Blue Sky Tokyo is run by Tokyo resident Iona Macnab. If you have a child under the age of three in Tokyo, you might have heard of her already! Blue Sky Tokyo is a children’s activity and class center in Setagaya, and Iona also acts a certified Lactation Consultant, and is a representative for the highly regarded Maya Slings (TM) brand of baby carrier.
I’ll let Iona tell you a little bit more about her business:
“I know how important it is for mothers to get good breast-feeding support, as so many have difficulties getting started in the early days after the birth. I am a Lactation Consultant, so I offer monthly breastfeeding classes in English for expectant parents too. (I also offer free telephone breast-feeding support after birth.)
“I also know how crucial it is for new mothers to get out of the house and meet other mothers for friendship and support when they have little babies, so I have aimed to create a small community through my Little Angels mother/baby group… I only charge 500 yen a session for that group.
“Of course I hope the mothers enjoy Blue Sky’s activities enough that they would like to come to the Go Baby Go! music and activity groups when their babies begin to walk, but that is always up to them. Lots of friendships are made here, and that has a value that money can’t buy.
“As any mother will tell you, when your kids are signed up for classes here in Japan,…there is always the ubiquitous “nyukaikin” “nenkaikin” and then the “gessha” monthly fee, which very often doesn’t allow makeup classes if the child is sick and misses a class, and doesn’t take into account public holidays, on which lessons are not held, when fixing the price. So when I started my Go Baby Go! classes, I decided I was definitely not offering that style, as mothers end up wasting so much money!
“So I don’t charge nyukaikin, nenkaikin or gessha. I charge for a whole term at a time, but mothers only pay for the days on which lessons will be held, @ 2,000 yen a class. So if a term has 12 Mondays but 2 are public holidays, that means payment for 10 classes only. I offer a special makeup class at the end of the term for people who missed a class during the term.
“The Go Baby Go! classes have also expanded to offer mobile classes, where existing groups of friends or existing mother/baby playgroups can book a 6-week series of music and activity classes in their own part of Tokyo. This has proved quite successful too, and more mobile groups will be on offer after the summer.
“Lastly, through Blue Sky I also sell Maya Wrap Baby slings. Baby slings are so much more economical and versatile than bulky heavy baby strollers, especially when using public transport here in Japan. And the baby who is carried around is much more content and cries less, and develops good muscle tone from responding to the movements of the adult carrying them. I offer a range of Maya Wrap sling fabrics for parents in Japan, plus the opportunity to attend the baby groups and get some breastfeeding advice all at the same time!”
Iona’s Blue Sky Tokyo school provides not only valuable services that are difficult to find in English in Japan, but also at a frugal-friendly way. Stop by her website for more information!
“FJ Friends” are foreign-owned or foreign-friendly businesses and services around Japan. If you know of a worthy business, or would like to introduce your own business to our readers, contact us!!