• How old were you when you started doing chores, do you do chores?
• When did you first use transit by yourself, go somewhere on your own, go to school by yourself
• Do you think that children should grow up with Japanese ideals of independence?

I was around the age of 9 when I first learned to do basic house chores such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes. I always thought that in my culture, kids learn basic house chores a little too early. However, after watching Japanese documentaries, like Old Enough (Hajimete no Otsukai), which show kids learning chores, walking to school on their own, and even taking public transportation, I was shocked. In Japan, children as young as 6 years old are trusted with significant responsibilities, such as traveling independently on trains and completing errands. I was 11 years old when I first used public transportation, and it was quite nerve-wracking. I was scared of the dangerous people and situations my parents warned me about, yet in the Japanese documentaries, parents seemed relaxed and excited for their child’s journey, with little worry about potential risks. This stark contrast made me realize how different our cultural approaches are. In Japan, a lower crime rate, societal norms, and a strong sense of community make it safer for children to gain independence early on. I believe the Japanese ideal of independence should be encouraged globally, as it teaches valuable life skills. However, this can only work if a country is as safe and cautious as Japan, where both parents and children feel secure in letting go at such a young age.