Category Archives: Motherhood

The Ones Left Behind: Documentary About Single Mothers in Japan by Rionne McAvoy

Posted on February 18, 2023 by SK

When Rionne asked me to be interviewed for his documentary about single mothers in Japan, I wasn’t sure whether to accept or not. I did not want to become the “face of single mothers”. What a silly thing to worry … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | 1 Comment

8 Years in Japan: Highlights and Lowlights

Posted on October 19, 2022 by SK

This October marked 8 years since I first set foot in Japan. I remember that day clearly. I landed in Osaka at around 8pm in the night and took the express train to Kanazawa, transferring at Maibara. I remember thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | 4 Comments

A Day in the Life of a Working Single Parent in Tokyo

Posted on September 7, 2022 by SK

This post is inspired by K, who runs the resourceful blog “Tiny Tot in Tokyo” and did a post about their day here, and also by Pippa, who wrote about her day in this post here. In case you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged | 5 Comments

14 Months of Maternity Leave (and Childcare Leave)

Posted on July 25, 2022 by SK

From March 2021 to April 2022, I was able to enjoy 3 months of maternity leave plus 11 months of childcare leave, thanks to Japan’s generous leave policies (at least on paper). The reason I say “on paper” is because … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Motherhood | Tagged , | 13 Comments

The Life Update Post You’ve Been Waiting For

Posted on May 2, 2022 by SK

It is May 2022. We are lucky to be alive in the pandemic. But, where to begin this life update? First of all, if you had met me in late 2019, you would have that known I was looking for … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Getting a Japanese Passport for Your Child (Foreign Unmarried Mother)

Posted on August 26, 2021 by SK

Did you know that it’s very easy for your child to become stateless? It used to be that if a non-Japanese woman gave birth in Japan, if they were not married to a Japanese person at the time, their child … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

My Pregnancy and Birth Story in Japan

Posted on June 26, 2021 by SK

My second born son, Kai, was born in March this year. The pregnancy journey in Japan was an interesting one. Being in Japan means a lot of things are done a certain way but overall I had a positive experience. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Struggling with my mental health in Japan

Posted on October 21, 2020 by SK

A lot of people tell me I’m strong. But I think that I’m just independent, organized and a dreamer. I’m always forward-looking, if optimistic. The way I get over the present (if it is not pleasant) is by focusing on … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | 23 Comments

6 Months in Tokyo: Work and School Update

Posted on September 19, 2019 by SK

In case you haven’t noticed, this blog has been on a hiatus for some months now. It’s not that I had exhausted the limits of my creativity, rather I had a lot on my hands, which I still do. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood, Work | 6 Comments

Looking for a Husband: On Single Parenthood in Japan

Posted on August 8, 2018 by SK

Alright guys, buckle up. I am going to tell you my single parenthood experience in Japan. I prefer the term “single parent” to “single mother”; semantics, I know, but married or not, a mother is a mother. The parenting bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Japan, Life in Japan, Motherhood, Relationships | 50 Comments