Mother's Day2025 Interview3
- Maco Yoshioka
- 5月12日
- 読了時間: 5分
Listening to My Own Voice
Interview with Minako Goto
Interviewer: Maco Yoshioka
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. She values living joyfully and with intention. Her choices and daily practices reveal a quiet strength and kindness that shine through everything she does.
1. How did you feel when you read your past essays?
Four years ago, my son was in 4th grade. I wrote about how I still sang him the same lullaby since he was a baby.
Now he’s in 8th grade, and we no longer sleep in the same room. I don’t sing the lullaby these days, but I still say, “You’re so sweet. I love you.” I used to sing those words because I knew it might get harder to say them out loud as he grew older. I think singing helped me keep saying them naturally.
Looking back at the other three essays I wrote afterwards, I realize they really reflect my values. The more I wrote, the clearer my feelings became. Once I decided to follow my joy proudly, I started seeing that part of myself more clearly.
2. Is there anything that feels like “that was me back then” or “I’m different now”?
Right before my second essay, my divorce was finalized. Until then, I’d been separated for six and a half years, feeling stuck, unsure of the future.
Once the divorce was official, I felt free. I told myself, “Let’s enjoy this life, just the two of us!” That fresh start shows in the essay.
But my core hasn’t changed. I still believe in the power of words. The words I say out loud give me strength. I want to be my own best friend.
I believe I can change my life by making decisions for myself. I want to take care of my own happiness. I’ve always felt: “Let’s make today joyful.” That hasn’t changed.
3. What’s the biggest change you’ve experienced since writing those essays?
Stronger decision-making
My values became clearer, so it’s easier to decide things.
Try first, think later.
I started to believe, “Let’s just give it a go!” That came from a slogan I saw in the campaign: “Try first. There’s no such thing as failure.”
Entering a new world. I’m a freelance designer, but I wanted to try something new. So I started working once a week at a senior care home, cooking meals. I love cooking, and it’s fun to cook for 10 people. They eat everything and smile—it makes me happy.
Celebrating diversity.
At the care home, I realized how different every woman is. We often say “granny” like it’s all the same, but each person has their own story. One woman used to live overseas and still writes Christmas cards in English. Another was a Japanese teacher. Another designs and sews her patchwork.
Just being there one day a week opened my eyes to a whole new world. When we see someone’s face, the world looks different. That new perspective has grown inside me.
4. Would you change anything in your past essays?
Honestly, I feel a bit shy reading them now, but I wouldn’t change anything.
I shared them with friends and family, because I felt they show who I am today. The campaign gave me the chance to be seen more objectively. It became a way to let people know me better.
5. How did joining the campaign affect your life or your relationships?
There’s a place like this?!
I was so happy to find a group for single mothers like this. The meetings were smooth and quick. The fast pace felt great. Everyone was kind and positive—I got so much inspiration.
It was also my first time taking meeting notes and helping lead. It was a space where I could think, “Maybe I’ll give it a try!”
Working with others
Each campaign, I met more people. It was fun to build something together.
Waking up early for meetings, checking essays as a team, getting warm feedback from others… it was all fun. Even though we met online, we got to know each other deeply. That helped me become more open, too.
Real, honest communication
Other team members read my essays closely and gave kind, thoughtful feedback. Sometimes they’d say, “I love this phrase—please keep it!” That made me happy and surprised.
In our group, no one needed to pretend. That honest way of talking felt really good. Now, even in daily life, I feel more confident saying something when something feels off.
6. If you could send a message to yourself from when you wrote the essays, what would it be?
At first, it took courage to share my writing. I’d say, “Good job for taking that first step!” While writing, I’m focused, so I don’t worry too much. But later, I sometimes think, “Did I really share this much about myself?” Even so, I want to praise the courage it took to be open.
7. What do you hope for in the next three years?
Live each day with care
I don’t even know where I’ll be living in three years, haha. But maybe somewhere warm and near water.
I just want to keep eating well, staying healthy, listening to my inner voice, and living each day with care.
Guitar and surfing.
I started guitar to play “Blackbird,” and I finally made it! I started surfing in 2022—I’m still not great, but I love it. This year, I want to surf in Tanegashima. And someday, maybe at age 60, I want to ride waves in Hawaii!
8. What do you hope people will learn about family diversity through this campaign?
Reading many essays in this campaign, I learned there are so many ways to live. Each one shows a person living their own precious life.
Sometimes people group us all as “single mothers,” but of course, we’re all different.
Each person is special. I hope people can feel that through our essays. And I hope more people will come to understand this.
9. What’s your favorite line from your essays?
There are many, but one I really like is:
“Let’s always be our own best friend. Let’s ask ourselves: How are you today?”
I believe that when we care for ourselves, it makes others around us happier, too.
Even when my son didn’t go to school or said, “I don’t have friends,” I just thought, “As long as he’s okay and feeling good, that’s enough.” When I see him humming happily, I feel like he’s loving himself, and that’s what matters.
Thank you, Minako. The way you treasure your words and stay in tune with your own voice brings a fresh breeze to the hearts of your readers. You said, “It’s more fun to join than just watch!” and welcomed new friends with a smile. Everyone is living their own special story. We hope that message continues to spread through your essays and this interview.
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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