MR SEKIICHI KATO
PRINCIPAL @
FUJI KINDERGARTEN
Mr Sekiichi Kato was born in Tachikawa, Tokyo and is a graduate from Hosei University. In 1991, he embarked on general coporate work and later moved on to company management befure assuming the position of Principal of Fuji Kindergarten in 2000.
Being a key decision maker in the design and building of the school, Mr Kato's relentless efforts to give the best to children has allowed him to develop a passionate school faculty and a world class curriculum. The school's success has led it to be recognized among professional educators and the school has won numerous awards locally and internationally.
In 2016, he published a book titled "Secrets of Fuji Kindergarten" by Shogakukan Inc. highlighting the importance of Early Childhood Education and its place in the community.
MRS KUMIKO KATO
VICE PRINCIPAL @
FUJI KINDERGARTEN
Mrs Kumiko Kato is a passionate Montessori teacher, an office manager and the mother of two sons at home.
She prides herself as visionary principal's partner both
officially and privately.
MR TAKAHARU TEZUKA
ARCHITECT
PRESIDENT OF TEZUKA ARCHITECT
PROFESSOR OF TOKYO CITY UNIVERSITY
Takaharu Tezuka 手塚貴晴 is a Japanese architect. In 1994, he and his wife Yui Tezuka founded the Tokyo-based firm Tezuka Architects.
Projects by Tezuka Architects include the Roof House, Echigo-Matsunoyama Museum of Natural Science, Fuji Kindergarten and Woods of Net. Their recent awards include Japan Institute of Architects Prize (2009), Association for Children's Environment Design Award (2011) and OECD/CELE 4th Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities (2011).
Takaharu Tezuka studied architecture at Musashi Institute of Technology and at the University of Pennsylvania. He went to London where spent four years with the Richard Rogers Partnership Ltd. His is now a Professor at the Tokyo City University.
The couple's work emphasizes human activity and connectivity as can be seen in their schools, office buildings and hospitals.
CHARMAINE SOH (HOST)
DIRECTOR@
GREENTREE MONTESSORI
Ms. Charmaine Soh is the founder and directress of Greentree Montessori, Singapore. She obtained her Certificate in Education with Singapore National Institute and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies with the National University of Singapore. After being a successful high school physical education and Chinese language teacher, she decided to change her educational path from educating high school students to that of the very young children. She has thus gone on to obtain intensive training in Montessori Education and Early Childhood Education. She received her birth to 3 and 3 to 6 years old Training Credentials from AMS (American Montessori Society) and AMI (Association of Montessori International). She was then awarded a Master Degree in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, USA and the certificate for RIE Practices from the Resources of Infant Educarer (RIE). She has pioneered the first Infants’ program in Singapore in 1992.
Ms. Charmaine is the president of the Association of Chinese Montessori International.She has been constantly invited to share her knowledge and expertise and have appeared in various medias for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. Her articles are also commonly featured in newspapers, magazine titles such as Young Parents and Motherhood as well as many China’s Web-media. She has also been featured in Singapore’s TV Channel 8 and China Beijing Broadcasting Station, and ifeng.com.
