Why I Started Single Mothers' Sisterhood

Hello, I'm Maco Yoshioka, the founder of this initiative. In December 2020, I stepped down as the representative of Madre Bonita, a non-profit organization I founded and led for 22 years to support postpartum care. I made this decision in order to fully dedicate myself to supporting the self-care and empowerment of single mothers, and founded this new organization.

The roots of this work go back to the spring of 2020, when we launched an online self-care course for single mothers within the activities of Madre Bonita. Over the course of nine months, we hosted 176 sessions, with a total of 1,216 participants. Originally a temporary initiative in response to the pandemic, it continued until December of that year due to the unexpectedly strong demand.

Participants included single mothers from a wide range of backgrounds—those who were widowed, never married, or divorced, as well as pre-single mothers going through divorce mediation or court proceedings. The ages of their children also varied widely, from newborns just two months old to university students.

Through engaging with single mothers every day, I came to deeply understand the complexity and depth of specialized support for solo parents. With a strong desire to stay grounded in the field, deepen my expertise, and expand the impact of this work, I made the decision to found a new organization: Single Mothers' Sisterhood.

In 5 Years: 4,073 Single Mothers, 596 Sessions, 45 Prefectures

Our 30-minute online sessions of “Yoga and Meditation,” which can be easily joined from home, have been warmly welcomed by single mothers across Japan. These classes are held regularly four times a week. As of April 21, 2025, we have conducted 596 sessions, with a total of 4,073 participants from 45 prefectures.

By working closely with single mothers every day, we continue to refine our methods and accumulate insights into effective ways of providing support.

Self-Care Is Often the Least Priority—That’s Why It Needs Support

While there are various public and private forms of support for single-parent families, mental and physical self-care is often regarded as a matter of personal responsibility. In today’s busy world, your physical and mental health tends to fall to the bottom of the list. That’s exactly why we believe it shouldn’t be left solely to individuals—this is an area where support and intentional intervention are truly needed.

For many single mothers who struggle to find time for themselves, even a short moment to care for their own well-being—and the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations online across regions—can bring significant benefits to their physical and emotional health. The positive impact extends directly to their children.

This is the area where we are committed to providing support.

Welcoming Every Way of Being a Family

No matter the circumstances, being able to take pride in one’s choices and live authentically starts with a foundation of physical and mental well-being—and connection with others.
In this year’s Mother’s Day campaign, we revisit the lives of several single mothers who previously participated in our Self-Recovery Through Expression program and shared their essays in past campaigns.

Through their words, we catch a glimpse of the rich, individual stories that go far beyond any stereotypical image of “a single mother.”

We invite you to listen closely to the voices of the five writers featured this year. By reading their reflections alongside their earlier essays, you'll see their journeys, their changes, and how they’ve continued moving forward—sometimes with doubt, but always with courage.

How your donations are used

Our programs are made possible through the generous support of people like you. Your donations help fund initiatives such as the Self-Care Program for Single Mothers, where participants care for their mental and physical health, and community-based programs like Group Reflection and Self-Recovery Through Expression, which offer spaces for single mothers to connect, support, and empower one another.

We believe that true empowerment doesn’t come from simply receiving something—it comes when people are supported in reclaiming and expressing their own strength.

If you resonate with this approach to support, we warmly welcome your contribution.