'Happiness Nursery School Group' of Montessori education in Fukuoka transitions to an 'all-school dedicated principal system'. Aiming to improve educational quality and realize swift, field-led decision-making.
i-links Co., Ltd.'s Happiness Nursery School Group will transition to a dedicated principal system for all schools in April 2026. Ritsuko Hirano will become the General Director, aiming for rapid decision-making and improved quality of Montessori education.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:00
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i-links Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, President: Seigo Ishii), which plays a role in the comprehensive mail order service business as a group company of Sanwa Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, President: Seigo Ishii), announces that a new organizational structure assigning a dedicated principal to each school will begin on April 1, 2026, at the company-led and uncertified nursery schools 'Happiness Nursery School Group' it operates.
Ritsuko Hirano, who previously served as principal of all schools, will assume the position of 'General Director', and by assigning a dedicated principal to each school, we will realize swifter decision-making and further improvement in the quality of the Montessori educational environment. Dedicated principals who deeply understand the subtleties of the field will accompany the development of each child and the worries of parents more carefully than ever before, pursuing a high-quality educational environment that fosters 'I did it myself!'.
▼ 'Happiness Nursery School' Official Homepage: https://happiness-hoikuen.jp/
■ Background and Purpose
In recent years, in addition to the diversification of family environments and work styles, against the backdrop of increasing anxiety and isolation regarding child-rearing, diversification of values, and further, information overload due to the spread of SNS, the childcare field is increasingly required to provide detailed involvement tailored to the individuality and development of each child, and flexible responses that are close to parents.
Based on this social background, the Happiness Nursery School Group reviewed its organizational structure to place more emphasis on the perspective of staff members who face children and parents every day in the field.
■ General Director x Dedicated Principal: To a New Two-Tier Management System
Ritsuko Hirano, who has served as principal since the opening, will take on the role of 'Happiness Nursery School Group General Director' and dedicate herself to the operation of the entire group and the improvement of educational quality.
In addition, in this structural change, we have assigned staff members who most deeply understand the figures of parents and children in the field as dedicated principals of each school.
Through this, we aim for swifter decision-making at each school and the realization of childcare that more closely aligns with individuality.
■ New Fiscal Year Meeting Report: About 50 Staff Members Share the Philosophy
At the start of the new structure, we held a new fiscal year meeting attended by staff members from the 4 schools of the Happiness Nursery School Group.
On the day, the President, Managing Director, and General Director shared the company's policies and philosophy, and we reaffirmed our direction as the i-links Co., Ltd. Parent-Child Future Business Division.
It served as a starting point for each staff member to act with the philosophy at their core and face childcare looking in the same direction.
■ The Quality of 'Montessori Education' Protected by Happiness Nursery School
At the Happiness Nursery School Group, based on the Montessori educational idea that 'children have the power to grow on their own', we arrange the daily environment and practice careful childcare.
Activities revolve around 'free choice activities' where children choose themselves and engage repeatedly, fostering self-esteem and independence while valuing the accumulation of small 'I did it myself!' moments. Through interactions across different ages and experiences in daily life, compassion and social skills are naturally nurtured.
Furthermore, childcare workers thoroughly engage as presences supporting children's growth by enhancing their expertise through training. We review the creation of an environment suited to development on a daily basis.
Meticulous observation and involvement that can only be realized because of the small scale. The accumulation of these supports the quality of Montessori education.
■ General Director Comment
As cherry blossoms began to bloom, the nursery school also welcomed new friends and a new structure, marking the beginning of a new fiscal year. Therefore, we changed the school's structure effective April 1.
Ritsuko Hirano, who has been the principal since opening, will concentrate on the role of supporting the operation and educational quality of the entire Happiness Group as 'Happiness Nursery School Group General Director', and staff members who have shared the field as vice principals will each take office as principals of their respective schools.
By having a dedicated principal at each school, it will be a structure capable of responding more quickly and carefully to daily childcare and consultations from parents than ever before. We believe that having a principal you can consult more easily will bring you peace of mind.
Please note that there are no changes to the policy or content of childcare. While passing down the philosophy we have cherished so far, we will carefully support the growth of each child.
Also, while valuing our strength as a 'group school' that leverages the connection of the 4 schools, we will further develop the characteristics and strengths of each school.
To all parents: 'Letting them attend Happiness...'
Ritsuko Hirano, who previously served as principal of all schools, will assume the position of 'General Director', and by assigning a dedicated principal to each school, we will realize swifter decision-making and further improvement in the quality of the Montessori educational environment. Dedicated principals who deeply understand the subtleties of the field will accompany the development of each child and the worries of parents more carefully than ever before, pursuing a high-quality educational environment that fosters 'I did it myself!'.
▼ 'Happiness Nursery School' Official Homepage: https://happiness-hoikuen.jp/
■ Background and Purpose
In recent years, in addition to the diversification of family environments and work styles, against the backdrop of increasing anxiety and isolation regarding child-rearing, diversification of values, and further, information overload due to the spread of SNS, the childcare field is increasingly required to provide detailed involvement tailored to the individuality and development of each child, and flexible responses that are close to parents.
Based on this social background, the Happiness Nursery School Group reviewed its organizational structure to place more emphasis on the perspective of staff members who face children and parents every day in the field.
■ General Director x Dedicated Principal: To a New Two-Tier Management System
Ritsuko Hirano, who has served as principal since the opening, will take on the role of 'Happiness Nursery School Group General Director' and dedicate herself to the operation of the entire group and the improvement of educational quality.
In addition, in this structural change, we have assigned staff members who most deeply understand the figures of parents and children in the field as dedicated principals of each school.
Through this, we aim for swifter decision-making at each school and the realization of childcare that more closely aligns with individuality.
■ New Fiscal Year Meeting Report: About 50 Staff Members Share the Philosophy
At the start of the new structure, we held a new fiscal year meeting attended by staff members from the 4 schools of the Happiness Nursery School Group.
On the day, the President, Managing Director, and General Director shared the company's policies and philosophy, and we reaffirmed our direction as the i-links Co., Ltd. Parent-Child Future Business Division.
It served as a starting point for each staff member to act with the philosophy at their core and face childcare looking in the same direction.
■ The Quality of 'Montessori Education' Protected by Happiness Nursery School
At the Happiness Nursery School Group, based on the Montessori educational idea that 'children have the power to grow on their own', we arrange the daily environment and practice careful childcare.
Activities revolve around 'free choice activities' where children choose themselves and engage repeatedly, fostering self-esteem and independence while valuing the accumulation of small 'I did it myself!' moments. Through interactions across different ages and experiences in daily life, compassion and social skills are naturally nurtured.
Furthermore, childcare workers thoroughly engage as presences supporting children's growth by enhancing their expertise through training. We review the creation of an environment suited to development on a daily basis.
Meticulous observation and involvement that can only be realized because of the small scale. The accumulation of these supports the quality of Montessori education.
■ General Director Comment
As cherry blossoms began to bloom, the nursery school also welcomed new friends and a new structure, marking the beginning of a new fiscal year. Therefore, we changed the school's structure effective April 1.
Ritsuko Hirano, who has been the principal since opening, will concentrate on the role of supporting the operation and educational quality of the entire Happiness Group as 'Happiness Nursery School Group General Director', and staff members who have shared the field as vice principals will each take office as principals of their respective schools.
By having a dedicated principal at each school, it will be a structure capable of responding more quickly and carefully to daily childcare and consultations from parents than ever before. We believe that having a principal you can consult more easily will bring you peace of mind.
Please note that there are no changes to the policy or content of childcare. While passing down the philosophy we have cherished so far, we will carefully support the growth of each child.
Also, while valuing our strength as a 'group school' that leverages the connection of the 4 schools, we will further develop the characteristics and strengths of each school.
To all parents: 'Letting them attend Happiness...'