"Seal the 'I'm Doing It Too' Feeling"—Taiyo Sugiura, Soon-to-Be Father of Five, Talks About His Parenting Method of "Family 5 + ∞ (Infinity) Love"

"Seal the 'I'm Doing It Too' Feeling"—Taiyo Sugiura, Soon-to-Be Father of Five, Talks About His Parenting Method of "Family 5 + ∞ (Infinity) Love"

2025年06月19日 12:47

1. What is the Sugiura Family?

1-1 Profile

  • Taiyo Sugiura: Born in Osaka in 1981. Rose to fame as the lead in "Ultraman Cosmos" in 2001. Married former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji in 2007.st.benesse.ne.jp

  • Nozomi Tsuji: Born in Tokyo in 1987. A 4th generation member of Morning Musume.

  • Four children (eldest daughter Noa, 17, eldest son Aoi, 15, second son Sora, 12, youngest son Kuu, 6) plus a daughter expected this summer.


1-2 Fun Facts for Overseas Readers

In Japan, there is a strong culture of celebrity couples sharing their parenting experiences on YouTube and Instagram, known as "Papa-tare" and "Mama-tare." The Sugiura couple is a prime example, and their family vlogs are also popular in English-speaking regions.


2. A Girl After 17 Years, Newborn Parenting After 7 Years

  • On June 13, 2025, it was announced in an interview with the parenting information site 'Tamago Club' that the baby is a girl.st.benesse.ne.jp

  • The family cut a gender reveal cake and rejoiced at the sight of strawberries (a sign for a girl).

  • As a father, he commented on being "like Urashima Taro" with the evolution of parenting gadgets.st.benesse.ne.jp


Glossary

  • Gender Reveal: An event originating from the West where the baby's gender is revealed to the family in a surprise format.


3. Secrets to a Happy Marriage—Sealing the "I'm Doing It Too" Attitude

The core of the interview is not to boast about doing housework or childcare as a favor, but toread the atmosphere of the home. According to Sugiura, "Being busy is mutual." The key points are as follows:st.benesse.ne.jp


  1. Non-verbal Communication

    • Sensing a partner's condition and emotions through tone of voice and aura.

  2. Role-unfixed task sharing

    • "Whoever can move, moves" as a family rule. No fixed roles.

  3. Self-meta cognition

    • Look at yourself from a distance and ask, "Are you okay now?" as self-critique.


This "sealing the 'I'm also doing it' feeling" technique is applicable even in countries with strong patriarchal values. It is also suggestive as a solution to the "Second Shift" problem proposed by American sociologist Arlie Hochschild.


4. Paternity leave - The impact of "I'll take it" declaration

Mr. Sugiura declared in an ABEMA interview, "I will take paternity leave when our fifth child is born."times.abema.tv
The paternity leave acquisition rate in Japan as of fiscal year 2023 is 17.13%. However, the median number of days taken is less than five, posing a challenge of "nominal paternity leave." Mr. Sugiura's public declaration is expected to have a role model effect.

System memo (English annotation)

  • Childcare Leave: Can be taken until the child is 2 years old. 67% of the salary is provided by employment insurance.


5. The reality of 5 siblings × dual-income

ChallengesSugiura family's ingenuityTips for readers
Drop-off congestionSchedule sharing app + eldest daughter planning to get a driver's licenseKey is to avoid turning the eldest child into a "young carer"
Food expensesCostco & hometown tax donation & weekend meal prepTwo rice cooker setup for improved time efficiency
Lack of sleep"Shift system" + quick power napsSharing sleep data with a smartwatch


6. The "Papa-talent" phenomenon from a global perspective

  • Korea: Actor Cha Tae-hyun publicly shares raising three children on variety shows.

  • USA: Open parenting by Kristen Bell and her husband.

  • Japan: The Sugiura & Tsuji couple become YouTubers, leading intimacy marketing.

Overseas media also introduce them as "Japan’s Super Dad," and their fan community is expanding.


7. Choosing a stroller: "Safety standards + favorite color"

  • In late May, the couple posted their "stroller shopping date" on Instagram.oricon.co.jp

  • Japanese strollers that comply with the international safety standard EN1888:2018 are popular.

  • The Sugiura family is planning to choose a model in the birthstone color of their child, "Rose Quartz" (according to their Instagram).


8. Future Vision—"Holding Hands in a Row" in Five Years

Mr. Sugiura's vision of seeing "children holding hands in a row" symbolizes the "sibling bond."st.benesse.ne.jp


Embedded in this is the family image of "siblings supporting each other rather than being managed by parents." It's suggestive for countries struggling with declining birthrates.



9. Conclusion: Family as a "Team"

The keywords that emerged from Mr. Taiyo Sugiura's case study are **"cooperative play" and "spontaneous empathy."** Japan's "I'm doing it too" concealment technique offers hints for updating family communication across languages and cultures.



List of Reference Articles

  1. Tamahiyo Online "This summer, Taiyo Sugiura becomes a father of five. Excited for the first daughter in 17 years and newborn care in 7 years!" (2025/06/13)

  2. ABEMA TIMES "Taiyo Sugiura announces 'I will take paternity leave' as he welcomes his fifth child, eagerly anticipating the first daughter in 18 years" (2025/05/28)

  3. ORICON NEWS "Taiyo Sugiura & Nozomi Tsuji go on a 'stroller shopping date' for their fifth child" (2025/06/02)

  4. FQ JAPAN "Interview with Taiyo Sugiura: 'The secret to a harmonious marriage is teamwork'" (2025/02/23)

← Back to Article List