ」
息子は冷蔵庫から熱冷ましシートを取り、私に貼ってくれた。
小さな椅子が冷蔵庫の前にあった。
For many years, Bruce Osborn’s OYAKO portraits have graced the covers of The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper. This month features father Rio Segan and his son Ka’imi, accompanied by a heartfelt message about a father’s unconditional love, presence, and the precious gift of watching his son grow.
The 51st Oyako Day Online Talk Live welcomes Yae, a “half-farmer, half-singer” and singer-songwriter. Join us as we explore her life rooted in farming and music, and how she nurtures what she has inherited and passes it on to the next generation.
Submissions for this year’s Oyako Day Photo & Essay Contests are now closed. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared their photographs and stories, each revealing a unique expression of the bond between parent and child. The judging process will now begin, with the results to be announced soon.
The Oyako Day Photo Contest 2026 is now open through August 31. In addition to email submissions, entries are also accepted via Instagram.
The Oyako Day Essay Contest 2026 is now open through August 31. In addition to email submissions, entries are also accepted via Instagram.
Today is the final day to enter the Oyako Day Photo & Essay Contests! Thank you for all the wonderful photographs and heartfelt stories we’ve received this year. There’s still time to share your own special OYAKO moment—the deadline is August 31.
We remember Keiko Kishi through a 1986 portrait by Bruce Osborn, capturing a quiet moment between Kishi and her daughter, Delphine, and offering a glimpse of the celebrated actress simply as a mother.
The 50th Oyako Day Online Talk Live welcomes Junko Kitazawa of Tsuburaya Productions on August 24. A longtime supporter of Oyako Day and a core member of the Ultraman Foundation, she joins us to share memories, behind-the-scenes stories, and reflections as the Ultraman Series celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Due to recent changes to Instagram’s platform and features, there is a possibility that some submitted entries may have been overlooked by our team. Therefore, we kindly ask those who have already submitted their work via Instagram to resend their entries by email to ensure that we receive them.
Bruce Osborn’s long-running Once Upon a Time exhibition at Adan in Sengakuji has been renewed with thirteen portrait photographs spanning his career in Japan. Enjoy the exhibition while dining at one of Tokyo’s welcoming neighborhood restaurants.
After celebrating Oyako Day with gratitude, we turn to A Day for Mothers to Toast Their Dreams—an invitation for mothers across Japan to share their hopes and imagine a future in which every life can say, “I’m glad I was born.”
Every July 30 at 7:30, mothers across Japan come together to celebrate themselves and the dreams they pursue. Organized by The Mothers’ Industry Newspaper, this inspiring event reminds us that a mother’s aspirations help shape the future of her children—and every issue proudly features a cover photograph by Bruce Osborn.
To celebrate Oyako Day, One Day Kitchen has created a limited-edition Oyako Bento, inspired by its long-standing friendship with Bruce Osborn and his family. Visit early to enjoy this special collaboration while supplies last.
Featured in Hamakaze, a regional magazine in Kanagawa Prefecture, this message celebrates the vision behind Oyako Day—a day dedicated to strengthening the bond between parents and children while inspiring respect for family, community, nature, and peace. Together, we continue to nurture Present to the Future for generations to come.
Join us for the Oyako Day 2026 Special, a 90-minute retrospective celebrating the journey of Oyako Day from 2003 to the present through Bruce Osborn’s photography, the five defining moments of each year, and the memories of the families and supporters who have shaped its history.
The Kasado Island D51 592 Preservation Society in Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will present a special screening of OYAKO on Oyako Day. Through this film and the beautiful scenery of Kasado Island, audiences are invited to reflect on the enduring importance of parents, children, family, and the communities that bring people together.
Inspired by the filming of OYAKO and the shared vision of local leaders, Kudamatsu Oyako Day has become an annual tradition, celebrating and strengthening family bonds in the community year after year.
We are currently preparing information for the Oyako Day Super Photo Session 2026.
Please stay tuned!
Once Upon a Time Vol. 3 revisits Bruce Osborn’s departure from Los Angeles in September 1976 and the beginning of his life-changing journey through Europe.
Photographer Yasu Mochizuki hosts a special Oyako Day Family Photo Session in Sumida, inviting families to celebrate the bonds between generations through photography.
Join Oyako Day Abiko for a special one-day celebration featuring a Bruce Osborn photo exhibition, family photo sessions, and a lively Oyako Day Marche for all ages.
The guest of the 45th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Yumiko Minegishi, Representative Director of the general incorporated association Yushin. From the idea behind her “Yushin Method” — blending playfulness with quiet, absorbed concentration — to her insights on children who’ve lost the chance to play outdoors, the community connections built through growing and dyeing indigo in Kanda, and her closing message for the future that “every living thing has life,” she shared the roots of her work and her outlook on life. This article delivers highlights from the talk livestreamed on April 26, 2026.
Bruce Osborn joins 17 fellow artists in a group exhibition at OKERA House in Hiratsuka, featuring a large-format photograph from his beach-found flip-flop series.
The guest for the 48th Oyako Day Online Talk Live is Kazuko Koike, one of Japan’s most influential creative directors.
Koike began her career writing copy for the Seibu Saison Group before becoming an associate curator at the newly established Seibu Museum of Art. She later played a key role in the founding of MUJI in 1980 and went on to establish and direct Sagacho Exhibit Space, becoming a leading figure in Japan’s cultural and design communities.
It was during those formative years that Bruce Osborn, newly arrived in Japan, first met Kazuko Koike.
The 46th Oyako Day Online Talk Live welcomed haunted house producer Hirofumi Gomi as its guest. In this text edition, discover the highlights of the conversation—from his 30-year creative connection with Bruce Osborn and the innovative idea of bringing “missions” into haunted houses, to the differences between Japanese and international horror culture, and his inspiring message for the future: “Keep embracing adventure.” Originally live-streamed on May 23, 2026.
Those words became a kind of curse. Born as the eldest daughter in a rural family, my reputation was tied to the reputation of the house. My education-focused parents took me to cram school before I even started elementary school.
Voting for the Oyako Award (Oyako Taisho) 2026 will begin soon. Which parent-and-child pair will receive your vote this year?
We will once again be holding the Oyako Matsuri Photo Festival this year. Details regarding the date, time, and venue will be announced as soon as preparations are complete.
Please stay tuned!
The Oyako Day Essay Contest is now accepting entries. Share your own parent-child story by August 31, 2026.
Our daughter is now a year and a half old. Looking back, what I feel most deeply these days is an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward her.
I went to see Michael, the biographical film about Michael Jackson. The lead role is played by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Some people say they could have simply used archival footage of Michael himself, but this was a completely different kind of experience. At first, I thought, “Hmm, he doesn’t really look like him.” But as the story went on, he gradually became Michael.
Photojournalist Shisei Kuwabara has received the 76th Kumanichi Award. We extend our heartfelt congratulations.
Ryouichi Yuki, President of Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura and known as “Shogun,” joins the 47th Oyako Day Online Talk Live to explore culture as a living legacy for future generations.
Bruce Osborn’s Once Upon a Time begins on note, tracing his journey from 1980s Japan to Oyako Day.
What if the Soviet Union had been the first to land on the Moon?
The story begins with a single point of divergence.
Set in an alternate timeline where a Soviet cosmonaut steps onto the lunar surface before Apollo 11 arrives in 1969, For All Mankind is Apple TV+’s epic science-fiction drama exploring how history might have unfolded if the Space Race had never ended.
Voting for the Oyako Award has begun. Cast your vote for the parent-child pair whose story inspires you most.
We are pleased to announce the 7th Oyako Photo Festival — As Many Stories as There Are Families, once again to be held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ). The exhibition will run from May 30 (Saturday) through June 26 (Friday), 2026.
Bruce Osborn exhibits Reverberation from his Flying series at the 51st JPS Exhibition in Tokyo and Kyoto. 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).
EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert is more than a concert film—it’s a powerful reminder of why Elvis remains timeless.
Haunted house producer Hirofumi Gomi joins the 46th Oyako Day Talk Live to explore fear, storytelling, and emotional thrills.
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.
“Thank You, Chuck” quietly transforms from apocalypse to human drama, revealing one ordinary life as a universe unto itself.
Join the Oyako photo session on May 5 at Studio AO. Apply by email to take part in this special Children’s Day event.
On May 4, a special talk event “Masaru & Bruce” takes place at Lanai during the Hayama Art Festival.
On May 3, Bruce Osborn’s rare film Spring 1982 screens at Lanai, followed by a DJ night during the Hayama Art Festival.
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.
Bruce Osborn joins the 34th Hayama Art Festival with three exhibitions celebrating memory, objects, friendship, and Hayama life.
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.
I used to adore Pixar. Lately, though, the studio seems to be wheezing through a rough patch. New hits have been hard to come by. So what about this latest offering from Disney & Pixar—can it turn the tide?
Munakatado’s couple joins the 44th Oyako Day Talk Live, sharing life, bread, and what we pass on to the future.
Bruce Osborn revisits his I Love Lucy series as THE SCOOTERS return after 30 years—reuniting in Hayama by the sea.
今週の火曜日からはじまる「一色ビーチアート展」は、今年で１３回目になるんだそう。今年も、葉山町在住アーティストのメンバーとして「親子の日」のオリジネーター、ブルース・オズボーンが参加します。
Naoki Sakai joins the 43rd Oyako Day Talk Live on Feb 22, sharing the power of “concept” behind iconic designs.
The first Oyako Day Online Talk of 2026 will welcome Tetsu Nakamura, who has supported Oyako Day in many ways—most notably through Abiko no Oyako Day. He will share his passionate vision and aspirations for Oyako Day 2026.
FCCJの展覧会委員長として長年携わってまいりました「干支展」が、 本年も日本外国特派員協会（FCCJ）にて開催される運びとなりました。
We have been in Kanazawa since December 28. We have been traveling by car around the Noto Peninsula, visiting places such as Suzu and Wajima, and will be returning home on the 2nd.
Shizuo “EC” Ishii joins the 41st Oyako Day Talk Live on Dec 24, sharing stories of culture, friendship, and life at 80
Bruce Osborn’s Nature Calls series will be shown in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, as part of the traveling Tokyo Photography Month exhibition.
Musician Temiyan joins the 40th Oyako Day Talk Live—sharing songs of life, love, and the mysteries of nature in his unique musical world.
Bruce Osborn joined the Numama Alley Exhibition at Zushi Biennale, showing Nature Calls in Numama with driftwood art and lightboxes.
We’re delighted to announce the 2025 winners of the Oyako Day Essay & Photo Contests—thank you for sharing your heartfelt stories.
The 39th “Oyako Day” Online Talk Live will feature writer Rika Yokomori as our special guest. In addition to her career as an author, Yokomori is the representative director of the Japan Adult Women’s Association, founder of the community salon Secret Lotus, and originator of the Yokomori-style Belly Dance Health Method. Her talk promises to be both inspiring and insightful. Don’t miss it!
A book led me to my partner, and to Sara. With her, I’ve found new depth, hope, and joy in living as a family of three.
The 23rd Oyako Day Special Live was streamed on July 27, 2025. Featured guests included Tetsu Nakamura, Kei Endo, Miho Morishita, and Naoto Anzai. Together with the hosts and moderators, they shared heartfelt conversations about family bonds, art, and the message of passing life from parent to child.
Photographer Takashi Shikano joins the 38th Online Talk Live on Sept 24, reconnecting with Bruce Osborne after 35 years.
Rica Matsumoto’s 40th anniversary stage Navigation 2025 plays Sept 12–14 at KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre. Tickets on sale now!
Win a signed copy of Rica Matsumoto’s essay Rough & Peace! Apply by Sept 3 after watching the Oyako Day Talk Live.
Bruce and Yoshiko will speak at BOUSAI ACTION 2025 on Aug 31 in Shinjuku, sharing lessons from Oyako Day & post-3.11 workshops.
Rica Matsumoto, singer, actress & voice of Ash in Pokémon, joins the 37th Online Talk Live on Aug 28, 2025.
The 2nd Hakone Art Festival is underway until August 31, featuring Bruce Osborn’s photo exhibition at the Hakone Town Social Education Center with 18 parent-child portraits – including celebrities and icons like Ultraman and Hello Kitty – alongside the interactive “OYAKO no KABE” workshop where families can share messages and memories.
The first article in the “Environment × Art” project features an interview with Satoshi Machida of eepf, highlighting Bruce Osborn’s works at the Hayama Art Festival.
The recipients of this year’s “Oyako Award” were introduced in the July 26 evening edition of the Mainichi Shimbun.
Professor Hiroichi Yanase—author of “Route 16,” “Japanese and Anpanman,” and more—shares unique perspectives on cities, nature, culture, and his “layered thinking” method. With stories of dolphins, landscapes, and childhood memories, he invites us to discover new ways to build vibrant, resilient communities for the future.
Our connection with Kudamatsu City in Yamaguchi Prefecture dates back to the production of the film OYAKO, which was created in celebration of the 10th anniversary of OYAKO Day. Today, Kudamatsu OYAKO Day is cherished as an annual tradition, deeply rooted in the local community.
On the morning of Sunday, July 27, starting at 9:00 AM, we will stream a special online program to celebrate OYAKO Day! This time, we’ll connect live with Hakone, where an exhibition is currently being held, and bring you real-time updates from the venue. Our guest will be Tetsu Nakamura, who has long been involved with OYAKO Day.
We are currently accepting submissions for the Parent-Child Photo Contest and the Parent-Child Essay Contest! Many wonderful entries have already arrived at our office, but the deadline is the end of August, so there’s still time to participate.
The OYAKO Day Promotion Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 19th “OYAKO Award 2025”, selected with reference to the many thoughtful votes and comments received through our online poll. This year’s award goes to photographer Ittetsu Morishita and his daughter Miho Morishita.
We’re excited to announce our participation as an invited artist in the 2nd Hakone Art Festival! Our featured work for this exhibition is titled “OYAKO de Happy Summer Day”, and the venue is the Hakone Town Social Education Center.
This year’s “OYAKO Day Abiko” was held, on Monday, July 21, coinciding with the national holiday Marine Day!
On Monday, July 21 (a national holiday known as Marine Day), “OYAKO Day” @ Teganuma Park 2025 will be held across multiple venues: Abista, Teganuma Park, and Kojōen! The event will feature a historical exhibition and roundtable discussion related to Taira no Masakado, a historical figure connected to Abiko. There will also be recycled material craft workshops and a parent-child photo session!
The 23rd annual “OYAKO Day” will take place in Hayama, the hometown of Bruce Osborn, instead of the usual BB Studio setting. While the shooting hours will be shorter than in previous years—scheduled from around midday to late afternoon—we plan to hold a relaxed and enjoyable photo session in the pleasant breeze of Hayama.
Legendary manga artist Tetsuya Chiba looks back on his childhood in war-torn Manchuria and his family’s perilous return to Japan. Through moving anecdotes and original illustrations, he reminds us why it is vital to remember and share wartime memories for the sake of peace.
Bruce Osborn’s “Nature Calls” series is now showing at Tokyo Photography Month 2025! Featuring beach-found driftwood and debris turned into powerful environmental messages.
The Oyako Photo & Essay Contests are now open! Share your parent-child story through a picture or words. Deadline is the end of August—plenty of time to submit your entry. Details and links here!
The 7th Once Upon a Time photo series is now showing at Adan in Sengakuji! Featuring rare and unseen shots from 1980s Tokyo, it captures the vibrant energy of a city in motion. Great food, drinks, and photography—stop by and take a look!
Join us on June 29 for a live talk with Prof. Hirokazu Yanase from Tokyo University of Science. A former journalist turned liberal arts educator, he’ll dive into society, culture, and media in an engaging, accessible way. Don’t miss it!
Bruce Osborn’s latest photo exhibition “NATURe CALLS” is now on in Hayama, his seaside hometown. Running June 14–29, it explores nature’s quiet voices—like driftwood on the beach. Drop by and feel the message in every frame.
Loved the talk by calligrapher Tachibana Unokichi? His “Onko Soushin” panel and zodiac-themed hand towels are up for grabs! Email us by the end of June for a chance to win one in our giveaway.
A photo exhibition sponsored by the Hayama Town Development Association will run from June 14 to 29 at the Hayama Town Development Hall (2F of the municipal library). Take a stroll and drop in!
Even before he was born, my son kicked his mother’s stomach and spun around. Even now that he is one year old, he is still growing up energetically. His mother is exhausted every day chasing after her son who is always running around. 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.…
This year’s “Essay Contest” and “Photo Contest” are now open to the public. 100 stories for 100 parents and children!! Submit your special commemorative photos, essays about your daily thoughts and important events on “Oyako Day”. Submit your entries here: Photo Contest → https://oyako.org/en/photocontest/ Essay Contest → https://oyako.org/en/essaycontest/ You can see the works of past winners here → https://oyako.org/en/about/archives/
When I got married, I never imagined a future with five children. It was the first time I took parental leave with our fifth child, and I was surprised at how difficult it was, but at the same time, I realized how great my wife is. I also realized the joy of turning the hardships of raising children into happiness and joy. 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…
The “sen” in “Senri” means “May your life be rich and fruitful, filled with many encounters,” and the “ri” means “May you be warm, lovable, and well-liked by all.” 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…
I was born in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and spent my childhood surrounded by verdant nature. 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…
It has been about 13 years since I served as the chairman of the curatorial committee of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, but I have decided to retire from that position. I would like to inform you that a new staff member has planned an exhibition to mark my retirement. The exhibition will feature works selected from the vast collection of photographs that document the people and events I have encountered since coming to Japan in 1980, so please come and see them. Venue: Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) Address: 5F Marunouchi Nijubashi Building, 3-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 (same building as Tokyo Kaikan and the Tokyo…
The guest of the 30th online talk live is Mr.Takumi Nagai, Representative Director of Sokka General Incorporated Association. This article introduces the highlights of the video.
Due to various circumstances, my exhibition for the Zushi Triennial Art Festival has been shortened to Oct. 28th and 29th. The title is go me “Nature Calls” and it is located in a building across from Zushi Hayama Station. Marine debris is inseparable from our daily lives and I hope it will be an opportunity to face this issue in a fun and creative way. While beachcombing, I see the beach as a microcosm of our society and to share the experience of reviving trash as art, will have a light box for taking close-up photos of it with your smartphone. https://www.zushi-art.com/2023-triennale-04/?fbclid=IwAR0hEd4ttn_mK5MXSw5lkdX3PNjbx2Q9LsubAax2_drlSaCtVO_IKqFjbJs
It has been 19 years since the birth of “OYAKO Day”, which depicts the joy of everyday life with a dream for the future. I am grateful to the many people who have helped to successfully complete this year’s “OYAKO Day” activities. Working together has given us a strong base and deep roots as this project reach for the sky. I am dedicated to working hard for the continued growth of “OYAKO Day” in the coming year. I pray that 2022 will be a fruitful year for you. Sincerely, Yoshiko Inoue / OYAKO Day Promotion Committee
The International Women in Photo Association (IWPA) is announcing its open call running from the 1st of September to the 31st of October 2021 for women photographers to submit their entries for the 2021 edition of the awards. Submissions can be done online, and are free of cost. Click HERE for more info
The broadcast will start at 14:00 (JST) on Saturday, July 24th! There is no charge for watching the event and we hope you will join us! Click HERE to watch the talk event The online talk event commemorating “OYAKO Day 2021” will be 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…
Ganbare OYAKO No Hi Photo Studio! Himitsukichi Photography
Ganbare OYAKO No Hi Photo Studio! Yasutaka Photo Studio
Ganbare OYAKO No Hi Photo Studio! Hori Photo Studio
Ganbare OYAKO No Hi Photo Studio! Kamata Photo Studio
Bruce Osborn (USA) Desperate to save the family business, the son fought mountainous waves getting the boat out into safer waters. Unable to contact family, he passed along an agonizing night at sea. Returning to port in the morning, he couldn’t recognize where he was. Nothing was there, including their home. Later he was relieved to find that his family was safe and sound. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Great East Japan Earthquake / Fukushima, Japan / 2011
Wusha Wuli (China) Tibetan child helping parents to harvest yak food in Wenbuxiang, Nyima County Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Harvest Time / Tibet Autonomous Region / 2016
Laetitia Vancon (France) Danielle has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the nervous system. She is raising her 4-year-old son Peter by herself on Benbecula Island where she is a voluntary firewoman. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) At the End of the Day / Benbecula Island, Scotland / 2016
Masafumi Iha (Japan) Living through the pandemic. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Stay Safe and Hope for the Future / Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan / 2021
Hiroshi Nirei (Japan) I am happy I took many family photos as the children were growing up. Everyday moments like this are fondly remembered when I see them now. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Playtime / Hayama, Japan / 2001
Samphos Sut (Cambodia) Mother, sandwiched between her two children, drives the motorbike while her sister and baby ride on the back. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Family Outing / Mekong Island, Cambodia / 2015
Hiko Miyao (Japan) The New Tokyoites is from a photo series that Miyao took foreigners living in Tokyo in the 80’s. All the photos in this documentary were taken with an 8 x 10 view camera. The subject in this picture is Bruce Osborn and his family. Instagram Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) The New Tokyoites / Tokyo, Japan / 1987
Thander Soe (Myanmar) Instagram Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Save Myanmar / North Okklapa Township, Yangon, Myanmar / 2010
Steve Attardo (USA) Our little boy, safe in his mom’s hands, kissing her nose, in the evening sunlight. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Little Body / New York, NY/ 2020
Shingo Wakagi (Japan) During the 20 years of documenting my grandfather, I photographed my father cutting his hair on several occasions. Depending on the season it was outside by the garden or inside our kitchen. At the time I took this image, I never imagined that the following year he would be gone. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Home Barber / Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan / 2003
Ross Ericsson (USA) Being raised by a single mom, she always told me “Beauty is all in your presentation.” Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Mother and her Twin Sons / Philadelphia, PA / 2021
Etsuko Enami (Japan) At the start of the parent-child competition, the parents are filled with fighting spirit while the children on their backs are bubbling with excitement. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Parent and Child Sports Day / Nagasaki, Japan / 1994
Stirling Elmendorf (USA) Family portrait was taken in the historic gold mining town of Placerville Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) COWBOYS / Placerville, CA / 2019
Mark Higashino (Japan) Father is the purveyor and the son cooks the food Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Family Business / New York / 2021
Ryan Treitel (USA) One of my favorite things about being a father to Sam and Elliot is seeing the world through their eyes. I love getting down on the level while playing and being immersed into their world or just simply observing them and their wonder through the everyday. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) The Treitel Family / Wyndmoor, PA / 2021
Caro Ramirez (USA) Caro is a Mexican and American fashion photographer working for the fashion brand Urban Outfitters. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Look to the Children for Inspiration / Philadelphia, PA / 2021
Kathya Maria Landeros (USA) My grandmother Antonia was diagnosed with dementia 3 years ago. She was the matriarch of our family and a second mother to my sisters and me. As her illness progressed, the roles reversed and my mother became her primary caretaker. Abuelita (Spanish for grandmother) passed away a year after this photograph was taken. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Caring of Mother with Dementia / Sacramento, CA, USA / 2015
OYAKO Photo Matsuri exhibition is featured on pages 25 to 38. Check out the article HERE
Michael Yamashita (USA) A father teaches his son how to pray at the Saifuddien Mosque, Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei. It was the first Friday of Ramadan, the Muslim month of prayer and fasting, a time of spiritual reflection and heightened devotion and worship. Ramadan teaches sacrifice and empathy for those who are less fortunate and encourages acts of generosity and charity. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan) Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei / 1993
Elaheh Abdolahabadi (Iran) The family standing in the makeshift photo studio are juxtaposed with the city beyond, creating a blend between portrait and street photography. Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan). An instant of Time and Place / Isfahan, Iran / 2010
Eriko Koga (Japan) Father holding his daughter inside of the bell at Myomanji Temple inspired by the story “Anchin Kiyohime Monogatari” Website Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan). BELL / Kyoto, Japan / 2019
Ira Block is an internationally renowned photographer, teacher, and lecturer who has produced over 30 stories for the National Geographic Magazine. He has led National Geographic Photo Workshops, Expeditions, and private workshops to Mongolia, Bhutan, Cuba, and Tibet where students learn about the culture and photographic vision. His documentary photography work is balanced by a stable of commercial clients for whom he shoots portraits and corporate branding. Ira can best be described as a cultural documentary photographer. He uses his cameras and lights to document people around the world, recording the change in traditions and practices. The changes are most often gradual, which is why he returns to a location…
Lenka Klicperova is a journalist and photographer. She started as a reporter, from 2004 to 2018 she was the editor-in-chief of People and Earth magazine. She has worked in a number of African countries, from Angola to Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She has visited Afghanistan several times as a reporter. It also reached Somalia, plagued by several decades of war. She has received eleven awards and nominations in the Czech Press Photo competition, both for photographs and video production. The journalist and photographer Lenka Klicperová started her career as a news reporter. From 2004 till 2018 she…
Ada Trillo is a Philadelphia-based photographer, who was born and raised in the bi-national border mega-sprawl of Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. In her work, she focuses on borders of inclusion and exclusion as they are experienced through people in sex trafficking; climate and violence-related international migration; and long-standing barriers of race and class. Trillo’s work is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She is the recipient of the Female In Focus 2020 best series award and was recently featured in The Guardian, Vogue, Smithsonian Magazine, and Mother Jones, among other publications. She has also been awarded The Me & Eve Grant from the Center…
Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan). Life Force: What Love Can Save / Constanza Portnoy (Argentina) Five-year-old Angeles is so excited about her new dress with the ruffles and dances for parents. Despite her young age, Angeles has profound wisdom and respect regarding the challenges and misconceptions facing people with physical disabilities. Website Instagram Buenos Aires, Argentina / March 4, 2017
Oyako Photo Matsuri is a group exhibition on parents and children at FCCJ (Foreign Correspondences’ Club of Japan). Warmth / Emi Nakamura (Japan) The courage in the little monkey’s eyes shows the strength and gentleness it feels in the mother’s arms. This brief moment together is the start to nurturing the next generation. Website Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture, Japan / January 2021
FCCJ facilities are currently closed on weekends and national holidays during the state of emergency. The “OYAKO Photo Matsuri” exhibition, scheduled to start on June 5th, has been postponed to June 7th (Monday). We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. In order to reach a larger audience, a slideshow with all the photographs in the exhibition can be seen on OYAKO’s website. In addition, a different photograph from the show will also be introduced each day. In this time of uncertainty, we would like to share these important messages about the bonds between parents and children. We hope you will enjoy it.
The 2021 OYAKO Day Essay Contest, Photo Contest, and Oyako Award are now open for submissions. Other events include “Oyako Photo Matsuri“, a parent/child exhibition taken in several countries around the world by 26 photographers, and “Present to the Future“, a live-streamed talk show featuring Mr. Tetsuya Chiba, the cartoonist for “Ashita no Joe”, and other well-known creators. We are facing the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic that is impacting all our lives in so many ways. The road to recovery takes time, but this period of isolation is an opportunity to reconnect with our families. The 4th Sunday of July is OYAKO Day and this year it will be…
Perhaps many people are feeling the strain and anxiety due to Covid-19; however, we can take a moment during the quarantine to reassess the things that are essential and indispensable in our lives. We are indebted to the doctors, nurses, and medical staff’s commitment along with the many others who are working to keep our lifelines open. The realization that we are dependent on each other is a source of strength. We need to continue to take care, but with our mutual support, we will get through this pandemic together. Oyako Day Planning Committee
Bruce’s interview featured in Art Center Stories on Tumblr. Click HERE to read the article.
Bruce Osborn’s Oyako project was featured on nippon.com Please click HERE to read the article.
PHOTOVILLE – New York City’s premier photo festival is coming to Los Angeles and my OYAKO photos will be one of the 50+ exhibitions. https://photoville.la/oyako-japanese-parents-children/ It’s a free event at the Annenberg Space for Photography from April 26 – 28 and May 2 -5. Hope to see you there! https://photoville.la
On May 4th Oyako I will be taking Oyako photos Star Wars with characters in Roppongi Hills. Click on HERE for information on the event and how to apply.
Yitiao, a popular and influential short film media in China, recently made this clip on Bruce Osborn and his Oyako project. Please click HERE to view the video.
Bruce Osborn and his newest Oyako Book “Oyako: An Ode to Parents and Children” was introduced in Japan Times culture section on January 6th! Please click HERE to read the article.
Bruce Osborn and his Oyako photos were recently featured in FORMAT MAGAZINE.
Bruce Osborn’s new book “Oyako: An Ode to Parents and Children” won Golden Winner on People – Family category on TIFA (TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS) site. Please check the article from HERE Books can be purchased from HERE
When Bruce Osborn first photographed punk musicians and their parents in 1982, he had no way of knowing that it would turn out to be a life-long project of over 7,000 photo shoots, covering Japanese society in all its variety from musicians, sushi chefs, and monks, to sports figures, adult film actresses, celebrities and the family next door.
Rica Matsumoto, who received the Oyako Award Special Prize 2018 was introduced in Mainichi Newspaper (Evening) on November 8th, 2018.
“The day you were born, we were at Grandma’s house, eating curry and watching Sazae-san.”
We are in the process of choosing the winners for “Oyako Day Photo Contest” and “Oyako Day Essay Contest.” The winner will be announced on Oyako Day official site.
We will introduce some works from the collection of works in past Oyako Day Essay contest. LAYING POSSUM The little girls’ batteries begin to run down after eight at night. You can measure the younger one’s fatigue by how much she cries. As for her full of energy older sister, she survived today’s kindergarten, but now she’s run out of juice and is sleeping on the sofa. Mom’s the one who’s supposed to get them both upstairs to bed. After a 10 kilo and then a 17 kilo freight transfer to the second floor, Mom’s ready to give it up, but when she comes back to the living room,…
We will introduce some works from the collection of works in past Oyako Day Essay contest. I COULD HAVE PICKED A BETTER MOTHER Always at work, never at home; oh, how I hated my mother. When I thought I heard her at home, I’d find her standing there at the kitchen sink with her back to me. By middle school, I was fed up with everything. One day something happened at school that bothered me and everything went haywire. At home, I blew my top and turned on my mother. “If only I could have chosen my mother ! I would’ve picked a better one !!” I could see…
Oyako Day 2018 video clip on Yahoo! News. Directed by Toshi Inomata who was also the was director the Oyako Movie This year’s Oyako Day Exhibition starts on September 14th at Olympus Gallery Tokyo. Please clickHERE to view Yahoo! News.
Oyako Day Book Giving display at T-Site in Daikanyama. http://real.tsite.jp/daikanyama/english/
On July 13th, there was a press event announcing this year’s Oyako Day book giving campaign which is supported by the following bookstores. Tsutaya, Asahiya, Libro, Parco, Yomu Yomu, Tadaya, Orion, Books Emutasu.
We will introduce some works from the collection of works in past Oyako Day Essay contest. THE DAY I BCAME A PARENT I suddenly became the mother of a 10 year-old, American boy. Not a blood relation, but a foster parent. He was cute for the first month, but from there on, he plunged into rebellion. He was difficult and emotionally unstable. How many times did I think I should to stop being a foster parent? When I thought of giving over my role to a social worker, the words stuck in my throat and I couldn’t go through with it. Our mud-slinging went on for a half a…
We will introduce some works from the collection of works in past Oyako Day Essay contest. IT’S JUST ABOUT BEING TOGETHER “Your stomach aches again? You know, if you say that every morning, people will stop believing it’s true. Then when it really hurts, no one will help you. Now get up and get ready to go.” From kindergarten through first grade, for 4 years, it was the same every day. My daughter would complain of stomachaches and refuse to get dressed. Even if I drove her to the kindergarten, she wouldn’t get out of the car. When it came time for us to separate, she’d burst into tears,…
In support of Oyako Day, TSUTAYA is corroborating with of other bookstores on a campaign asking parents to give their children books. Believing in their power to stimulate positive change and we hope these presents will serve as inspiration for the children. This book campaign is happening in 900 bookstores throughout Japan during the month of July.
Bruce Osborn will be taking photos of one hundred Oyako (parents and children) on Oyako Day. See details below on how to apply Photographs taken at other Super Photo Sessions can be seen at Oyako Photo Gallery SUPER PHOTO SESSION DATE: Oyako Day, July 22, 2018 APPLICATION DATES: Applications must be received by June 30, 2018 NOTIFICATION: Families that were selected will be contacted by July 13th. LOCATION: A photo studio in Tokyo (participants informed of exact location upon notification) PHOTO FEE: Free *Each family is responsible for their transportation to and from the studio. PHOTO: Each family will receive one free print. PRESS: Reporters are welcome on the session…
Send us an essay about your family. This contest is open to everyone and there is no fee for entering. Example subjects: “now we can laugh about it”, “an unbreakable tie”, “an unforgettable memory”, “now that I’m a parent, I finally understand”, “what a crazy family” DETAILS SEND 1. Your essay (include the title of the essay) 2. Your name, address, and age TO E-Mail: essay@oyako.org please include “Oyako Essay Contest” as your e-mail’s subject line Mail: OYAKO DAY 2018 Essay Contest HAYAMA Post office #13 240-0199, Japan APPLICATION DATES: Contest ends July 23, 2018 Prize-winning essays will be introduced on the website at a later date. JUDGES: Winning…
Send us your most unforgettable family photos! This contest is open to everyone and there is no fee for entering. Click HERE Deadline: July 23rd 11:00 am
TSUTAYA x OYAKO DAY In support of Oyako Day, TSUTAYA has initiated a campaign asking parents to give their children a book this month. Our hope is that the present will serve as inspiration for the child. We believe in the power of books to stimulate positive change.
Parent and child: the bond that is never really broken
During the filming of the movie, Oyako, present to the future, I was reminded of the strength of family bonds. In Japanese, we have the word Oyako combining the characters for parent and child into a single word. I’m impressed by the depth of meaning held in this one word, as if it was a monument to the lives we live. Maybe people these days think it’s just a word like any other. If only these people could participate in Oyako Day, then they’d see just how fine a word it is. Oyako Day has my wholehearted support.
The thread that ties parents and children feeds a loom of communication, weaving past to present and present to future. The information society has broadened the horizontal world but we’ve neglected the hopes of its vertical axis. Together, parents and children can change the world by being just what they should be, a true family. I hope people will think about that on OYAKO DAY.
To strengthen the bonds between parents and children, we must “Look one another eye to eye”,
“Rub each other shoulder to shoulder” and “Speak to each other”. I give my full support to Oyako Hi through the advancement of Oyako Gymnastics.
The relation between parents and children has been the source for everything dramatic since ancient times. We need to move this relation to an even richer place. For the future of all of us.
When I look at my son’s bad habits, I see my own. I’m sure it’ll happen to my son, the same way, when he notices his own child’s vices. This tie between parent and child, for better or for worse, endures.
We had our picture done at the Mainichi Newspaper “Oyako interview session”. When I saw the photogrpah, I was reminded that however much we get wound up in our worries over parenting, we still can’t ever get enough of our kids. So obvious, I suppose, but it took that picture to remind me.
Photographs open the heart on a page and then stay with us repeating the message. We go on living through one thing or another but the picture is there to call us home.
I hope the bonds between parents and children will grow forever deeper and that everybody will celebrate Oyako Day.
Friends, acquaintances, neighbors, bosses & underlings. There are a lot of different relations between people, but being parent and child is the most intimate and natural one. It’s a strange relation fraught with overboard spoiling and clumsy communications that bathes in deep trust.
When I saw the picture Bruce Osborn did for us, I was taken aback. I discovered things that made me reconsider what parents and children are all about. It was a wonderful thing to bring home. I think putting aside a special day, like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, to rethink and restart our parent-child relation is a wonderful idea. I support Oyako Day.
Bruce Osborn’s Oyako photographs are about what ties people together. His present to us are the wonderful When I look through his pictures, I feel I’m in the Utopia of photography.
I hope Bruce will go on for years with Oyako Day which gives all of us a fresh opportunity to come closer to each other.
What I learned from my father and mother, I pass on to my two children.
There’s a set of habits and some ways of thinking, but what the family really passes on is love.
Nothing would bring me greater happiness than to see that later, when my two children have become parents themselves, they’ve fully understood this.
It’s an important message, which is why I support Oyako Day.
OTAKE Shinobu (actress and TV personality) source: wikipedia
The Oyako relation is my guide to life. By creating happiness at home, I hope that one day my children will feel the same way. This is the marvelous cycle of Oyako.
I fully support the Oyako movement.
Being too strict can make people hard-hearted, but too much coddling can ruin their lives.
When I’m training my daughter for wrestling and I push her hard, my wife Hatsue follows behind with words of affection.
Then, when I get home, I get my own dose of discipline.
“You call it training but it’s no better than bullying” she cries out, right in front of Kyoko, who completes the circle by saying, “Don’t be so mean to Papa.”
That’s how it is in the Hamaguchi Arena. It is the Oyako’s fate, to harmonize the strict and generous.
“OYAKO DAY” – I love you !!
Ultra Chichi (father):
We’ve heard about the Oyako movement on Nebula M78!! Oyako Day is not just about Earth, but can speak to the whole universe. Let’s make it so!
Ultra Haha (mother):
Ultraman Taro, along with the other Ultra Brothers and Ultra Warriors, are all my children. There are many kinds of Oyako, but no matter who we are, the parent and child relationship is special. That’s why it’s so wonderful to have Oyako Day so we can all celebrate it together. I give my full-hearted support to Oyako Day.
Ultraman Taro (son):
I’m 12,000 years old now, but whatever your age, you always have a mother and father. I am proud to be the son of Ultra Chichi and Ultra Haha. When I get to be 13,000 years old, I’d really like for Bruce to be there to take another Oyako photo of us. Let’s do a super photo session on Nebula M78! We’re all looking forward to it!
Oyako Day Heals the Illness of Separation
We have an expression in Japanese, 古住今来, which the dictionary translates as “in all ages” or “since antiquity”. If you look at the characters, you see “from of old until now”. This expression is not really hard to understand, but these days most of the young don’t know it. People are infected with tunnel vision. They see only dips and dabs from the great tide of humanity’s past and have lost the ability to see the world beyond their present.
“Who are we, where do we come from, where are we going?” This conjecture is forever shadowing us, our groups and organizations, our societies and governments; and through them, nature and all life on our planet. Bruce and Yoshiko’s group express the importance of this proposition in “OYAKO” and reveal it to people through this basic relation.
The “OYAKO DAY” project, based as it is on parents and children, whispers to us of the grandchildren who will come. Japanese already have the word OYAKO. Someday the ferment set off by Bruce’s team will distill a new word, running across all generations.
The Oyako relation is my guide to life. By creating happiness at home, I hope that one day my children will feel the same way. This is the marvelous cycle of Oyako.
I fully support the Oyako movement.
The pleasure of parents & children cooking together.
The profound strength a family’s taking meals together can give us.
Oyako Day is also a wonderful opportunity to bring families together around the dining table.
OYAKO ACROSS THE WORLD !
When I first heard about making a movie based on Bruce Osborn’s Oyako Photos, I thought it was a wonderful idea. When asked if I would like to do the script, it was a new challenge, but I was just thrilled.
Parents and children, are such fun to watch. That’s what the movies about. By fun, we’re talking about something like there being as many opinions as there are people. For anyone seeing the film, it should be the same thing. Each will carry away something different, and that’s the way it should be.
“OYAKO Movie” mixes documentary, interviews and drama, but without Bruce’s tremendous work shooting portraits of parents and children, it would never have existed. I believe that OYAKO will some day be an international word and that this day is not far off. I support OYAKO DAY with all my heart.
I became a parent 35 years ago, and 11 years ago, my child became a parent too. It all happens so fast. You’re totally involved in bringing them up healthy & strong, and the next thing you know they’ve got their own kids. We’re sad because it’s all gone by so quickly, but be a trooper: you’ve done a great service for our country by adding to the population.
When our children grow up and become parents themselves, they can finally begin to understand what a parent feels. The ties between parent and child are deep and enduring. Just look at us: we move the same, talk the same, laugh the same. But just when you’re thinking how alike you are, you see that they’re totally different. And then, an instant later, there they are looking just like you again! I keep thinking that no matter how you cut it, a frog makes frogs. Oyako Day continues to have my full support.
2015 will be the 13th year that Bruce Osborn organizes OYAKO Day. We may all take for granted that parents watch out for their children and that their children are grateful for the family they live in, but Oyako Day is a special moment for Parents & Children to take time together to think and talk about just how special they are to each other. It’s a story I try to tell with my music at Hirahara Sanchi concerts.
I am one of Oyako Day’s strong supporters.
From the moment of the newborn’s kickstart gasp, mother, child and father receive their title of “Oyako.” Oyako goes beyond blood ties. It’s a bond of the heart kept untarnished by unlimited liability. Bruce was drawn to this word, so special in Japan, and drawn so close that now the two are inseparable. Exposed in Bruce’s parents and children photographs, we feel the heartbeat of each and every family. Oyako are all so different, and yet in one thing they are all the same, their love. The pulse of Japan’s Oyako billows rhythmically. I know it can stretch out across the sea, calling all the world to renewed tomorrows. Let Oyako Day bring us all, here in Japan and other places throughout the world, together. Okāsan Shimbun will continue to spread the word about Oyako Day.
Of all the pictures ever taken of me, this has to be my happiest face.
Thank you Bruce, I think it will always be my favorite photo.
Oyako is amazing !!!
The relationship I have with my mother is one of the most meaningful relationships in my life; she really helped to shape the person that I am today. Being able to travel with her to Japan (the first time for both of us) was such a wonderful experience and commemorating the trip by having Bruce photograph us for the Oyako interview in Mainichi newspaper made it even more special. Not only do we now have Bruce’s wonderful images to help us remember the trip, but they also serve as a reminder – for us, and to many others in Japan – of how important the bonds between parents and their children are.
