— A Note from the New Kindergarten Manager

Today, I indulged in reading the latest issue of the “Private Kindergarten Federation Journal.” The headline, “Kindergarten: The First School Children Encounter,” caught my eye, and I couldn’t resist letting my thoughts flow freely into this blog.

One article referred to a beautiful Native American belief: children are “borrowed from the future.” This profound idea brought to mind the children at Suwa Kindergarten, joyfully running across the soft, bouncy grounds at the foot of Mt. Dodogamine. These little treasures from the future explore their world with muddy shoes, inhaling the earthy aroma of the trees and feeling the soil beneath their feet. I can’t help but think that these analog experiences lay the foundation—the foundation of the foundation—for navigating the digital waves of tomorrow.

Speaking of digital, AI and Digitalization are an inevitable tide. But if we don’t want to get swept away, we need to ensure that our feet are firmly planted. It’s like Ichiro’s recent lessons at Gifu Prefectural High School: mastering the basics of the basics. Suwa Kindergarten, in its role as the foundational “school of firsts,” is devoted to fostering this essential groundwork through diverse experiences.

Inclusion and diversity also emerged as central themes. These are values we hold dear, teaching children to see the world’s diversity and embrace it with open hearts. This ethos echoes the wisdom of Native American traditions and resonates deeply as we reflect on the environmental crises affecting the West Coast of the United States. The connection between nature and nurture here in Suwa underscores how precious this environment is for our children.

So, how do we embrace the wave of digitalization? At Suwa Kindergarten, we aspire to be a space where both analog and digital worlds coexist. Here, children revel in the tactile joy of muddy play while laying the groundwork for engaging with AI and technology. It’s not a matter of choosing one over the other but learning to blend both worlds seamlessly—a skill vital for the society of the future.

As I imagine our children soaring into that future, we feel a profound responsibility to nurture and protect this place where it all begins. It’s a formidable challenge, but every time I see their smiles—the smiles of these borrowed treasures—I know that it’s a challenge worth taking.