We must help children develop their potential

The zelkova trees that line Omotesando avenue in Tokyo are flourishing. Washed by passing rain, they are reflected in shop windows and puddles, displaying masses of dripping green. Until only a few days ago, the leaves were still buds and looked fragile. I am astonished by the life force of the tree trunks. Their vigor is what keeps the seasons turning.

Monday was rikka, the beginning of summer by the traditional calendar. This is the season when not only roadside trees but all living things begin their "dance of life," undergoing a series of metabolic cycles of growth.

A haiku by Junya Mimura goes: "The child's hair/ Emits the fragrance of a young maid/ Summer is here."

Monday was also Children's Day, a national holiday occurring in this season of dazzling verdure. It was instituted in the summer of 1948--exactly 60 years ago--to respect the rights of children, promote their happiness and thank mothers for bringing them into the world. The holiday was officially observed for the first time the following year. And that year, 2.7 million babies were born as if in response to joyous celebrations around the nation. Japan's post-World War II baby boom peaked in 1949.

In recent years, however, there have been slightly more than 1 million births a year. That's a mere 40 percent of the peak level. Japan is graying at a pace never experienced elsewhere. Every child being born will be a special gift to everyone in our society. But society must first become a friendly place for people who want to have children.

There are 200 child consultation centers around the nation, offering advice on problems related to child abuse.

In fiscal 2006, the centers handled 37,000 cases--roughly 10 times more than 10 years ago. I would like to think this is a sign that there are more neighbors and school teachers today watching out for children's welfare. Traditionally, practical advice on how to raise children was handed down from generation to generation within a family. It would be more desirable if local community members and people of the same generation could share such wisdom.

People say it's nurture, rather than nature, that matters in raising children. It should be so, and parents are hoping this is true. And this is all the more reason parents and guardians must be responsible for developing their children's potential.

There will be no season of dazzling growth in a society where adults are incapable of nurturing the young and the young are unable to grow.

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 5(IHT/Asahi: May 6,2008)