Sayuri Opens Up About Raising Her Son Without a Father

Sayuri, known as a 'voluntary single mother,' has once again expressed her commitment to being honest with her son, Zen, about their family situation. In a recent episode of the YouTube channel 'Oh Eun-young's Bucket List,' she shared her heartfelt thoughts on the topic of parenting without a father figure.

During the episode, a single parent shared their struggles in explaining the absence of a grandmother due to abuse and estrangement. This prompted Sayuri to reflect on her own experiences. She admitted that initially, she tried to hide the truth from Zen, even rehearsing lies to create a more conventional narrative, such as saying, 'Your dad was around but left before you were born.' However, she ultimately decided against this approach.

Sayuri revealed that her mother had asked her, 'Do you want to live your life telling lies?' She felt it was important to teach her child to live honestly, and starting their relationship with a lie felt wrong.

This philosophy was previously shared by Sayuri in October 2022 on Channel A's 'Dad is a Flower Boy,' where she calmly told Zen, 'Our family doesn't have a dad,' while reading a picture book. She expressed her desire for Zen to accept this reality naturally. Sayuri noted that a close friend, also a single mother, struggled with how to explain the absence of a father in children's books. She emphasized that avoiding the truth would only lead to confusion later on.

Sayuri explained, 'I told him it’s not a sad thing; it’s just the way it is. It’s neither good nor bad, just a fact.' She believes that this straightforward approach will help Zen accept himself as he grows older.

Dr. Oh Eun-young praised Sayuri for her courage in openly discussing her difficult decisions, acknowledging the empathy in her reflections.

Sayuri became a mother in 2020 after receiving sperm donations from a Western donor through a sperm bank in Japan, choosing to live as a 'voluntary single mother.' She continues to share her daily life with Zen through various broadcasts and YouTube content, resonating deeply with audiences as a loving and responsible mother.