News in Easy English: Japan kindergartens change Father's, Mother's Day to 'family day'
This change is because families in Japan are different now. There are many single-parent families. In Japan, about 10% of families with children have one parent.
Parents shared their feelings about "family day." One person wrote online, "We don't have a dad at home, so I was happy about family day." Another person said, "They think about each family's situation, so I was really glad."
Asahi day care center in Ube city changed to family day three years ago. In the past, children made gifts for Mother's Day and Father's Day separately. Now, they celebrate only one special day in late May. Children make gifts and give them to someone important like their parents, grandparents, or family friends.
The Poppins Nursery School group, which has many day cares around Japan, also has family day events in May or June. Children make gifts for family members and sometimes show family pictures.
But not all places agree. Some kindergartens and day care centers still have Mother's Day and Father's Day. Single parents also have different feelings. One mother wrote, "My child made a gift and drew my face for Father's Day. It made me happy." Another parent said, "I'm a single parent, but I like Mother's Day and Father's Day separately."
Some libraries and shops are also changing. Omori-Minami Library in Tokyo used to show children's drawings for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Now, it has a "family portrait exhibition" instead. A library worker said, "We changed because there are many kinds of families now."
(Japanese original by Shuji Ozaki, Digital News Group)
Vocabulary
single-parent family: a family where children live with one parent
celebrate: to have a special day or event for a happy reason
gift: something nice you give to another person
portrait: a drawing of a person's face
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