Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd. A new learning space for parents and children who want to live, “500 Years of School – Folkehojskole for Parents and Children,” opens at Yanadaji Temple in Machida City

【Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd.】 A new learning space for parents and children who create “life”: “500-year-old school – Folk High School for Parents and Children” opens at Yanadadera Temple in Machida City ​
Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 15, 2025 A new learning space for parents and children to create “life,” “500-Year-Old School: Folkehojskole for Parents and Children,” opens at Yanadadera Temple in Machida City. ~Applications will begin on Wednesday, November 12, 2025~
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Tomukayama Ryodenji Temple, located in the valley of Machida City, Tokyo, and Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd. have opened the “500-Year-Old School: Folkehojskole for Parents and Children,” where parents and children can experience and interact together. The first class has been held. We will be accepting applications for the next term from Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The program will consist of six sessions, held on the third Sunday of each month from May to October 2026, featuring a diverse group of instructors from a variety of fields, including art, music, nature, and philosophy. Throughout the day, from morning to evening, parents and children will have the opportunity to experience and engage in dialogue, allowing their realizations and learning to soak into their minds and bodies for a special day. “500 Years of School ~Folke High School for Parents and Children~ (Season 1)” Dates | May 2026 Monday through October / 6 sessions total / 3rd Sunday of each month (One of the sessions is scheduled as a sleepover) Time | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch included) Capacity | 10 groups (20 people) Target | One child in grades 3-6 and one parent/guardian Tuition | ¥22,000 per month x 6 sessions (6-month course only) Venue | Higashimukoyama Yanada Temple (2-5-33 Tadao, Machida City, Tokyo) Instagram｜＠yato500net HP｜https://www.yato500.net/ Lecturers｜ Taro Ishida / Composer, Chieko Ito / Dancer, Kenichi Kanazawa / Sculptor, KOM_I / Artist, Motoyuki Shitamichi / Artist, Kosuke Takahashi / Inventor, Rei Nagai / Philosopher, Shuta Hasunuma / Musician, Kentaro Masumitsu / Artist, Nao Mikami / Chef, etc. (50 (in alphabetical order) Application Period | Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – End of March 2026 Application Form |https://qr.paps.jp/gOfHi Organizer｜Yanada Temple Planning and Creation｜Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd. Cooperation｜GK Mete “At Yanada Temple, where time flows rooted in nature, take a deep breath, let go of the everyday, and gently relax your mind.” 500 Changes occur on an annual cycle — Tokozan Ryodenji Temple, a temple located in a rich natural environment. Established in 1629 (the 6th year of the Kan’ei era), Tokozan Ryodenji Temple is located in Tadao, Machida City, Tokyo, surrounded by a tranquil forest and spring water. Seasonal flowers and birdsong herald the changing of the seasons, creating a special place where time flows. People constantly gather around the spring that gushes forth from the valley. The temple has undergone major changes roughly every 500 years, and as such, it has established a “500-Year School” as a place of learning to shape the next 500 years. A village flourished here as far back as 7,000 years ago during the Jomon period, and a Zen Buddhist temple was built here during the last turning point in 1629. As a temple deeply rooted in the local community, the temple actively engages in cultural and social activities, including Sunday Zen meditation sessions, cultural lectures, and music events. The word “yato” (meaning “valley”) refers to the valley-like topography created by the erosion of hills, as well as the ecosystem and its activities that unfold there. Yanada Temple is currently implementing the “YATO Project,” which aims to foster lifestyles and relationships that will connect the area 500 years into the future. The area is also home to the “Shizen no Kuni Nursery School,” which is based on the philosophy of “everything child-centered,” as well as satoyama (satoyama woodlands) and fields that local residents participate in maintaining. The “500-Year School” was launched in 2024 as a central program of this project.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-6a49a919355c7400e4f04dc44c5ff2e6-3900×2600.jpg “It’s interesting because we don’t understand it. Cherish the present moment when we look each other in the eye and smile, saying, “It’s mysterious.” ” Learning time a little outside of everyday life, modeled after “folk high schools” and “free schools” “Folke High School for Parents and Children” is a combination of “folk high schools” for adults, which originated in Denmark, and “free schools” for children. This program incorporates the essence of the “Free School” learning style and has been reconstructed to suit the Japanese climate and lifestyle. At Yanadadera Temple, a place of learning, parents and children can experience the feeling of being alive and learn about the very essence of life. Each class runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, allowing for ample time for learning. Rather than simply trying something new, participants engage in trial and error, discuss and reflect on their experiences, and deepen their experiences throughout the day. Rather than searching for the right answer, parents and children can enjoy “not knowing,” making this a precious day unique to a 500-year-old school. Each month’s experiences sow the seeds of dialogue and the future between parents and children.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-a17f749becd42888acc7e3f1720749cb-3900×2600.jpg “Creating ‘living'” is a strange phrase. However, in our everyday lives, we don’t often have the opportunity to think about the obvious fact that we are “alive.” This 500-year-old school is filled with lessons that allow students to reaffirm and share the realization that “we are all alive.” Together with the peers and students we meet at school, let’s cultivate a sense of “being alive.” It is within this awareness that we find the learning we seek. 簗田寺 住職・500 年の学校 校長 齋藤紘良 A diverse team of instructors creating a “lifelike” experience Together with professional instructors active at the forefront of various fields, you will encounter new worlds and perspectives while learning through diverse connections. Children and adults alike will enjoy the freedom to feel, think, and express themselves in the unique setting of Yanadadera Temple.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-d8a2f8e00a3226ac28ee40c3b911aea4-1950×1126.png (in alphabetical order) “Folk High School” and “Free School” The “500-Year School” was inspired by the philosophy of “Folkehöjskole,” a school originating in Denmark. “Folkehöjskole” is a school that has taken root mainly in Scandinavia, where people learn from each other to “live as they are,” regardless of frameworks such as age, academic background, or reputation. On the other hand, “Freeskole” is a “free school” for elementary and junior high school students that values ​​children’s growth as they are. Students spend time not only in the classroom but also in nature, learning to connect with society through dialogue and collaboration. In both programs, “dialogue” is an important part of the time. One of the features of this program is that it also includes time for “dialogue” before and after each class.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-0ad1ddb5da31af8d43671fec61046863-1934×348.png The 500-Year School Dialogue begins with everyone asking questions based on their experiences that day. Participants speak in their own words and listen carefully to what others have to say, respecting each other’s thoughts. The goal is not to come up with an answer, but to continue thinking. Each dialogue leads to awareness and change.
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About the YATO project
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-1295936e3efcf7fff437bab6b7ef1b15-2480×2480.jpg The Tadao area of ​​Machida City features a valley-like terrain called “Yato,” formed by the erosion of hilly land. This art project is set in the Satoyama area surrounding the temple and the “Shizen no Kuni Nursery School,” which has a philosophy of “everything being child-centered,” and aims to learn about the local area while considering the relationship between people and places (=common) that has continued for 500 years. In collaboration with artists, musicians, experts in the natural environment and history, and local
organizations, the project brings together adults and children who will lead the next generation. https://yato500.net About Mother Dictionary
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/115791/6/115791-6-02b4e88abdc13c41d237b2ecc31f6d27-1000×1000.jpg “What we can do to create a better society” Our efforts are to create spaces that connect people, culture, and nature, and to “sow seeds for the future” by passing on the baton of skills and passion that should be passed on to future generations. We support connections between people and culture in various ways through our know-how in creating spaces such as “Kazoku no Atelier,” “Daikanyama Teens Creative,” and “Keigaku no Ie,” as well as through events like “TRACING THE ROOTS,” workshop planning, and artist management. Company Profile Company Name | Mother Dictionary Co., Ltd. Head office location: SOIL Nihonbashi 2F, 14-7 Kotomachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Date of establishment | April 1, 2013 Representative Director｜Kisako Omi
HP｜https://motherdictionary.com/
Instagram｜https://www.instagram.com/motherdictionary/
Facebook｜https://www.facebook.com/motherdic
Inquiries: yato@ryoudenji.net Contact: Ebata, Watanabe For more information about this release