I'm an American who raised my kids in Japan - locals thought I was a bad mom and shamed me for giving my children potato chips and not teaching them to read before they started school

  • A Michigan mom who raised her kids in Japan says  she was seen as a 'bad mom' 
  • Suzanne, who lives in Tokushima Prefecture, reflected on the different cultures
  • She said although  there was an American influence, her kids turned out just fine

By EMILY LEFROY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

An American mother has opened up about raising her children in Japan, claiming she was seen as a 'bad mother' for including American customs.

Suzanne Kamata, who grew up in Michigan, said she only planned on living in Japan for a year. However the writer ended up meeting a Japanese man at the school she was teaching at, whom she went on to marry and have twins with.

In an essay for Insider, the young adult book author reflected on raising her kids - who are half-Japanese, half-American - in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, while she still trying to include some American customs that she grew up with.

'I wanted them to grow up bilingually with an awareness of American culture,' Suzanne explained. 'Living in a conservative corner of Japan, they might not feel as if they fit in, but I wanted them to be proud of their origins.'

Michigan-raised Suzanne Kamata (pictured) raised her half-Japanese, half-American children in Japan, while she still trying to include some American customs that she grew up with

Michigan-raised Suzanne Kamata (pictured) raised her half-Japanese, half-American children in Japan, while she still trying to include some American customs that she grew up with

Suzanne (pictured with her twins) admitted she felt like a 'bad mom' when her kids started school, recalling how other mothers were appalled at what she packed for lunch

Suzanne (pictured with her twins) admitted she felt like a 'bad mom' when her kids started school, recalling how other mothers were appalled at what she packed for lunch

The mom - whose children are now adults - recalled arranging playdates with other bicultural kids, and made sure to read books with bicultural characters in them to introduce them to the concept, later writing and publishing her own.

She also introduced them to American foods, like mac and cheese, as well as  cultural traditions, like Easter egg hunting.

However the mom said when her kids started school, she started feeling like she was a 'bad mom.'

'It felt like I was doing everything wrong,' Suzanne confessed.

As her daughter is deaf, she was enrolled in an early intervention program at the School for the Deaf, where Suzanne was expected to accompany their kids every day.

'On one of the first days, I packed a sandwich, potato chips, fruit, and cookies in a lunch box featuring a character from an American cartoon that my daughter enjoyed,' she recalled.

At school, her packed her daughter's lunch, which was considered very normal by American standards, shocked the other mother's in the class.

'"Isn't that junk food?" Suzanne recalled another mother asking her, saying she had prepared her child a bento with rice molded into a Japanese cartoon character, tiny sausages cut into octopus shapes, and carrots that looked like flowers. 

She introduced her kids to American foods, like mac and cheese, as well as cultural traditions, like Easter egg hunting

She introduced her kids to American foods, like mac and cheese, as well as cultural traditions, like Easter egg hunting

Suzanne said her and her children often forgot to bring things to school, which their teachers  said did not 'bode well' for the future

Suzanne said her and her children often forgot to bring things to school, which their teachers  said did not 'bode well' for the future

However, the mom-of-two is happy to report her two children are well-adjusted young adults, adding they: 'occasionally eat mac and cheese, read many books, and forget things'

However, the mom-of-two is happy to report her two children are well-adjusted young adults, adding they: 'occasionally eat mac and cheese, read many books, and forget things'

When she took her son for his first day at school, Suzanne found out everyone else else had enrolled their kids into cram schools, an intensive course some students take to prepare them for lessons.

'Mine was the only one who didn't know how to read and write and do basic math,' she confessed.

Another issue the teacher's had was the forgetfulness, with Suzanne admitting there were times that between her and her children, some items from a long list of required things were left at home.

'The teachers always said that forgetfulness boded ill for the future,' she explained. 

'I'm not sure what they imagined would happen if they didn't remember everything every day, but I do know many Japanese adults who forget things.'

Now, as a mother to two adults,  Suzanne deems them well adjusted adults, reporting they: 'occasionally eat mac and cheese, read many books, and forget things.'

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