Ideas for teaching Japanese WRITING
Ideas for teaching Japanese writing including hiragana, katakana and kanji in the classroom, useful websites, board games, PowerPoints, videos, posters, flashcards, genkouyoushi generators, Japanese fonts and free downloadable worksheets.
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Board games
Hiragana advanced board game |  |
Hiragana basics board game |  |
Hiragana Sugoroku
Practice hiragana using this sugoroku. (Rules available when downloaded.) 
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Yuuon (combination sounds) board game
Game board for practicing combination sounds in hiragana.
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Flashcards
Hiragana and katakana flashcards
Various styles of free downloadable flashcards. http://www.kids-points.com/drill/index.html |  |
Fonts
How to install tracing or dot fonts
A step by step guide on how to install tracing or dot fonts for use in Microsoft Word. (Nazori moji なぞりもじ, kakijyun moji かきじゅんもじ, fukuro ふくろもじ) Link for font download: http://www15.ocn.ne.jp/~zounokai/00koptiindex/106nazori/nazorinew.htm
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Games in class
Tt stands at the front of the class and instructs Ss to write certain things in the air with their arms and legs. Eg. ‘Using your left hand write 'a' あ . Now use your right foot and draw 'i' い . etc.
Around the world A Suzuki
Ss sit in a horseshoe shape. The first Ss on the left of the horseshoe shape stands behind the Ss to his/her left. These two Ss are asked a question related to the target language. Eg. “What does this word/kanji mean?” The first Ss to answer continues left around the horseshoe shape (imagine going around the world). This Ss continues moving around the world until another Ss is faster than him/her. The Ss who is the slowest sits down and the Ss who is faster takes his/her place. Once one of the Ss has reached the end of the horseshoe shape they then have a final 3 questions together with the last person in the horseshoe shape. The Ss who wins the final 3 questions competes against the person who moved the most around the horseshoe shape. The two Ss then compete with a final 3 questions. The winner is the Ss who answers the most questions correctly and the quickest. Extra: hiragana/katakana.
Back writing Adapted from www.eslprintables.com
Each pupil uses his/her finger as a pencil and writes a word, hiragana, katakana or kanji on his/her classmate’s back. This classmate tries to guess the word (or letter). If he or she guesses it before the “writer” finishes, he/she get three points. If he or she guesses it after the word has been written once, both children get two points. If the word has to be written a second time, they only get one point.
Ball toss
Get a large ball and write the hiragana or katakana characters all over it. Throw the ball around the room. As it is thrown, yell out 'migi みぎ' (right) or 'hidari ひだり' left. When the Ss catches the ball they need to read the letter that is closest to their migi or hidari hand (which ever was called out by the thrower).
Basketball kana
The Ss are divided into two teams. Say a kana and the Ss who writes it first and correctly gets a point. That Ss then gets the opportunity to shoot a pretend basketball into the pretend trashcan "goal." The student can choose from the 3, 2, or 1 point shooting range. If the student doesn't get the ball in the basket, his or her team still receives at least 1 point for writing the kana the fastest. The team with the most points at the end wins.
Each Ss has a mini whiteboard (or a laminated piece of paper), whiteboard marker and eraser (or a chux). Tt yells out a hiragana, katakana or kanji. The Ss write it on the whiteboard and then show the Tt as quickly as possible. Points can be allocated to the fastest Ss. Or the fastest Ss can then yell out the next letter.
Board memory
Write kana or kanji being studied randomly on the board. Ss then try to memorize them. Get Ss to put their heads down. ‘Minai de kudasai. みないでください。’ Then erase one of the letters. Ask the Ss to look ‘Hai, mitte kudasai みってください。’ Ss put their hands up if they know which letter is missing. The Tt selects the Ss who was the fastest. If they are correct then they can get the next chance at erasing a letter from the board. (Flashcards can also be used instead of writing the letters on the board. These flashcards can easily be removed and replaced.)
Colour dictation Give each student a copy of the hiragana/katakana dictation sheet. Ensure each student has coloured pencils or pens. Read randomly each letter and a colour, ie. Trace the hiragana ka in red (ひらがなの「か」をあかくなぞってください。) OR Trace the katakana ko in blue （かたかなの「コ」をあおくなぞってください。Eｔｃ. (Create your own dictation dot-font page see 'How to install dot fonts' above.)
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Dokkan (bang)
Write the kana being studied onto paddle pop sticks. Also write three paddle pop sticks with the word ‘DOKKAN ドッカン’ (bang). Put them all into a cup. Divide the class into two teams (or more teams). Get one student from each team to come to the front of the room. They take a paddle pop stick. If they can name the kana correctly they get to keep the paddle pop stick. If they can’t name the kana they have to put the paddle pop stick back. If the Ss pulls out a ‘DOKKAN ドッカン’ stick then they must put all their paddle pop sticks back into the cup. The team with the most paddle pop sticks at the end is the winner.
Prepare a set of dominoes with kana on one side of the domino and romaji on the other. Ss then match up the kana with the romaji.
Fan-tastic
To review vocabulary (or hiragana or kanji) put the word you want Ss to learn onto a piece of A4 paper. Fold the paper in a fan shape. Slowly reveal the word, fan section by fan section. Ss have to guess what the word is before the fan is completely opened. (For each fold left over Ss can get a point.)
Guru guru Janken
Arrange about 10 chairs in a horse shoe shape. On each chair place a hiragana card. Divide the class into two teams. Each team lines up at opposite ends of the horse shoe. The Tt says 'starto' and the students go around saying each hiragana. When the students meet they play jankenpon. The Ss that wins continues the one that loses has to go back to the end of the line of his/her team. If a Ss goes the entire way around the horse shoe shape they get a point for their team. EXTRA: To make sure the Ss are reading the hiragana correctly have one Ss from each team on the outside of the horse shoe checking what each Ss is saying. Also, to make it more difficult have two or three pairs of Ss going round the horse shoe at the same time!
Hiragana concentration
Give Ss a blank piece of paper. Get them to fold the paper into squares. Unfold the paper. Then Ss write the hiragana letters being studied (use a pencil or a light coloured pen so that the letters can't be seen through the other side.) Cut out the squares. Lay the squares face down in random order on the desk. Ss then try to find pairs of the same letters.
Hiragana jumble Adapted from www.eslprintables.com
The class is divided into pairs or groups.The teacher writes some words in hiragana about a topic being studied on the board and gives each group a set of small cards where children write each hiragana of the words on the board. Then they have to mix the hiragana and then recompose each word. To make it more challenging the Tt can erase the words on the board.The teacher walks around checking the words and asking the children to read out the words. For older students, the teacher can write sentences rather than words and pupils have to recompose the sentence word by word.
Hiragana Ninja L Brandis
Tt faces his/her back towards the Ss and draws above his/her head a hiragana letter in the air. The Ss guess the letter. Ss replace the Tt.
Hiragana pictures
Give each student a blank hiragana letter. Get them to create a picture from the hiragana. Then stick these hiragana around the room as reminders.
Hiragana spell Adapted from www.eslprintables.com
Divide the class into teams and give each team a set of hiragana letters. Get them to spread out the letters on the table so they’re all facing up. Then give clues for words you want to test them on, e.g. ‘the day before Suiyoubi すいようび’, students write kayoubi かようび on the table by selecting the hiragana letters. ‘Kore wa nan desu ka?’ – point to things in the classroom, draw on the board etc. Once students get the idea, ask one of them to lead the game and give the clues instead of you.
Hiragana Stomp L Brandis
Put a few sets of hiragana (ie ha family and ma family) scattered on the floor at the front of the classroom. Select two Ss. Say a hiragana. The first Ss to stomp on it with their foot and shouts the hiragana is the winner. This person may now select the next Ss to come and play. (Or the Ss continue a few times. The Ss with the most flashcards at the end is the winner). Can also be done for vocabulary revision.
Hiragana Taisou L Brandis
Ss choose a body part and then use it to write a letter in Japanese.
Kana snatch
Give each pair of Ss a set of kana letters. Ss put the letters on the table in front of them. The Tt then yells out one of the letters. Ss need to grab the letter. The fastest gets to keep the letter. If there is a tie then they play junkenpon to see who keeps the letter. The Ss with the most letters at the end is the winner.
Kanji Michikusa A Suzuki
Use a grid (about 8 by 10). Write 3 stroke Kanji from one side of the grid to the other (randomly but still making sure that students can make a line of 3 stroke Kanji from the start to the goal). Label where the first 3 stroke kanji is with ‘Start’ and on the other where the last 3 stroke kanji is with the ‘Goal’. Complete the grid with other Kanji such as 2 or 4 stroke Kanji. Ss draw a line from the start to the goal finding all the 3 stroke Kanji. Extra: hiragana vs katakana, numbers vs kanji, travel vocabulary vs other vocabulary etc.
Kanji Rebuild A Suzuki
Tt shows a kanji on a A3 piece of paper which has been broken up into each stroke (they can be out of stroke order). The Ss have to put the strokes back together and guess what the kanji is. (This can be done in pairs). Extra: can use this with hiragana, katakana or spelling of words
Line up kana
Divide the class into three groups. Get each group to stand into a straight line in front of the teacher. Tt shows a hiragana/katakana. The three Ss standing at the front of each line must say the letter. The Ss who is the fastest gets to go to the end of the line. The Tt shows the next letter and so on. Each time the leader of the team gets back to the front of their line their team gets a point.
Memory
One set of cards with the word or kanji, another with a picture or hiragana. All cards face down and the Ss have to find the matching pairs.
Newspaper kana
Get old Japanese newspapers, magazines or advertisements (print off Japanese webpages). Get Ss to find the hiragana, katakana or kanji you are studying. Ss then cut out the letters and clue them into their books.
Get a number of small stones or flat marbles. On each stone write a hiragana letter. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a bag of stones. Spread the stones out onto the desk/floor. A Ss reads two of the stones and flicks the one stone onto the other. If the stones touch (without touching any other stone) then they get to keep the stone. The Ss with the most stones at the end wins.
OHT memory A Suzuki
Put up an OHT with kana, words, phrases, Kanji or pictures. Ss have one minute to remember whats on the OHT. Tt removes the OHT and Ss write down all things they can remember. The Ss who remembers the most words wins.
Pipe cleaner Kana
Give each Ss a bunch of pipe cleaners. Get them to create kana or kanji out of the pipe cleaners. (Play dough could be used instead of pipe cleaners.)
Review sheet
Copy a picture from each chapter in the textbook that Ss have studied. Then draw a bubble above each picture. Ss write a word, sentence or dialogue about each picture.
Run and write
Divide the class into two teams. Allocate a runner for each team. Tt shows a flashcard in English the Ss then run to the board and write the word in the target language. The person to first do this gets a point. The team with the most points at the end is the winner.
Run and circle
Write on the board the kana or kanji being studied. Divide the class into 2 teams. One Ss from each team stands at the back of the room. The Tt then yells out a letter. The Ss run and circle the letter. The fastest gets a point for their team. The next Ss of each team then has a go until all Ss have had a turn.
Scavenger Hunt Kana
Put hiragana letters all around the room. Divide the class into two teams. Select two Ss. Tt says a hiragana letter. The first Ss to find that letter and say it in Japanese gets a point for their team. The team with the most points is the winner.
Tic-Tac-Toe hiragana Adapted from www.superteacherideas.com
Divide your students into two teams. Draw a big tic-tac-toe grid up on the board. Choose one person of one team to start. Give them a kana or kanji. Get one of the students from one of the teams to come up and write the hiragana. If they write the hiragana correctly, then a person from the same team gets to come up and writes another kana or kanji. If they get it wrong, then a person from the opposite team gets to come up. The first to complete 3 squares in a row is the winner.
EXTRA: Have a completed tic-tac-toe grid on the board. Two Ss come up to the board. If they can read a kana (or word) correctly they can draw a maru (circle) or batsu (cross) for their team. The first team to get 3 in a row is the winner.
Writing mat Laminate the hiragana or katakana writing charts. Ss then trace over the letters using whiteboard pens (or any non permanent marker). The chart can be erased and used again. EXTRA: Glue the chart onto card. Cut each character out. Punch a hole in the corner and join with string. Ss write the romaji on the back and can test themselves or their partner. Writing mats are available from http://www.sakaisensei.co.uk/kana.html |  |
Word tree Adapted from www.eslprintables.com
To practice hiragana sounds. Divide the students into groups. For each hiragana being studied provide a cut-out of a large tree. Write or paint the sound/letter on the trunk of the tree. Ask the students to “hang” words on slips of paper containing the sound from the branches of the tree. Display the accumulated trees on the classroom wall as the term progresses.Use them for periodic pronunciation review.
Wani hiragana ワニひらがな Use about 10 hiragana flashcards include one or two 'Wani' cards. Drill the flashcards. Each time a hiragana letter is shown the students chant that hiragana 3 times. If a 'wani' card is shown all the students yell out 'wani', stand up and swap chairs. The last student to get a seat must come to the front of the class and do 10 star jumps (the rest of the class count aloud 1 to 10 in Japanese). Then continue drilling the flashcards. OR: Rather than swapping seats students could stand up when they see a 'wani' and sit down at the next 'wani' last to stand or sit must do the star jumps. 
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Games in class - WRITING activities
Fold a piece of paper into 4, then in half (creating 8 squares). Tear along the middle of the second and third square (creating a hole). Fold the paper into a star shape. Now fold up into a book form. (This book can be used for practicing writing: eg. days of the week, daily routine, family members, likes and dislikes, a short story etc.)
Guess what A Suzuki
Fold a piece of paper in four. Write a sentence about something on each section of paper. Eg. Fold one – I am tall and skinny. Eg. Fold two – I like hamburgers. Eg. Fold three – I like wearing red and yellow. Eg. Fold four – I work in a restaurant. Eg. (The answer is Ronald McDonald). Ss read each section while the other Ss listen and try to guess what the object is. The final fold should reviel what was being described. (This could be used to describe animals, places, famous people, careers etc.)
Mystery object L Brandis
Fold a piece of paper into ½ vertically then fold into 4. Unfold the paper keeping the paper folded in ½ vertically. At the third crease cut a circle shape. Unfold the paper completely. Then fold it in half horizontally. One side of the paper will have a hole in the middle of it. The other side will not. Ss open the folded paper and draw an object underneath where the hole is. Then fold the paper up again and write four sentences around the hole. The Ss exchange their papers. By reading the description and seeing only the small portion of the object under the hole the Ss has to guess what the object is.
Genkouyoushi 原稿用紙 げんこうようし
Genkouyoushi
Download for free Japanese square writing paper (genkouyoushi). http://drj11.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/kanagrid.pdf |  |
Genkouyoushi generator |  |
Genkouyoushi rules |  |
Genkouyoushi rules and PDF
A list of basic genkouyoushi writing rules and PDFs of paper. http://www.halley.cc/nihon/patterns.html |  |
Squared paper (with anchor)
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Posters
Japanese writing system poster Four posters explaining the Japanese writing system. Donated by M Miller.
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PowerPoints
Hiragana rules - Yuuon
PowerPoint describing how to write combination hiragana such as kya, kyu, kyo etc. Includes practice words. 
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Hiragana rules - Long vowel sounds
PowerPoint describing how to write long vowel sounds, double consonants, traditional sounds and particles.
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How to write hiragana PowerPoint
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How to write KATAKANA PowerPoint
A PowerPoint that shows how to write each Katakana and then give students opportunities to practice reading different words. Donated by Tracy
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Katakana names PowerPoint Quiz Play this PowerPoint quiz to practice the names of famous people and things including: Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, Disneyland, Justin Bieber, The Rolling Stones and more. Donated by Kate Z.
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Videos
Genki Japan: Aiueo Rap |
SONG aiueo |
Websites
General writing websites
Comic strips |  |
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Font recognition websites
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Hiragana websites
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Hiragana interactive
Great for an interactive whiteboard, get students to draw the romaji into hiragana. Other games too. (Watch a short advert and then you can play.) http://www.flashgamecrazy.com/playgame/1245/htlj-hiragana.html |  |
Hiragana interactive: ChipChat
A hiragana game suitable for an interactive whiteboard. http://www.chipchat.com/NihonGo/protect/HiraganaDrill.html |  |
Hiragana matching game
http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/hiragana1.htm A game where students need to click on the cards and match the hiragana. Hiragana have sound. |  |
Hiragana match up
http://www.sakaisensei.co.uk/hotpotato/hiragana_practice_index.html Select the hiragana being studied then Ss match the hiragana with the romaji. |  |
Hiragana mnemonics
Recognise and remember hiragana with these mnemonics. http://www.canyouchopstick.com/2010/12/hiragana-mnemonic/ |  |
Hiragana nurie
Hiragana nurie, festival nurie, various simple colouring in pictures for young children. http://www.sakunet.ne.jp/~hayaka1/nurie.html |  |
Hiragana practice |  |
Hiragana practice |  |
Hiragana roots
See how hiragana and katakana have originated from Chinese characters. http://www.ugoky.com/hiragana/hiragana_ugoky.swf |  |
Hiragana tiles |  |
Hiragana writing practice
Use the interactive whiteboard to practice writing hiragana. Watch the correct stroke order and write. http://japaneselanguageculturefood.com/japanese-language-hiragana.htm |  |
Hiragana worksheets |  |
Kana (Hiragana and Katakana) websites
Kana and basic kanji games
Various games for practicing hiragana, katakana and basic kanji. Plus numerous vocabulary pages. http://www.learn-hiragana-katakana.com/ |  |
Kana challenge by Study Japanese
http://www.studyjapanese.org/games/kanachallenge/ Quick paced multiple choice kana activity. |  |
Kana flashcard game
Practice hiragana and katakana with this game. http://kana.gerke-preussner.de/flashcards.html |  |
Kana game: Stackana
Practice hiragana and katakana with this Tetris style game. http://www.xleeque.com/stackana-japanese-puzzle-game.aspx |  |
Kana invaders
Practice hiragana and katakana with this invaders type and shoot game. http://learnjapanesepod.com/kana-invaders/ |  |
Kana listening
http://www.coscom.co.jp/ebook/e-kanawork.html Listen, read and write kana using this useful website. |  |
Kana practice |  |
Kana quizzes |  |
Kana recall activity |  |
Kana recall activity |  |
Kana worksheets |  |
Katakana websites
Katakana interactive: ChipChat
Katakana game that can be played on an interactive whiteboard. http://www.chipchat.com/NihonGo/protect/KatakanaDrill.html |  |
Katakana Mnemonics
Use Mnemonics to remember and recognise Katakana. http://www.canyouchopstick.com/2011/01/katakana-mnemonic/ |  |
Katakana matching game
http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/hiragana1.htm A game where students need to click on the cards and match the katakana. Katakana have sound. |  |
Katakana practice |  |
Kanji websites
Calligrapher Nao
Learn how to write kanji stroke by stroke. Calligraphy lessons. (Click on the word links at the bottom of the page.) http://www.japanesecalligrapher.com/ |  |
Handwritten kanji search
Search kanji by using the mouse to hand write it into a box. Suggested kanji are given. Click on the desired kanji for detailed explanations, meaning, sentences and possible combinations. http://kanji.sljfaq.org/draw.html |  |
Kanji compounds |  |
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Kanji dictionary with stroke order Search kanji by English meaning. On and kun yomi, stroke order animations, display words beginning or ending with the kanji. http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjidic.nsf/SortedByMoLa2THEnglish?OpenView |  |
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Kanji fix |  |
Kanji games for students Students can practice kanji with various games. http://anime-manga.jp/KanjiGame/School/ |  |
Kanji match |  |
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Kanji picture flashcards |  |
Kanji puzzles |  |
Kanji quizzes |  |
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Kanji reading
Learn kanji through reading various texts highlighting the kanji. http://www.ajalt.org/kanmana/index_e.html |  |
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Kanji videos |  |
Kanji wiki A blog spot where students submit pictures or ideas for remembering kanji. http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/KanjiWiki/ |  |
Kanji write |  |
Worksheets
Dakuten Handakuten
Practice ten ten (dakuten) and maru (handakuten) with this 12 pages PDF. http://elearn.toplanguage.co.jp/file/dullsound.pdf |  |
Hiragana chart
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Hiragana nazori
Tracing hiragana letters using these worksheets. 5 different thicknesses of hiragana. http://www.kids-points.com/pdf/nazori/nazorihiragana.pdf |  |
Hiragana table writing practice
Practice writing hiragana using this table. Donated by Chacaha.
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Hiragana worksheets
Ideal for primary school students - hiragana writing practice with pictures. http://www1.iwate-ed.jp/tantou/tokusi/kyouzai/aiueo/index.html |  |
Hiragana and Katakana worksheets |  |
Hiragana and Katakana writing practice |  |
Introduction to the writing system
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Kanji quizzes for Year 12 students
Kanji quizzes booklet (11 quizzes) for students studying Japanese in year 12. Students write the hiragana and English meaning of each set of kanji. Donated by H Beech.
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Kanji worksheets by grade |  |
Katakana Practice (Mirai 1)
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Shuwa Sign language
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