Japanese Cultural Day

The first CGK Japanese Cultural Day was held at the elementary school. With the theme of summer festivals, the event was planned and managed by the students, who created an event where they could experience Japanese culture through traditional clothing and games.

Unique Booths by Each Grade

During Japanese language classes and homeroom activities, each class brainstormed ideas for their booths. Even the JAL(Japanese as an Additional Language) students, who are learning Japanese, participated, and each student put a lot of effort into refining their ideas down to the smallest details. As a result, various booths were completed that even adults could enjoy. It was an opportunity for the children to foster creativity and cooperation.

G1A: Fishing

This game involved fishing for turtles. These turtles were made from recycled bottle caps and fish were crafted from cardboard. The children competed to see how many they could catch within a time limit using their non-dominant hand. They were very focused and serious about it.

G1B: Frog Race & Frog Freeze

This booth had children pretending to be frogs. They jumped around a circle like frogs and leapt into the circle when the music stopped. There was also a game where they competed to see how many frog jumps it took to reach the goal. It was a physically demanding game, but the children competed with big smiles on their faces.

G2: Whack-a-Mole

This booth was a whack-a-mole game made from recycled cardboard. The children themselves made the moles and popped them out of the holes to entertain participants. Additionally, the class prepared various other games like origami and Othello.

G3: Skee Ball

This game involved rolling balls to aim for holes in cardboard. There were holes with negative points and guards to prevent balls from entering high-point holes. This made the game very exciting.

G4/5: Sushi Shooting!

Inspired by the traditional Japanese festival game of shooting, this booth involved shooting balls, which represented wasabi, at a sushi board. It was one of the most popular and exciting booths among the children.

On the day of the event, vertically mixed groups from different grades experienced each booth, participated in a stamp rally, danced the bon-odori, and watched Japanese animated films. There were also corners where traditional Japanese games were played, and the whole school was enveloped in the atmosphere of a Japanese summer festival.

Decorations Adorning the Summer Festival

Handmade lanterns by the children decorated the venue, beautifully illuminating the entire area. Additionally, a display of Godzilla made from their origami works was a popular photo spot due to its impressive appearance.

This year, a special lantern contest was held with the participation of CGK staff. The children voted for their favorite lanterns and selected the top three. Each work was full of individuality, making it a tough choice for the children.

A Valuable Event for Enjoying and Deepening Understanding of Japanese Culture

During Japanese Cultural Day, the children not only interacted with peers from other grades but also fully enjoyed Japanese culture. For the JAL students learning Japanese, it was a precious opportunity to deepen their understanding. The event highlighted the children's ingenuity and enthusiasm, making it a memorable occasion. We hope to continue holding such significant events that leave a lasting impression on the children in the coming years.