On 21st and 25th November, the Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC) and the Consortium for Research on Early Childhood Development and Education (CORE) at the University of Hong Kong jointly hosted two seminars featuring Professor Akiko Hayashi from Keio University.

In the first seminar on 21st November, titled Preschool in Three Eras in Japan: 1984, 2002, and 2022, Professor Hayashi shared findings from her new ethnographic study at Komatsudani Hoikuen in Kyoto. By comparing video data across 40 years, she found that while daily teaching practices have remained largely stable, the social environment surrounding preschools has changed significantly, marked by low birthrates and system reforms.

The second seminar, Teaching Expertise in Three Countries: Japan, China, and the United States, held on 25th November, introduced insights from her recent book. Drawing on interviews with 112 experienced teachers, Professor Hayashi highlighted common patterns in how teachers grow with experience, alongside key cultural differences across the three countries. Her work underlines the powerful role of mentorship, peer learning, and practical experience in teacher development.

Through both seminars, Professor Hayashi offered valuable perspectives on the continuity, change, and cultural contexts shaping early childhood education through comparative perspectives.