What parents are saying.
From our very first information session, TCG felt like the perfect fit for our toddler. Their dedication to hands-on, exploratory learning immediately resonated with us. At TCG, children not only gain academic skills but also develop crucial social and emotional abilities like empathy, creativity, and communication skills through collaborative learning. What truly captured our hearts is TCG's integration of nature into daily activities. Watching our daughter become an avid explorer, eagerly engaging with the natural world every day, has filled us with joy and pride. This outdoor immersion has sparked her curiosity and nurtured her sense of wonder.
The supportive atmosphere at TCG has played a pivotal role in our daughter's development. Teachers prioritized her emotional well-being, creating an environment where she felt respected and encouraged to express herself. TCG has profoundly influenced her confidence, independence, and sense of responsibility. The personalized documentation of our daughter's learning journey through daily stories and heartfelt letters has been a treasure that we will cherish forever. These insights not only deepened our understanding of her interests but also provided me with precious moments for reflection and connection with her at home when I would read the stories to her. The culmination of this documentation in a personalized book was a touching testament to the profound impact TCG has had on our family. We consider TCG not just a preschool in Tokyo but a beacon of excellence in early childhood education. I truly believe if all children could receive this level of education, the world would undoubtedly be a better place. Thanks to the dedication and vision of Ann and Hisao, TCG exemplifies what is possible when education is approached with dedication, empathy, and a commitment to nurturing each child's unique potential.
— Ashley Azcarraga, Psy.D.
First and foremost, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Hisao, Ann and all the teachers. Although our time at your school was short, we are truly grateful for the opportunity to have our daughter and son attend Tokyo Children's Garden International School (TCG).
TCG is an unparalleled, outstanding place of learning, filled with kindness and love. The teachers always treat the children with respect and care. Hisao and Ann also provided us, as parents, with invaluable advice on raising children to be well-rounded individuals, offering many eye-opening insights. This helped us reevaluate our approach to parenting and consider our role as a family more deeply.
By attending TCG, our daughter, who is very curious, has broadened her interests, developed a love of books and is now able to express herself with confidence.
Our son also has been able to fully express his true self and happily attended school every single day; spending time at TCG has allowed him to get in touch with nature, develop an inquisitive mind and enjoy peaceful moments with his peers and teachers. They talked about how they spent the day with joy and excitement in the car on the way home from school, which is a source of great happiness for us.
This invaluable experience has become an unforgettable memory for our family. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to have our children attend TCG.
With love and respect,
Hiroshi and Eiko
We joined the TCG family when our son was 18 months old, and can safely say it has been the best decision we have made for our family! Our morning drop offs and afternoon pick ups are a highlight of our days. We love speaking with the teachers, hearing about the adventures of the school day and watching our son grow into a kind, curious and happy little person. TCG fosters a caring, nurturing, and supportive educational environment and this has allowed our son to express his individual personality and explore sensory experiences in a fun way. We have also been amazed at how quickly our son has developed since joining TCG, particularly his English and Japanese language skills. We love the TCG family and can’t imagine it not being part of our lives – thank you Ann and Hisao.
— Hannah and Ravi Arora
We chose Tokyo Children’s Garden as our only child’s first school after looking extensively for somewhere that would focus on social-emotional learning in a mixed-age environment. We got so much more than that in TCG.
Children were encouraged to interact with the world around them in a way that we felt was really unique. There are so many things I love about the TCG philosophy and practice around facilitating communication and emotion to increase moments of wonder and joy, and eventually, reflection. The appreciation and integration of Japanese culture, and the way they use the city as their playground is so amazing to see.
Our child entered school at less than 18 months and from the very beginning bonded with the teachers and loved his time there. The school became a foundation of the community we built for ourselves in Tokyo, and the relationships we were able to make with the other families and with the teachers were incredibly special. We have moved back to our home country after two years at the school, and I believe the way our child has displayed adaptability, curiosity, and empathy through a very big change is in very large part due to his time at TCG. We will be forever grateful we had the chance to be a part of it.
— Kate and Fernando Kondayen
Our family enrolled our kids at TCG for two years and I highly recommend them to any family with young kids in Tokyo. When we first moved to Japan, we knew no one and it was really daunting. Ann and Hisao and all the parents at TCG were so welcoming and supportive, giving us advice on everything from buying bikes to finding ingredients in supermarkets. The school works to blend Japanese philosophy with a Reggio Emilia approach and the result is so unique and inspiring to see in action. Children are taught how to work with one another to solve problems and explore the world around them. Staff engage in reflective practices to maintain a sense of curiosity so they can be partners in discovery with the kids. They go on daily walks around the neighborhood - greeting all their neighbors and stopping to consider various plants, bugs, and happenings in the community. Teachers are multicultural and multilingual, extremely caring and dedicated, motivated and engaged with the school's philosophy. Over time, I saw how my son learned to practice patience when others were talking and blossomed through the regular dance classes. His favorite days at TCG were when it rained because all the kids would put on their gear and head to the local park for sand play. I never would have imagined a school that could give so much freedom for kids to lead and discover in a group setting. Truly special.
— Lizzie and Matthew Murchison
“We joined TCG just before our son turned five years old with mixed feelings of great expectations and a little worry about the new environment. In no time though all our worries were blown away. From day one, we clearly noticed differences in our son. He talks very lively about his new discoveries every day. He sounds so content that his interests and ideas are valued and shared. We are amazed by how fast his curiosities and creativities overtook his shyness.
At TCG, there is no ‘Standard X year-olds’. Teachers are very keen on finding the best of each child. TCG children are showered with positivity to grow with confidence in themselves and care for others at the same time. We are happy with our decision to join TCG – the only regret is that we should have made that decision sooner!”
— Tsuyoshi and Masako Onishi
“Our daughter moved to TCG from a Japanese hoikuen a few months before her second birthday. We noticed the difference to her almost immediately, as after her first week she started to mention her teachers’ names at home which never happened before, and even said a few English words for the first time (I still remember: ‘happy’ ‘apple’ and ‘yummy’). Almost a year has passed, and she is really thriving. She is not bound by strict rules or expectations, which is so important to her growth in these early years (and she will have enough of it later in life!). We are also pleased that she is now trying to speak in English at home, as well as her Japanese which came as her first language.
She is a very fortunate child, being surrounded by exceptional people and in a beautiful space flooded with natural light. We would recommend the school to anyone who wishes their children to flourish in a safe, warm, and stimulating environment.”
— Makiko Aoyama and Marco Visentini-Scarzanella
We sent our daughter to TCG for 2 school years, starting at age 2. These were a wonderful couple years for our daughter. Her creativity blossomed and flourished at TCG. The school also provided a fruitful ground for her to expand on her communication skills and better negotiate her surroundings. There are three key reasons why we would recommend TCG to any prospective parents looking for a non-traditional learning environment for their child:
Extraordinary Teachers
At TCG, an enormous amount of energy goes into establishing a strong bond between student and teacher. We also noticed heavy focus placed on making sure the children feel heard and empowered over the course of their day. This always impressed us as busy parents, giving us a sense of relief that our daughter was in good hands. On top of this, teachers always took the time to bring us into their teaching process and explain the latest happenings at the school.
It's all about discovery
Although it makes sense that a pre-school with a Reggio Emilia approach would focus on child discovery, the staff at TCG take this to a whole new level. Kids dictate the subject matters they are passionate about and collaborate with each other to achieve their goals. All the while, teachers facilitate meaningful experiences to help children on their way, helping them find the words to describe what they have learned and what to do next.
The classroom is everywhere
The TCG classroom space is a wonderful place to learn and discover. However, much of the learning happens outside of the classroom: at play in the park; while passing the neighboring police box (Koban); on a visit to the nearest convenience store, etc. There is a true sense at TCG that everyday experiences can be beautiful and insightful if only we all just slowed down and saw it all through the eyes of our children.
TCG is not a place to drill manners and knowledge into your kids. Thankfully, it is completely the opposite. It is a place where kids can flourish and embark on their own path of discovery. We are very happy to have been a part of TCG for a short time and thank the school for such a great experience.
— Anja and Yukio King