On August 6, actress Shaku Yumiko (48) updated her Instagram with big news: her 10-year-old son had returned 無事に (buji ni, safely) from a one-month summer school program in Canada.
For many parents, sending a child overseas alone would be nerve-wracking. Shaku admitted that she 見送った (miokutta, saw him off) at departure with worry. Yet over the course of the month, her son regularly reported that he was doing well and enjoying his life abroad, which helped her feel reassured.
A 12-Hour Flight—All on His Own
Her son traveled to Toronto using the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor service. The 12-hour flight could have felt long for a 10-year-old, but according to Shaku, it seems he actually enjoyed the independence.
Without his “noisy mom” sitting next to him, he was able to 羽を伸ばして (hane o nobashite, relax freely) and enjoy the in-flight movies 思う存分 (omou zonbun, to his heart’s content), she wrote with a laugh.
The summer school itself was something he strongly wanted to do, saying he wanted to “challenge himself with many things.” In addition to English study, the program included survival camp activities, art, sports, a tour of Niagara Falls, and even attending a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game. It was a packed schedule full of new experiences.
Making Friends Across Borders
This was his second year participating on his own. Just like the year before, Shaku arranged everything 手探りで (tesaguri de), meaning she figured it out step by step without using an agent.
At first, she worried because he didn’t know anyone. However, he quickly became friends with other students from Japan and with a roommate from Shanghai. He also met children from Canada, China, Korea, Vietnam, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and other countries.
Spending each day in such a diverse environment became what Shaku described as a truly precious experience.
No Homesickness—Thanks to FaceTime
Although he was away from Japan for a full month, Shaku said they talked face-to-face every day via FaceTime. Because of that, he didn’t become homesick and didn’t feel any emotional distance from his family.
You might expect a dramatic transformation after such an experience. Shaku joked that she thought he would return “a whole size or two more mature.”
But here’s a very natural Japanese expression she used:
ひとまわりもふたまわりも成長して帰ってくるかと思いきや……
〜かと思いきや (…ka to omoikiy a) — “Just when you think… but actually…”
Just when she thought he would come back significantly grown up—he was 相変わらず (aikawarazu, as usual) her same 生意気な (namaiki na, cheeky) son.
Still, there was one surprising change. Perhaps due to jet lag, he began waking up early and starting his morning study on his own. Shaku added with humor, “I wonder how long that will last…”
She concluded her post by saying they plan to fully enjoy the rest of August summer vacation.
Shaku married a non-celebrity man in October 2015 and gave birth to her son in June 2016.
Cultural Context: Studying Abroad at a Young Age
In recent years, short-term overseas programs like summer schools have become more popular among Japanese families. Parents often see them as opportunities not only to improve English skills, but also to develop independence and global awareness.
The use of the Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service is also common for children traveling alone internationally. In Japan, it’s not unusual for elementary school students to fly solo with this service, especially for study programs.
Shaku’s story reflects a balance many Japanese parents strive for: protecting their child while also encouraging independence.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Here are key words and expressions you can start using right away:
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 無事に | buji ni | safely; without problems |
| 見送る | miokuru | to see someone off |
| 羽を伸ばす | hane o nobasu | to relax freely; feel liberated |
| 思う存分 | omou zonbun | to one’s heart’s content |
| 手探り | tesaguri | figuring things out without guidance |
| 相変わらず | aikawarazu | as usual; unchanged |
| 生意気 | namaiki | cheeky; sassy |
Grammar Spotlight 1: 〜みたいです
Structure: Verb / い-adjective / な-adjective + みたいです
Meaning: “It seems…” / “Apparently…”
This is a softer, conversational way to express what something appears to be.
Example from the story (paraphrased):
- すぐに仲良くなれたみたいです。 Sugu ni nakayoku nareta mitai desu. It seems he quickly became friends.
More examples:
雨が降るみたいです。 Ame ga furu mitai desu. It looks like it’s going to rain.
彼は元気みたいです。 Kare wa genki mitai desu. He seems well.
Grammar Spotlight 2: 〜かと思いきや
Structure: Clause + かと思いきや
Meaning: “Just when you think… but actually…”
Used to express an unexpected contrast.
Example:
- 大人になったかと思いきや、相変わらず生意気です。 Otona ni natta ka to omoikiya, aikawarazu namaiki desu. Just when I thought he had grown up, he’s still as cheeky as ever.
This pattern is great for storytelling and adds a dramatic, humorous twist.
Useful Expressions
無事に帰国しました。 Buji ni kikoku shimashita. Returned home safely.
色んなことに挑戦したい！ Ironna koto ni chōsen shitai! I want to challenge myself with many things!
本当に貴重な経験になりました。 Hontō ni kichō na keiken ni narimashita. It became a truly valuable experience.
Continue Learning
Time expressions like “for one month” or “last year” often appear without changing verb tense in the way English does. To understand this more deeply:
- Time and Dates: Tense-Free Expressions: Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Time and Dates: Tense-Free Expressions will help you master these concepts.
Stories like this are full of natural, everyday Japanese—parent-child conversations, casual grammar, and expressive patterns that you won’t always find in traditional textbooks.
Keep noticing how Japanese expresses emotion, contrast, and subtle impressions. That’s how you start thinking the way Japanese speakers do.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.