日本語
English
नेपाली
The area I currently live in is a quiet residential neighborhood that has existed for a long time. Large estates are gradually disappearing due to changes in households, and in their place, many apartments and small houses are being built, leading to a rapid increase in families with children.
When looking around, it's clear that families consisting of just a couple and their children are overwhelmingly common, and most of them are dual-income households. In families where both partners are from rural areas, it's often mentioned that they have no one to list as a second emergency contact, which can be a concern in case something happens.
According to a newspaper survey, the traditional family structure in Japan, characterized as "working father + stay-at-home mother + two children," which has been the standard since the 1970s, now accounts for less than 4% of households.
When you go out into the city, you often see people dressed in styles from various cultures, including Caucasian, Black, Asian, and Islamic attire. Even at the small daycare my child attends, there is at least one or two mixed-race children in each class.
The environment surrounding family and child-rearing has changed dramatically.
As seen from keywords such as "dual-income," "nuclear family," "single-parenting," "waiting children," "ikumen," "childcare activities," "international marriage," "single-parent," "separate surnames for couples," "grandparenting," "half," and "work-life balance," the circumstances and norms surrounding family and child-rearing have changed significantly.
For foreign families living in Japan, there are significant challenges in the parenting environment due to barriers such as language, culture, and customs. Many people also experience issues like information disparity, feelings of loneliness, and anxiety.
Sticking to traditional views of family, values, and the roles of couples can leave parents overwhelmed by work and childcare responsibilities. They may feel judged by family and society, leading to increasing isolation and exhaustion. As a result, adult stress directly impacts children's lives, manifesting in various issues such as discrimination, bullying, and school refusal.
To support parenting, we need to support the "kodatebito" who raise children. It's okay to be different, it's okay to be yourself! This is what "Family Diversity" aims to achieve.
There are things that can't be conveyed through logic, things that can't be said face-to-face, and feelings that can't even be put into words. We want you to understand! We embrace these various emotions and deliver them as an inspiring improvisational performance right on the spot.
We help convey and share the desire to cherish family and nurture children with care. For the peace of mind and smiles of "Kosodatebito" (child-rearing individuals).
Could you lend your strength to help make this dream a reality?
We are seeking official sponsor companies for the theater performance.
Event Information
Event Date: December 2, 2018 (Sunday) 10:30 - 12:00 (Doors open at 10:15)
Location: Koyama-dai Educational Foundation "Koyama-dai Hall" (2 minutes on foot from Musashi-Koyama Station on the Tokyu Meguro Line)
Participation Fee: 1,500/family Advance Ticket 1,000/family
(Paid childcare service, 1,000 per person), includes English and Chinese interpretation
Participation Scale: 100 people
Organizer: Japan Intercultural Intelligence, Playbackers Theater Company
For more details, please contact info@j-ii.org .
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What is Playback Theatre?
Playback theater is an unscripted improvisational performance that originated in New York. One of its key features as an improvisational theater is the recreation of real-life stories, essentially playing them back. Someone from the audience (the participant) becomes the teller (the person sharing their experience) and sits next to the conductor (the facilitator who draws out the story), introducing their personal experiences and memories to everyone present. Once the teller finishes speaking, the actors (the performers) instantly transform that story into an emotional stage performance.
The Playbackers Theater Company is a pioneering force in popularizing playback theater in Japan. Since its founding in 1994, it has contributed to society through playback theater in various fields such as education, social welfare, healthcare, and parenting support. They continue to hold numerous playback theater events across the country, as well as in Europe, America, and Asia. Recently, they have been conducting "bullying prevention classes through playback theater" in elementary schools nationwide.