Everyone is Different,
and That’s What Makes Us Great!
We offer tours and information sessions at any time.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact us!
We offer tours and information sessions at any time.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact us!
Seriously!
Exploration!!
With the implementation of free childcare policies, parents can receive subsidies from their local municipalities.
We embrace diversity in nationality, age, developmental pace, language, and—most importantly—individual personality. The concept of inclusive education has gained recognition in recent years, but we have been fostering this appreciation of diversity for over a decade. Within this environment, we provide bilingual education, nurturing children to become globally trusted individuals in the future.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational approach. We do not believe in praising children simply for doing the same thing as everyone else. Every child has “a hundred languages” of expression, yet it is often adults who suppress 99 of them. Through artistic self-expression, we provide an environment where children’s individuality is never stifled, fostering creativity and cultivating a strong sense of self-worth.
Should we continue to feed our children food with a lot of additives?
We not only serve handmade lunches but also prioritize additive-free, fermented foods. Once a month, children participate in cooking activities, and they even make their own miso, which they enjoy as miso soup year-round. In 2024, we introduced gluten-free school lunches. We believe that a child’s well-being starts with a nutritious diet.
For a child’s development, the three essentials—eating, sleeping, and playing—have long been emphasized. Creative play fuels a child’s imagination and builds a strong foundation for a healthy body. Through daily outdoor activities, children run, jump, and move their bodies to the fullest. We incorporate the three core elements of physical development—running, throwing, and jumping—into their daily play.
This preschool was founded because we couldn’t find one that made us feel that way.
This preschool was founded because we couldn’t find one
that made us feel that way.
I strongly believed that we needed a space where differences in nationality, age, development, and language could be acknowledged and embraced. However, I could not find such an environment. At the same time, I felt uncomfortable with the pressure to conform in the company I worked for, so I left the IT industry after 11 years and began my journey in the childcare field.
What I aimed for was an educational environment centered around the children. It wasn’t about “following the herd,” but rather showing my own children how to live authentically and pursue what they want to do with all their might. Of course, fundamental subjects like language, math, and science are important. In today’s world, skills like English and programming are also increasingly required. However, to become a trusted person in any country, there are things more important than academic knowledge. These are non-cognitive skills such as communication, empathy, creativity, independence, self-discipline, self-awareness, and the ability to convey one’s thoughts.
At our preschool, we have adopted the Reggio Emilia approach, one of the educational methods from around the world, to foster these non-cognitive abilities.
To be honest, terms like “non-cognitive skills” came up later on. What matters most is that we adults genuinely recognize and acknowledge the children. If we can do this, children will be able to like themselves as they are, and their learning and relationships with friends will become richer and deeper.
Simply put, the most important things for a child’s healthy development are “eating, sleeping, and playing.” Therefore, when thinking about a child’s educational environment, while it’s crucial to nurture both academic knowledge and non-cognitive skills, even more important is ensuring they have opportunities to move their bodies, eat nourishing meals, and get sufficient sleep.
Setting an Example as Adults
Here in Setagaya, there is plenty of nature and an environment that’s perfect for physical activity. Depending on our approach, we can also provide high-quality meals. It’s essential that we adults set an example by eating well, playing a lot, and getting proper sleep, showing the children the importance of these things.
If we want children to have dreams, we must first speak about our own dreams. If we want them to be confident, we must first be confident ourselves. And if we want them to be happy, we must be happy ourselves.
If you are fortunate enough to connect with HAPPY HORIZONS, let’s be happy together!
The growth of children is maximized in an environment where they can feel that every day is fun. By thinking for themselves, making choices, and immersing themselves in what they want to do with their friends, they can experience a life full of passion and excitement every day!
about Reggio Emilia Education
In order to embody my educational vision on-site as the director, I researched various educational approaches from around the world. During this search, I discovered the ideal environment of “Reggio Emilia Education” in Italy. Reggio Emilia is a city located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy.
This educational approach not only brings out each child’s individual abilities like the Montessori method, but it also fosters connections among children through project-based and art activities, creating an environment where they can express their creativity.
Rather than teachers imparting knowledge, the key characteristic of this approach is that children think for themselves, discuss ideas, and collaborate to create their own learning.
I felt that this approach was perfect for enhancing non-cognitive skills, and I decided to travel to Italy to learn more about it. After my visit, I fell even more in love with the approach and returned to Japan with a deep commitment to implementing it here.
We do more than just childcare! At HAPPY HORIZONS, we engage with children in various situations, tailoring our approach to their growth and development!
We offer a school bus service for drop-off and pick-up! The pickup location is generally at your home. The service covers areas including Den-en-chofu, Higashi-Tamagawa, Okusawa, Fukasawa, Oyamadai, Todoroki, Kamiyunoge, Futako-Tamagawa (Noge), and Tamatsutsumi. Due to limits on the number of passengers and overall travel time, the availability of this service is subject to individual consultation.
We want children to continue to express themselves as they grow. We also hope they never forget their English skills. At HAPPY HORIZONS ACADEMY, we create a space where children can enjoy learning fundamental things like “What is work?” and “What is money?”—but most importantly, a place where they can feel at ease.
After school, our teachers will personally escort your child from the preschool to your home. We also offer services during evening hours and weekends, when regular preschool hours do not cover, and this service is available to families in the local community!
After graduation, children can enjoy the best summer memories with their friends from preschool! Every year, they get together for a fun-filled summer camp. The crew consists of HAPPY HORIZONS staff and teachers, along with camper friends, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. As they grow older, some graduates even return as crew members when they become middle schoolers! We’ll always love our HAPPY HORIZONS kids!
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