About us
Hello, I’m Mariko Okada, founder of Staynative.US.
I have worked in early childhood education and Japanese language education, and I am currently raising my own child in the United States.
Through my experience of parenting overseas, I came to understand how challenging it can be to create a consistent environment where children can stay connected to Japanese.
I felt the need for a system where Japanese could continue naturally in everyday life — not as “study,” but as something woven into daily routines. That realization became the starting point for Staynative.US.
I was originally a subscriber to Staynative, which began in Germany. Through using the monthly picture books with my own child, I experienced firsthand how thoughtfully curated books could play a powerful role in supporting a home Japanese environment.
I wanted to bring this same structure to families in the United States.
That desire led to the launch of Staynative.US.
As both an active educator and a parent raising a child overseas, I value these two perspectives as I support families in building an environment where Japanese can continue naturally — without pressure.
I sincerely hope Staynative.US can become a steady source of support for your family’s Japanese journey.
Hight quality picture books
for the Japanese speaking children in USA !
We selected picture books from the long-established Child Honsha which has produced numerous masterpieces, including "Douzo no Isu". We will deliver high-quality picture books by famous picture book authors in Japan.
To keep Japanese from feeling like a lesson.
For children growing up overseas,
Japanese often becomes something that is taught.
But language, at its heart,
is something that takes root naturally —
through moments of laughter, surprise, and shared imagination between parent and child.
With Staynative.US,
we carefully select picture books that cherish:
words children can’t help but say out loud,
scenes that spark real interaction,
and the rhythm and sound of Japanese that make the language feel alive.
Each month, two thoughtfully chosen books arrive, reflecting the season and a wide range of themes.
Through them, children can gently encounter vocabulary — including science and biographies — that may not easily appear in daily life.
The Habit That Grows with a Subscription
Because the books arrive regularly — not just once —
reading no longer feels like a special event.
It becomes something gently woven into everyday life.
Each time a new book appears in the mailbox,
there’s a small spark of excitement,
a quiet anticipation for the next story.
Little by little,
that rhythm makes opening a book feel like the most natural thing in the world.
Sustainability matters, too.
Our subscription picture books are designed in a softcover format — gentle and easy to handle — because we hope they’ll be picked up again and again in everyday life.
Because they are offered as part of a subscription, we’re also able to provide them at a more accessible price than the equivalent hardcover editions sold in bookstores — making it easier to continue month after month.
We believe that simply being able to continue is, in itself, one of the most important elements in nurturing meaningful reading time between parent and child.