Tokyo Travel with Children
屋内アクティビティ：
– Asobono
屋外アクティビティ：
– Ueno Zoo
– Park
– Arakawa Yuen Amusement Park
レストラン：
– Shu-shu-po-po cafe
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Kumade (熊手) & Tori-no-ichi (酉の市)
We bought a “Kumade(熊手)” at the Torinoichi (酉の市) market held in Asakusa! Torinoichi(酉の市) is an event held at temples and shrines associated with eagles and birds, such as Tori-no-temples, which are numerous in the Kanto region.
Held every year on the “day of the Tori”(酉の日) in November, visitors purchase lucky charms such as “Kumade”to report their good fortune for the year and wish for good fortune in the following.
The Kumade, used as a tool for raking up fallen leaves and other debris, is said to be “a tool for raking up luck” or “a tool for raking up gold and silver” because of its shape and function, and has come to be treated as a lucky charm that brings luck, fortune, and prosperity to business.
“School Revolution” by NTV (Japan)
YJC was featured on Japanese TV program. 📺✨
It was a quiz show where the casts would guess what we were making in the class!
To watch this show, click here for special limited edition broadcasts.
Tokyo Guide : Azabu Juban
Azabu Juban (麻布十番) is a district of Minato (Minato-ward) in Tokyo. Nestled between Roppongi and Tokyo Tower, Azabu Juban is a surprisingly laid-back neighborhood considering its central location. The convenience of several supermarkets in a central location and the proximity of Hiroo and Roppongi make it one of the more trendy and sought after residential areas of Tokyo. With an old-school atmosphere that retains its Edo period roots, this upscale residential area boasts some of the highest rents in the city.
Azabu Juban is also home to several embassies, making it a popular place of residence for diplomats and globally-minded people. This synergy between traditional and metropolitan gives the neighborhood a truly one-of-a-kind feel.
Japan Guide : Railway Museum in Saitama
Have you ever ridden on a train in Japan? In Japan, there are various railroads running in the east, west, south, and north except for Okinawa.
The place I would like to introduce to you is the “Railway Museum” in Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of Japan’s first railroad between Shimbashi and Yokohama on October 14, 1872 (Meiji 5).
At the Railway Museum, visitors can learn about the role of railroads in Japan, changes in railroad technology, and their impact on society, based on the concepts of “railroads,” “history,” and “education.
Undo-kai (Sports Day)
Sports Festival (Sports Day), also known as “Undo-kai” (運動会) in Japanese, is a traditional annual event that is generally held in spring or fall. On the day, all students participate in a variety of sports events such as relay and dance performances typically held on the school’s grounds.
There are competitions in which students are divided into two or more teams and compete to win, which is a lot of fun for the students as well as their parents. Here are some typical athletic competition.
Annual Events and Food in Japan
Annual Event & Festive Food In Japan
1st – Shogatsu (New Year) : Osechi(-ryori), Fukubukuro, Shimekazari
7th – Nanakusa no Sekku (Seventh-Day New Year) : Nanakusa gayu
11th – Kagami Biraki (Opening the Rice-Cake Offerings) : Oshiruko
15th – Koshogatsu (Small Shogatsu) : Red bean rice porridge
20th – Hatsuka shogatsu : Ozoni
3rd – Setsubun (Seasonal Division) : Ehomaki
8th – Harikuyo (Memorial Service for Needles) : Tofu
10th – Hatsu-uma : Inarizushi
3rd – Hinamatsuri/Momo no Sekku (Doll Festival ) : Chirashizushi
21st – Ohigan (Spring Equinox) : Botamochi
Hanami (Cherry-Blossom Viewing) : Sakuramochi, Dango
8th – Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival)
5th – Tango no sekku,(Children’s Day) : Kashiwa-mochi, Chimaki
Koromogae (Seasonal Change of Clothing)
Around 10th – Nyu-bai : Plum syrup, Umeboshi
7th – Tanabata (Star Festival) : Somen
15th – Obon (Bon Festival) : Vegetable Tempura, Rice Dumplings, Udon, Inari Sushi
15th – Otsukimi (Moon Viewing) : Tsukimi Dango
Ohigan, Autumn Equinox : Ohagi
19th – Choyo no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival) : Kiku-zake, Kikuka-cha, Kiku-monaka *Sept.9 on Lunar Calendar
Undokai, Sports Festival : Bento
Ensoku, School Excursion : Bento
15th – Shichi-go-san (Festive Day for Children) : Osekihan, Chitose-ame, Tai no Shio-yaki
13th – Toshikoshi (Crossing over to a New Year)
Around 22nd or 23rd – Toji (Winter Solstice) : Azuki-gayu, Pumpkin
31st – Omisoka (Last day of the year) : Toshikoshi soba
Back to school in Japan
Summer vacation is over. Even our children, a kindergartener and an elementary school student, they seemed to have enjoyed their month-long free time.
My son, an elementary school student, had homework from school. He had to complete Japanese and math assignments on a tablet PC, a one-line diary (with a checklist to see if he helped his parents), a book report, a diary of his observations of mini-tomatoes, a free craft (in his case, making a LEGO creation), and 10 books to read.
There are also many other contests that are free to participate in, such as contests to draw posters on environmental issues, eco ideas, summer- and autumn-themed haiku, piggy bank designs, and so on.
When I was in elementary school, a special booklet called “Summer Vacation Friends” was distributed. I think there was a little more homework, not only Japanese and arithmetic, but also science and social studies.
On the other hand, some schools did not give homework because it was “summer vacation,” which I felt reflected the times.
Do you have homework in your country? I would be very happy if you could tell me what kind of homework you have.
Hokusai’s “The Great Wave” by LEGO
Do you know a Japanese famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai?
Even if you do not know his name, you may have seen this ”The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa”, one of his masterpieces.
Since this LEGO product were recently released, we decided to display it inside the YJC classroom. Furthermore, we are happy to add a Japanese-style interior.
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Summer Festivals in Japan
From May to August, summer festivals of various scales are held in various parts of Japan. These include rice planting festivals, purification festivals, festivals of souls or shinkosai (Shinto festivals in which mikoshi (portable shrines) are paraded through the streets). From the day before the festival, the area is enveloped in a festive atmosphere. The energy of the people carrying the magnificent portable shrines and the enthusiasm of the onlookers seem to bring the summer heat to a peak.
Today’s summer festivals feature mikoshi carried by men wearing hanten (short coat) and matahiki (drawers) and street stalls of goldfish scooping, cotton candy, masks, etc., comprising the festival attractions in summer.
Most summer festivals are observed to thank the gods for a peaceful and happy life in the past half year or to prevent any disaster and appease the spirits of the deceased.
Fireworks displays, the Bon Festival (featuring bon-odori dances), hozuki (Japanese lantern plant) markets and morning glory markets are also regarded as summer festivals.
