This year, Single Mothers’ Sisterhood is celebrating its 5th anniversary. To mark this milestone, we did a series of special interviews with single mothers who wrote essays for our past campaigns, and listened to “what happened next” in their lives. In this sixth interview, we meet Icchi, who has written two essays for us. In them, she shared her inner struggles and also her decision to keep moving forward. We asked her about the changes she has undergone through writing.

This year, Single Mothers’ Sisterhood is celebrating its 5th anniversary. To mark this milestone, we did a series of special interviews with single mothers who wrote essays for our past campaigns, and listened to “what happened next” in their lives. In this sixth interview, we meet Icchi, who has written two essays for us. In them, she shared her inner struggles and also her decision to keep moving forward. We asked her about the changes she has undergone through writing.

In this fifth interview, we speak with Shinobu Koizumi, who has contributed six essays over the years, sharing her inner thoughts and everyday struggles. We talked about how writing helped her notice changes within herself, the new paths that opened from there, and the future she now wants to cherish.

This spring marks the 5th anniversary of the Single Mothers’ Sisterhood’s Mother’s Day Campaign. To celebrate this milestone, we’re revisiting the voices of women who have contributed essays over the years. In this special interview series, we catch up with them to hear where life has taken them since. Our third guest is Minako Goto, who’s been part of the campaign since the very beginning. Minako believes in the power of words and listens closely to her own voice.

This spring marks the 5th anniversary of the Single Mothers’ Sisterhood’s Mother’s Day Campaign. To celebrate this milestone, we’re revisiting the voices of women who have contributed essays over the years. In this special interview series, we catch up with them to hear where life has taken them since. Our third guest is Minako Goto, who’s been part of the campaign since the very beginning. Minako believes in the power of words and listens closely to her own voice.

Our second spotlight is on Junko Sato, who has written three essays for the campaign. A solo mother by choice, Junko has raised her daughter while working full-time and overcoming breast cancer surgery. Along the way, she and her daughter have also faced social prejudice related to her daughter’s appearance—yet together, they have kept moving forward.

Thank you, Kyoko, for taking the time to share your story with us. Each of your essays beautifully captured the perspective and struggles you were experiencing at the time. Today, as we revisit those words together, I’m excited to hear more about what you felt, how you have changed, and what lies ahead. When you look back at the essays you wrote, what thoughts and feelings come up? The World Looked Gray When I think back to the time I wrote my first essay, the world seemed