Back to School with a Little Poetry from Hokkaido
Back-to-school season is here.
For many children, a new school year brings a mix of excitement and nervousness — a new grade, a new teacher, new friends, and new experiences ahead.
Children often notice little things in everyday life that adults might overlook, and they have a wonderfully honest way of putting those feelings into words.
Today, we’d like to introduce RICH LAND CHEESE SABLES, a ROKKATEI sweet that brings together the flavors of Hokkaido and the heartfelt poetry of children.
Inspired by the Silos of Tokachi
Our RICH LAND CHEESE SABLES are shaped after these iconic silos.
Made generously with butter and cheese, each sable is individually wrapped in a package featuring a poem written in Japanese by an elementary or junior high school student from Tokachi.
The poems change throughout the year, so discovering a new one is part of the enjoyment.
Each poem is selected from Silo, a children’s poetry magazine that ROKKATEI has published since 1960.
What Is the Children’s Poetry Magazine "Silo"?
Silo was created with a simple hope: to give children an opportunity to express, through poetry, what they see and feel in their everyday lives and in the nature around them.
Published every month since 1960, Silo has now been part of children’s lives in Tokachi for 66 years. This August, the magazine celebrates its 800th issue.
In Japan, the school year begins in April. The May 2026 issue featured poems written around the start of the new school year, filled with children’s excitement, uncertainty, determination, and honest emotions.
Here are a few of them, translated into English.
At the Starting Line of Spring
A new spring
We are now
the oldest students in school
A little uncertainty
and a great responsibility
Our teacher told us,
“Remember what it means
to be sixth graders.”
Holding those words in our hearts
we move forward together
The light of hope
shines ahead of us
And so today, once again,
we walk forward
with our heads held high.
From Silo, May 2026, No. 797, p. 5
I Want to See My Teacher
I became a second grader
and my teacher changed.
I can’t see
my first-grade teacher anymore.
I feel so lonely.
I want to see you.
From Silo, May 2026, No. 797, p. 13
Saying Goodbye to Takuro
My friend Takuro
moved to another school.
Sometimes Takuro and I fought,
and sometimes
we got along really well.
Playing dodgeball in the rain.
The bright sky above the riverbank.
The gold medals we received together.
The silly song we sang at the top of our lungs.
Takuro,
We made so many memories.
I had such a good time with you.
Let’s meet again
when we’re grown up.
From Silo, May 2026, No. 797, p. 14
[Explore Past Issues]
Please note: Silo is available in Japanese only.
Discovering the Honest Voices of Children
We also found poems about growing up and starting a new chapter on the RICH LAND CHEESE SABLES currently available at our Southern California store.
We’d like to share two of them with you.
Am I Cute?
First graders
are cute.
I wonder
if I was cute
when I was
a first grader.
Am I cute
now?
I wonder.
What Is Truly Sad
When I started junior high school,
I still remember it clearly.
Trying hard to calm
my pounding heart,
I walked through the school gate.
Back then, I wished
I could stay
an elementary school student forever.
But now,
I find myself wishing
I could stay
a junior high school student forever.
Every day,
I stare at the calendar
as the days slowly pass.
But what is truly sad —
even sadder than graduation —
is thinking that someday,
when I’ve grown used to high school,
I may forget
the sadness and loneliness
I feel right now.
If you see one of the Japanese poems on the package at our store and find yourself wondering, “What does it say?”, please feel free to ask our staff.
One sable, one poem.
Taking a moment to read the honest words of a child, together with the gentle buttery and cheesy flavor of the sable, can make for a small and comforting pause in your day.
A Thoughtful Back-to-School Gift for Teachers
RICH LAND CHEESE SABLES also make a thoughtful gift for teachers at the beginning of the new school year.
You might share the little story behind them: “Each package features a poem written by a child in Japan.”
It adds something meaningful to a simple gift — a small way to thank the teachers who support and encourage children every day.
They can also make a lovely back-to-school greeting for teachers at Japanese supplementary schools who help children in the U.S. continue learning the Japanese language and culture.
For more gift inspiration, take a look at our related blog post here.
Back-to-School Limited-Time Offer
Through August 31, customers who spend $25 or more (excluding shipping) in-store or through our online shop will receive a complimentary floral clear file folder.
*Available while supplies last.
We wish all students, families, and teachers a wonderful start to the new school year.
