Japan Family Guide is the most complete English-language resource on the web for families living in Japan. In addition to an extensive directory there are articles on raising a family in Japan, events listings, reader contributions, and a forum where members can ask questions and make new friendships. You can contact us at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING

Gamze Abramov

Mother of two, Gamze, fell pregnant to and raised her son Lenin in Tokyo until he was almost 4. Possessing little Japanese ability, she got by quite well via researching the net, sharing information with other parents, and a hell of a lot of mime. At five months pregnant with her second child, Ramona, she and her family returned to Australia to pursue a work opportunity. The idea for Japan Family Guide was born out of a desire to bring all that knowledge to one, easily accessible place.

Nicky Washida

Nicky Washida took a trip to Thailand in 2001 from her native UK. She vaccinated herself against most things known to be picked up in the region – except Japanese husbands. A year later she moved across the world to join him in Tokyo on the promise that they would return to the UK in “a year or so”, but 9 years and 3 kids later, she`s still there, and still wondering how on earth it all happened.

She currently has one child in elementary school, one in kindergarten and one in daycare, and lives in east Tokyo where she runs herself ragged ferrying them all over the place and thanks God every day for her electric bicycle.

A teacher, business consultant and freelance writer, she has been published in several newspapers and news sites in the English-speaking world. Nicky is our senior staff writer, and shares her considerable experience of making, having and raising kids as a foreign Mum in Japan.