Creating Family Harmony Through Tanka: An Appeal for Educational Reform in the 21st Century

Katsumi Okabe
Noble House (2007)
ISBN 9781561679768
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (6/07)

Author Katsumi Okabe is an expert in speech and language.  He has committed himself to the investigation of ground-breaking educational modalities, particularly when applied to the management and therapy of disabled persons.  The “whole-personality approach” leads to an assortment of thoughts and techniques that he hopes to use in refining a patient’s humanity through enriching activities and abilities.

In the foreword of “Creating Family Harmony Through Tanka”, the principal behind education is stated, “protect and cultivate the spirit.”  “Expression of the spirit through words is Tanka.”  Tanka is a short form of Japanese poetry with five lines.  “Creating Family Harmony Through Tanka” presents an educational depiction of the twenty-first century using "Tanka" as a means to stimulate people and seek complete insight.  Okabe states six of his thoughts on home schooling:

-  “Home education is the idea. “  “His father placed a high value on putting his family in order.”
-  “Home education is love.”  “His father devoted himself to his children.”
-  “Home education is an accumulation.”  “Throughout gathering information by watch his son closely he knew when danger lay ahead and knew what to say without wasting words.
-  “Home education is disconnection.”  We feel disconnected when we experience loss of a loved one, we learn through that loss.  The sense of loss becomes a path to hope.
-  “Home education gives awareness.”  We carry on the traditions we have seen our parents practice.
-  “Home education is the spark.”  The author felt valued, that sense encouraged him to succeed in life.

The words of Katsumi Okabe speak deeply to the soul.  While the method of Tanka may seem simple, the emotions are anything but simple.  “Reminiscing about a Deceased Child” shares the emotions of a parent remembering a child that has died.  The parent wonders, what the child might have been like if he or she had lived?  I was particularly touched by “First Grandchild.”  I remember well looking into her face and feeling my heart soften.  I, too, pray constantly that she will grow to be as beautiful inside as she is outside.  “Creating Family Harmony Through Tanka” by Katsumi Okabe is a amazing book.  I admire his goal to use Tanka to assist in rehabilitating those with disabilities.  It is with great honor I recommend this book to those caring about special needs patients, parents, grandparents, educators, and fans of good poetry.

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