By Elizabeth Broughton

Last updated at 13:22, Saturday, 14 November 2009

A mother has moved her children over 5,000 miles from Japan to Carlisle to allow her son to attend primary school.

Hiromi Docherty with Kai and Reia

Kai Docherty, six, was too young to start school in Tokyo so, in August this year, Hiromi Docherty made the decision to bring him – and his three-year-old sister Reia – to Cumbria for an English education.

Leaving her Carlisle-born husband, Graeme, in Tokyo, where he works as investment banker for Barclays, Mrs Docherty has made a new life in the city, where Reia and Kai now both attend Yewdale Primary School.

Mrs Docherty, of Berkeley Grange, Belle Vue, said: “Before we came to Carlisle in August the kids used to go to the New World International Pre-School in Tokyo to learn English. The teachers came from Japan, Canada, Holland and the Philippines, which provided them with multi-cultural experiences.

“The kids liked the pre-school very much but, in Japan, kids start school at six years old and my son had one more year to go, but I thought he was ready for school in the UK.

“Also, it’s a good chance for them to see how their father developed, because their dad’s hometown is Carlisle and bonding time with their grandparents and cousins is very important for their growth.”

Mrs Docherty and her children plan to spend a year living in Carlisle, before re-joining Graeme in Tokyo next August.

But, for now, they’re enjoying life in England and the chance to be closer to the British half of their family.

“After two months of living in Carlisle I think people here are very kind and helpful to us, even though we are strangers,” Mrs Docherty added.

“The kids are enjoying studying and learning the culture at Yewdale.

“In Tokyo a lot of the parents are very keen on letting their children learn English, so to get the English language ability as well as Japanese will provide them with more opportunities for their future in Japan.”

And Alice McKenzie, Kai and Reia’s grandmother, is delighted that her grandchildren are now just round the corner.

She said: “I was delighted because although the little boy was born in Glasgow, Kai left when he was one and he’s six now.

“We had been out there a couple of times, but you still miss them and I will miss them when they’ve to go back.”

Kai and Reia are getting to grips with life at Yewdale, with Reia attending the nursery. Mrs Docherty describes the atmosphere as “less strict” that at their Japanese pre-school.

Yesterday Mrs Docherty took the opportunity to share a little bit of Japanese culture with Reia’s school friends, when she went to Yewdale School to teach the three to five-year-olds about the art of origami, wearing a traditional summer kimono, a Yukata.

Mrs Docherty, who is a high school English teacher in her native Japan, said: “One of the teachers asked me to teach the kids Japanese traditional things, and I was very happy to agree.

“Using origami, I showed them how to make a Japanese crane, a paper balloon, and an aeroplane.

“I also took some Samurai helmets which are used for the children’s day in May in Japan, and they were made out of newspaper so the kids could wear them.

“This is what I can do here and the way I can show my appreciation to the people here. Arigatou – thank you – Carlisle.”

First published at 14:22, Friday, 13 November 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk