Teaching ideas for Japanese
FESTIVALS & CULTURE
Arts, crafts, songs, dances, games, teaching ideas, lesson ideas, worksheets for festivals and special occasions in Japan.
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- Christmas and New Year (December)
- Genbaku anniversary (Hiroshima atomic bomb) 6 August
- Hanabi (Summer fireworks) July to August
- Hina matsuri (Girl's day) 3 March
- Kodomo no hi(Children's day) 5 May
- Obon (Spirit festival) 13 to 16 August
- Seijin no hi (Coming of Age day) 15 January
- Shichi go san (Happiness and health day) 15th November
- Taiiku no hi (Sports day) 2nd Monday in October
- Tanabata (Star festival) 7 July
- Valentines Day 14 February
- White Day 14 March
Other useful pages
Japanese special occasions and events calendar 
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PowerPoints
Basic information about Japan
PowerPoint introducing information about Japan including map, islands, flag, major cities, famous landmarks, clothes, sport, art, food, symbols of Japan and festivals. Donated by K Hodgson 
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Daruma
PowerPoint introducing Daruma including origins and uses today. Donated by K Hodgson
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Oni
PowerPoint introducing Oni including description, connection to Setsubun and children's stories such as Momotaro. Donated by K Hodgson
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Videos
How to use the Japanese toilet
Skit on the Japanese squat style toilets and 'intelligent' toilets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW_EI1DO3Mk |
Websites
Art webquest |  |
Canon paper craft
Free to download paper craft ideas for Japanese festivals and much more. http://cp.c-ij.com/en/event/festival/japan/?log=m01 |  |
Click Japan
Full lesson plans on various Japanese things including: Shodo, fashion, the environment, cell phones, dreams, career planning, games, photography, animals, robots, traditional games, and convenience stores. http://www.tjf.or.jp/clicknippon/en/activity/index.html |  |
Culture explained in English
Detailed English explanations and information on Japanese culture and history. Such as kabuki, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, woodblock prints, flower arranging etc. etc. http://www.csuohio.edu/class/history/japan/japan16.html |  |
Cultural activities
http://www.nihongomemo.com/ List of websites and activities for annual events such as New Year, Setsubun, Doll's festival, Hanami, Boy's Day, Tanabata, Obon, Shichi-Go-San. Also, has Teacher workshop information, contests, PC tips, and useful teaching links etc. |
Exploring Japan webquest http://www.education.umd.edu/Depts/EDCI/edci385/webquests3/Webquest5/student.htm Students research the web in small groups about various topics such as Japanese food and clothing, Japanese holidays and festivals, Japanese school and education, Japanese home, family and religion, Japanese recreation and transport. They then need to write a report which will then be bound together to make a small book on Japan. Also, students present the information they found to the class. |  |
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Japanese fairy tales webquest http://onene24.tripod.com/letsreadjapanesefairytales/id4.html Students read Japanese Fairy Tales in English and through these tales learn about Japanese culture. |  |
Matsuri Photo album |  |
Living in Japan
Immigration, Alien registration, rubbish, schooling, housing, transport, special Japanese celebrations, Welfare/social security, Medical care/treatment, Manual Labour, Japanese national holidays. (In Japanese) http://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/hamaEng/index.html |  |
Nihon ni tsuite にほん に ついて
Culture, history, popular travel destinations, hundreds of photos of Japan. http://learn.artofjimbo.com/index.htm |  |
Nipponia Online Magazine
Magazine with detailed information and pictures on common topics in Japan and Japanese culture, excellent images http://web-japan.org/nipponia/archives/en/index.html |  |
Printable culture lessons
Ready to print PDF lessons on various Japanese culture such as Tanabata, Kodomono hi, Kimono, Journey to Japan, Hinamatsuri, Haiku etc. http://www.tjf.or.jp/eng/content/ideacontest/100shoto.htm |  |
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Stories and nursery rhymes Old stories, mukaashibanashi in Japanese and English, songs, nursery rhymes
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Gaien/7211/ |  |
Takarabako
Numerous PDFs and lesson ideas on Japanese culture and daily life. Thorough English explanations and pictures. http://www.tjf.or.jp/takarabako/jcdl.htm |  |
Teaching kids about Japan
Website with links to everything Japan. http://www.card1616.com/teaching-kids-all-about-japan.html | 
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Virtual culture Kids web Japan |  |
Worksheets
Culture sequence quiz A fun quiz where students learn about Japanese culture through the language. 
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Japanese gestures Review some common Japanese gestures with this simple worksheet.
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