Hoikuen Japanese · 園でひとこと日本語
The Japanese you actually hear
on the nursery floor.
30 scenes from a Japanese nursery day — in the words children and teachers really use. Each scene comes with Japanese, romaji and a plain-English explanation.
Inside each scene
Not textbook Japanese — nursery Japanese.
01
Words you’ll hear
Key words and toddler words (幼児語) like ちっち, おてて and ねんね — and what children actually say.
02
Teacher’s Japanese
Six phrases per scene in three levels, in the soft spoken style teachers use with young children.
03
Culture notes
Why Japanese nurseries do things the way they do, with links to the Childcare Guidelines.
04
Textbook vs. nursery
The stiff textbook phrase next to what teachers really say — and why the difference matters.
05
Polite Japanese for parents
Pick-up and contact-book scenes use keigo, with notes on when and why.
06
Audio
Hear every phrase spoken at natural speed, so you can say it on your next shift.
Scenes
From morning drop-off to pick-up
Morning greetings · Health check · Toilet and diapers · Hand washing · Changing clothes · Lunch · Picky eating · Toothbrushing · Nap time · Waking up · Snack · Tidy-up · Indoor and outdoor play · Walks · Crafts · Picture books · Songs · Crying · Fights and turn-taking · Praise · “I can do it myself!” · Sorry and it’s OK · Injuries · Feeling unwell · Evacuation drills · Talking with parents at pick-up · Contact books
A new scene is posted on Instagram every week.
Coming spring 2027
PDF + audio edition, planned for spring 2027.
A free sample PDF is coming soon. Send us a message and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready. Nurseries and schools interested in using it for staff training are also welcome to contact us.