Mother's Day2025 Interview2
- Maco Yoshioka
- 6 日前
- 読了時間: 6分
Embracing Challenges, Nurturing Hope
Interview with Essayist Junko Sato
Interviewer: Maco Yoshioka
This spring marks the 5th anniversary of the Single Mothers’ Sisterhood Mother’s Day Campaign. To commemorate this milestone, we are conducting a special interview series revisiting the lives of the single mothers who previously contributed essays over the past eight campaigns.
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.
Three years have passed since her first essay. We asked Junko to reread her past essays and reflect on her thoughts and experiences at the time, how they’ve evolved, and where she’s headed now. We invite you to read this interview alongside her original essays.
Fight!! (December 2022)
Work-Life Balance Found in the U.S. (December 2023)
1. How did you feel when rereading the essays you wrote in the past?
“Clumsy as it was, I’m proud I wrote it.”
I was involved in the very first Mother’s Day campaign back in 2021, not as a writer but as a staff member on the publicity team. I had always felt I wasn’t good at writing, so joining the essay team didn’t even cross my mind at the time.
But when the theme for the third campaign was announced—“self-care”—something in me said, “I have to write about this.” That’s when I decided to give essay writing a try for the first time. Rereading it now, I still feel it’s clumsy, but I think I did pretty well. I’m proud I wrote it.
It wasn’t easy.
Writing an essay meant confronting difficult parts of my life, like my illness. It wasn’t easy to put those experiences into words. But I think I wanted to process those feelings and express them in a way that felt complete to me.
After finishing the first essay, writing felt a little less intimidating. Around that time, I was struggling with something else—issues I had anticipated even before giving birth: my daughter’s skin color, her roots, and the hurtful words we sometimes faced. These were topics our family would have to confront sooner or later. There was no clear answer, but I wanted to sort through it by writing.
Leaving something behind for my daughter
When I write essays, I do so with the hope that I’m leaving behind a piece of myself for my daughter, my honest feelings in that moment. Someday, she might read them. That’s why I wanted to capture those emotions as sincerely and directly as possible.
2. Looking back, is there anything that feels particularly “like your past self” or that feels different from who you are now?
What hasn’t changed is my desire to be of help to others. That feeling was already there when I wrote those essays, and it’s still very much a part of me now. Having gone through cancer treatment, I came to understand—deeply and personally—that life is finite. I started to think more seriously about how I want to spend the limited time I have. That’s why I still feel a strong desire to reach out and offer support, even in small ways, when I see someone struggling. It’s something that has stayed with me through the years, unchanged.
3. Since writing your essays, what has been the biggest change in your life—whether in your career, relationships, habits, or way of thinking?
A shift in how I view my career
When I wrote those essays, I had worked in sales for over 20 years at the company I joined straight out of university. It was a competitive and demanding field, but also rewarding. However, going through cancer treatment made me question whether I wanted to continue on the same path. I started to think that instead of pushing myself endlessly, I want to do work that aligns more closely with my own values. That was the beginning of a shift in my perspective.
Taking a step toward career change
Writing those essays helped me reflect deeply on myself. Through group reflection programs as well, my desire for a career change gradually became clearer. Around that time, an internal job posting came up, and I decided to apply for a position in a different department, outside of sales. Although I wasn’t selected due to my lack of direct experience, someone who had read my application reached out to me. As a result, I was offered a position starting in April, and I’ve now made the transition to a new department focused on diversity promotion. Taking that first step opened an unexpected new door.
Where my values and my work align
Since April, I’ve been working in a department that shines a light on various minority groups within the company—employees who are LGBTQ+, of foreign nationality, or who have disabilities, among others. It’s a completely different field from sales, and there’s a lot to learn. As someone working reduced hours, it’s certainly challenging. But the work aligns perfectly with my desire to “be someone’s strength.” Every day feels full and meaningful. I truly enjoy what I do.
4. If you were to rewrite your essays now, is there anything you would want to change?
No, there’s nothing I would change. Those essays were created through a thoughtful process, working together with the editors until I felt they truly reflected my honest feelings at the time. It wasn’t something I made alone—we went back and forth many times until it felt right. That’s why I still treasure them today.
5. How has participating in the Single Mothers’ Sisterhood campaigns impacted you or your relationships with others?
It made me more mindful of diversity, reskilling, and the power of sisterhood. I’ve come to value seeing others as they are, without judgment or bias. The campaign also introduced me to new tools—like cloud-based collaboration and digital marketing strategies—and taught me the importance of reskilling and continuously updating myself.
But above all, it deepened my sense of sisterhood. Solidarity among women truly means something. I strongly hope to see more spaces where sisterhood like this can grow and flourish.
6. If you could send a message to your past self—the one who wrote those essays—what would you say?
I’d tell her, “It’s okay. Don’t worry so much. Both my daughter and I are doing just fine.”People often describe me as positive and powerful—and maybe that’s how I come across—but in truth, I tend to be anxious and easily fall into negative thinking. That’s why I’d want to gently reassure my past self from where I stand now.
7. Over the next three years, what do you hope to prioritize in your life? Do you have any goals or dreams you’d like to achieve?
I want to keep focusing on building a society that truly embraces diversity and on being a source of support for others. Through my work, I plan and promote initiatives that highlight the needs of marginalized groups. I think constantly about what makes a workplace truly inclusive for everyone, and I want to keep growing as a professional.
As for dreams, I’d love to visit Kenya, my daughter’s country of heritage, while she’s still in elementary school. Also, rereading my essays reminded me how much I want to return to the U.S. someday. That desire has come back to life, and I’d like to create the opportunity to go again.
8. Through this campaign, how would you like to see the diversity of families conveyed to society? Please share your thoughts.
There is so much diversity among single mothers. I hope people will look at us without judgment or assumptions, and simply accept that diversity as it is.
The single mothers I’ve met through the Sisterhood all come from different backgrounds. Even though I initially thought I’d be the one offering support, I’ve found myself receiving encouragement, insight, and strength from each of them.
9. Do you have a favorite phrase from your essays?
“If my daughter can see me living strongly and moving forward, that’s enough for me.” (Being Someone's Source of Strength, May 2022)
“It’s okay. No matter what happens, there will always be a place where you feel safe. When hurtful words come your way, I’ll be right there fighting beside you. Lighting the path ahead for my daughter—that’s my most important mission.” (From Fight!!, December 2022)
Thank you, Junko, for sharing your story. Despite the enormous challenges you’ve faced—illness, racial bias—you’ve never stopped moving forward, always taking the time to reflect deeply on yourself. This interview reaffirmed the strong sense of purpose that runs through your journey: the desire to be someone’s strength. Whether in parenting or your career, you’ve continued to walk your path with authenticity and courage.
On the day of the interview, Junko’s daughter also joined us for a photo shoot. The warmth in their smile lit up the camera. We’ll be cheering you both on, always, as you continue to walk your path forward together.
Call for Donations
Thank you for reading this interview to the end. The non-profit organization The nonprofit organization Single Mothers Sisterhood supports the mental and physical health and empowerment of single mothers. Your generous donations will be carefully used to fund the operation of 'Self-Care Workshops for Single Mothers'. Donations are accepted via the Donate button below.
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