Parents:

“Nakanaori”, the first book in the KIZUNA Picture Book series, explores the skill of building lasting bonds with others, and how to create harmony in one’s life and in society. It also teaches how to be successful in life as a member of a community. In order for these skills to be truly learned, it should be read to very young children repeatedly.

1. Read the book to the child for the enjoyment of the story.
2. Sing the “Nakanaori” song that is in the middle of the book with the child. By repeatedly singing the song, children will quickly come to memorize it.
3. Next, try and teach the meaning of the story and the song to the child. Especially, talk as a parent to a child about the scenes where the bear starts to think about the beaver’s feelings.
4. When your child starts to fight, tell them to sing the “Nakanaori” song, and that they should try and get the other child to also sing along. In this way, as the two children start singing and dancing to the song, they will see how they can become friends again.

There are three key concepts in public relations for successful relationship management:

1. Ethics
2. Two-way communication (talking with each other)
3. Self-correction (recognizing when you are wrong, and having the ability and will to take correcting action)

To create a better world, these 3 key concepts need to be understood and used for resolving differences between people. These concepts can be found throughout this picture book. Bear has a goal to build a house, but unable to cut trees himself, takes the logs that were cut by Beaver, and thereby loses friends in the forest. “Ethics” can be seen in the action of Grandmother Squirrel, who teaches Bear a song to help think about the feelings of others. Bear begins to talk with Squirrel and starts to understand his mistake, and when Bear goes to return the wood and begins talking with Beaver, this shows the process of “two-way-communication.” Bear returns the wood, and apologizes, illustrating the concept of “self-correction.” Finally, Bear then starts to work with Beaver and thereby deepen their relationship, which in turns leads to cooperation and harmony between everyone in the forest (society), and a happy ending.

You will even find these three key concepts in the ‘Nakanaori’ song.

Let's think about the feeling of others ♪ ♪
(Ethics)

♪ Let's find the courage to talk♪
(Two-way communication)

I feel sorry ♪ I'm sorry
(Self-correction)

Then we are friends again ♪

Let's begin to read this picture book with our children and start to help them to learn to think about the feelings of others and the method and joy of reconciliation.

Teachers and others taking care of children:

“Nakanaori”, the first book in the KIZUNA Picture Book series

"Think about other people’s feelings, talk to them about it with courage, and apologize if you think you did something bad." From the simple message of this picture book, children can learn to be mindful of the feelings of those around them. Through the main character of the Bear, children can come to cultivate a heart that is considerate of others. And, as children learn the song, they will be able to naturally apply its lessons in their daily life. It is important to develop in very young children this awareness of other’s feelings and the skill of reconciliation. The book’s themes come from a desire to teach the fundamental skills of public relations, which is really about creating bonds with various people so that goals can be achieved through cooperation. In public relations, this is known as relationship management, which one can learn from reading this picture book.

There are three key concepts in public relations for successful relationship management:

1. Ethics
2. Two-way communication (talking with each other)
3. Self-correction (recognizing when you are wrong, and having the ability and will to take correcting action)

To create a better world, these 3 key concepts need to be understood and used to resolve differences between people. These concepts can be found throughout this picture book. Bear wants to build a house but is unable to cut trees, so takes the logs that were cut by Beaver, thereby losing friends in the forest. “Ethics” can be seen in the action of Grandmother Squirrel, who teaches Bear a song to help him think about the feelings of others. Bear begins to talk with Squirrel and starts to understand his mistake, and when Bear goes to return the wood and begins talking with Beaver, this shows the process of “two-way-communication.” Bear returns the wood, and apologizes, illustrating the concept of “self-correction.” Finally, Bear then starts to work with Beaver and thereby deepen their relationship, which in turns leads to cooperation and harmony between everyone in the forest (society), and a happy ending.

Let's think about the feeling of others ♪ ♪
(Ethics)

♪ Let's find the courage to talk♪
(Two-way communication)

I feel sorry ♪ I'm sorry
(Self-correction)

Then we are friends again ♪

How to use this book in an actual class:

(Beginning)

Ask children:

1. “So, what kind of things do you fight over”? Listen to their concrete examples.
2. Then take out the book and tell them, “Let’s see if this story can show us how to stop fighting and become friends.”

(Main part)

Begin reading the picture book (or start playing a prerecorded version). Encourage the students to think about the situation: (A) Ask them to think about the feelings of Bear, who cannot make a house by himself. Make sure to talk with them about the feelings of Beaver, who cannot make a house by himself either. (C) “What did Bear talk to Beaver about when he found the courage to talk with him? Talk to the children about how they became friends again.

(END)

Have the children start to sing the song happily together. Start dancing to the song, and if possible have parents and visitors join in too.