The Dream of Olive no Ie: "Towards a world where no one is oppressed. By 2030, introduce 'Psychology for Protecting the Mind and Connecting Equitably with Others' into Japan's compulsory education" ~An appeal from the front lines of DV and abuse for education on 'the power to survive,' more important than the five core subjects~
Certified NPO Olive no Ie announced its dream to introduce "psychology for protecting the mind and connecting with others" into Japan's compulsory education by 2030. It advocates for the necessity of preventive mental health education to combat domestic violence and abuse.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:00
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This organization supports April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to announce dreams. This press release is the dream of "Certified NPO Olive no Ie."
Our dream: "Preventive mental health" in education!
Our dream is to realize a society where all children across Japan can naturally learn "how to protect their own minds (boundaries)" and "the skill to love themselves (self-compassion)" in school.
For interpersonal communication skills and psychology to become a standard in compulsory education, just like arithmetic and Japanese language. This is the "ultimate goal" of our long-standing efforts in supporting domestic violence victims and preventing child abuse.
Background of the dream: "The small children" we observed at the support sites!
At the root of this dream is the earnest wish of Yasuyo Yamamoto, Special Advisor and Psychological Counselor, from her experience at support sites.
"With the motto 'Aiming for a world where no one is oppressed!', what I always think about at sites where the fundamental human rights stipulated by the constitution are not realized is that we adults must never forget that we were once small children ourselves.
No matter what attitude the injured people or children in front of us may take, deep down in their hearts, everyone seeks kindness and compassion. We have encountered many children deeply hurt by domestic violence, abuse, and poverty.
However, their 'resilience' always surprises us. If they have a safe place, kindness, and even one trustworthy person, children quickly regain their smiles and energy. Nevertheless, the emotional scars sustained in childhood do not disappear and often manifest as deep 'difficulties in living' in adulthood. That is why, instead of dealing with these issues after adulthood, 'prevention' is necessary within education to prevent these wounds from occurring in the first place." (Yasuyo Yamamoto)
Why is this dream necessary now?
As Japan's birthrate declines and its population ages, and as future children navigate an unpredictable era, what they need more than academic scores or scholastic ability is an "unbreakable spirit" and the "ability to connect healthily with others."
Through our accumulated knowledge from operating shelters and providing counseling, we aim to systematize this expertise and foster the next generation who can build "relationships that prevent" bullying and domestic violence, rather than "helping after they occur."
Our first step!
To realize this dream, Olive no Ie will first take action to organize psychological education workshops in collaboration with local communities and municipalities, and to create opportunities for recurrent education (re-learning) for parents and educators.
"What is more important than grades in the five core subjects lies within the heart."
We will never give up on creating a Japan where children can truly feel, "I'm glad I was born me."
[Organization Overview]
Name: Certified NPO Olive no Ie
Activities: Temporary protection and independence support for DV victims and impoverished single-mother households, visiting support for impoverished single-parent households, housing support, psychological counseling, home-delivery children's cafeteria and learning support, experiential learning, etc.
Location: Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture
URL: https://olive-no-ie.main.jp
Our dream: "Preventive mental health" in education!
Our dream is to realize a society where all children across Japan can naturally learn "how to protect their own minds (boundaries)" and "the skill to love themselves (self-compassion)" in school.
For interpersonal communication skills and psychology to become a standard in compulsory education, just like arithmetic and Japanese language. This is the "ultimate goal" of our long-standing efforts in supporting domestic violence victims and preventing child abuse.
Background of the dream: "The small children" we observed at the support sites!
At the root of this dream is the earnest wish of Yasuyo Yamamoto, Special Advisor and Psychological Counselor, from her experience at support sites.
"With the motto 'Aiming for a world where no one is oppressed!', what I always think about at sites where the fundamental human rights stipulated by the constitution are not realized is that we adults must never forget that we were once small children ourselves.
No matter what attitude the injured people or children in front of us may take, deep down in their hearts, everyone seeks kindness and compassion. We have encountered many children deeply hurt by domestic violence, abuse, and poverty.
However, their 'resilience' always surprises us. If they have a safe place, kindness, and even one trustworthy person, children quickly regain their smiles and energy. Nevertheless, the emotional scars sustained in childhood do not disappear and often manifest as deep 'difficulties in living' in adulthood. That is why, instead of dealing with these issues after adulthood, 'prevention' is necessary within education to prevent these wounds from occurring in the first place." (Yasuyo Yamamoto)
Why is this dream necessary now?
As Japan's birthrate declines and its population ages, and as future children navigate an unpredictable era, what they need more than academic scores or scholastic ability is an "unbreakable spirit" and the "ability to connect healthily with others."
Through our accumulated knowledge from operating shelters and providing counseling, we aim to systematize this expertise and foster the next generation who can build "relationships that prevent" bullying and domestic violence, rather than "helping after they occur."
Our first step!
To realize this dream, Olive no Ie will first take action to organize psychological education workshops in collaboration with local communities and municipalities, and to create opportunities for recurrent education (re-learning) for parents and educators.
"What is more important than grades in the five core subjects lies within the heart."
We will never give up on creating a Japan where children can truly feel, "I'm glad I was born me."
[Organization Overview]
Name: Certified NPO Olive no Ie
Activities: Temporary protection and independence support for DV victims and impoverished single-mother households, visiting support for impoverished single-parent households, housing support, psychological counseling, home-delivery children's cafeteria and learning support, experiential learning, etc.
Location: Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture
URL: https://olive-no-ie.main.jp
FAQ
What is the "preventive mental health" that Olive no Ie aims for?
It is an education where children learn "how to protect their minds" and "the skill to love themselves" in school, preventing domestic violence and abuse.
Why is psychology necessary in compulsory education now?
Because children navigating an unpredictable era with declining birthrates and an aging population need an "unbreakable spirit" and "ability to connect with others" more than academic ability.
What are the concrete activities to realize this dream?
We will proceed with organizing psychological education workshops in collaboration with local communities and municipalities, and creating opportunities for recurrent education for parents and educators.