Fukuumi Noasobi Preschool

This is a place where nature, culture, and people “grow together.”
Children encounter the power of nature and meet friends from different cultures, which inspires new questions within them. And we adults, too, can break free from our assumptions and grow anew. When I first became the director, there were only eleven children. Yet as I engaged with the power of nature and the children’s questions, my own engine began to turn, and now I walk this path with many companions. We do not choose to “teach the right answers,” but instead to “live the questions together.” While we take every precaution for safety and weather risks, we also believe that protecting a child’s spirit of challenge is just as important. Even if words may not fully connect, our feelings always will. Your very presence here is already a precious gift. Welcome to our small laboratory for the future.

Each day begins with children reflecting on what they want to explore. Adults here are not traditional “teachers,” but gentle companions who listen, encourage, and share in the children's experiences. Thoughtful questions like “Why do I want to do this?” or “How does this connect to yesterday?” nurture deep thinking and self-expression. Everyone—children and adults—uses first names, fostering a respectful, equal, and trust-filled community.

The preschool is surrounded by Itoshima’s nature and close community. Just a short train ride from Fukuoka, it’s easy to reach yet rich in sea, fields, and forests. Children sometimes ride the train for walks—turning travel into a small adventure. Through local farming, fishing, and festivals, they connect with people and place. Mixed-age care nurtures empathy, cooperation, and a sense of belonging.