Japan on a World Map

Part of the continent of Asia

Japanese Food
Popular Japanese food in the United States: I Sushi I Rice bowls (donburi) I Tempura (fried vegetables) I Udon noodle soup

Symbols of Japanese Culture

I Cherry blossoms I Kimonos I Karate

Important Holidays in Japan

I Golden Week (April 29 May 05) I Showa Day (former Emperor Showas birthday) I Constitution Day I Greenery Day (appreciation of nature) I Childrens Day I The New Year (January 01) I Culture Day (November 03): celebrates
culture, schools give awards to students for special achievements

I Star Festival (July 07): believed to be a lucky

day, write wishes on paper and hang them on trees so they come true

Japanese Gestures

A. B. C. D.

Me Nose I know Help

A. B. C. D.

Sit down Stand up Go home Come here

A. B. C. D.

Quiet Peace Smile! Excuse me

A. B. C. D.

Please Youre crazy Broken/Closed Im sorry

Japanese Language
Vowels are A E I O U just like English Only 14 consonants, English has 21

Counting to 10 in Japanese

Days of the Week

Introduce Yourself!
Konnichiwa (your name)desu Hajimemashite, dozo yoroshiku.
Hello, my name is (your name) Nice to meet you.

In Japan, it is good manners to bow when you greet someone

Other Helpful Words

Yes No Thank you Hai Iie Domo arigato

To say Mr. or Mrs. in Japanese, use the word san after the persons name
Mr. Smith = Smith san Mrs. Jones = Jones san

A teacher is called sensei

Haru Ga Kita Spring Has Come

Haru ga kita, haru ga kita Doko ni kita, Yama ni kita, Sato ni kita, No ni mo kita,

Hana ga saku, hana ga saku Doko ni saku Yama ni saku Sato ni saku No ni mo saku
Tori ga naku tori ga naku Noko de naku Yama de naku Sato de naku No de mo naku

Hiraita Hiraita Blooming Flower

Hiraita, hiraita Nan no hana ga hiraita? Renge no hana ga hirata Hiraita to omottar Itsunomanika tsubonda Tsubonda, tsubonda Nan no hana ga tsubonda? Renge no hana ga tsubonda Tsubonda to omottar Itsunomanika hiraita

Donguri Korokoro The Rolling Acorn

Donguri korokoro donburiko O-ike ni haatte saa taihen Dojou ga detekite konnichi wa Botchan issho ni asobimashou Donguri korokoro yorokonde Shibaraku issho ni asonda ga Yappari o-yama ga koishii to Naite wa dojou wo koaraseta

Ryuichi Kishi: A Day in Japan

Ryuichi is 10 years old and lives with his parents, grandparents and sister in Maebashioa in Japan

X 6:00 am wake up and get ready for school. I wake up my younger

sister, Nao. We watch the news and help my mom make breakfast. We have rice, grilled fish, boiled vegetables, and miso soup. X 7:30 am I leave to walk to school with my neighbors, it takes us about 25 minutes to get to our school X 8:50 am class starts, Class starts. The first subject is mathematics. Right now we are learning division. I love math because I enjoy explaining how to solve problems. Next is science. X 10:50 am - It is time for gym. We do gymnastics. After that is shosha. This is when we learn Kanji characters by copying. I am learning to write hikari, but it is very hard

Ryuichi Kishi: A Day in Japan

Ryuichi is 10 years old and lives with his parents, grandparents and sister in Maebashioa in Japan

X 12:25 pm - Lunchtime! We have miso ramen noodles, stir-fried

vegetables, deep-fried dumplings, soybean snacks and milk. We clean up after lunch. My group is in charge of the school's entrance. We sweep and scrub the floors. At 1:55, we go to Japanese class X 3:00 pm school is out and I go home. At home, I play my favorite videogame and do my homework. I also help my dad make dinner X 7:00 pm my family sits down to have dinner together, my dad is a great cook! After dinner I take a bath and then go to bed.

Japanese Art: Origami

Oru (fold) + kami (paper) = Origami

T Japan was one of the first countries to make and use paper (China was

first) T At first, origami was only allowed to be used for religious ceremonies T When paper was first invented it was very rare and expensive, but as paper became more common, people started to do origami just for fun T The first written instructions for how to fold origami were published in 1797 (216 years ago!) and showed to fold a paper crane T Japan was not the only country to do origami, in Spain they also practiced the art of paper-folding and called it pajarita T By the 1800s kindergarteners in Spain and Japan were learning the art of paper folding T Before books about how to make origami existed, families passed down their origami patterns by teaching them to their children

Origami Symbols & Meanings

F Chocho Butterfly: popular symbol for young girls as
they spread their wings and become beautiful, graceful adult women freedom. A carp symbolizes strength, courage and determination and is the symbol for Childrens Day. confidence. In Japan, February 22nd is cat day!

J Sakana - Fish: symbol of happiness, well-being and O Neko Cat: stands for independence, wisdom and

A Tsuru Crane: a symbol for long-life. Japanese

folklore tells stories that cranes live for 1,000 years. The crane is also a symbol for happiness, good luck, and peace. also been said to represent the season spring.

S Usagi - Rabbit: mischievous and very silly they have

Colors for Origami

B Red: love, inner strength and beauty D Pink: happiness and friendship P Yellow: hope and positive thoughts about the future ^ Green (light or dark): good health and/or good luck R Royal blue: peace and calm T Light blue: trust and honor @ Purple: represents royalty ` Black: strength and power

Y Orange: excitement and energy

Tips for Folding Origami

' Always watch the edges of your folds to make sure they line up. The more
exact your fold the better your origami will turn out

" Make your folds neat and careful, take your time and dont rush # Dont press hard on your fold until youre sure, you can lightly fold and
then unfold

$ Press the crease of your folds well after each fold ( Make sure the surface you are working on is clean flat with nothing in
your way

+ You must have patience there are times you will do the wrong fold or it
won turn out exactly like you wanted, thats just part of learning!

, Try not to get frustrated! Origami is HARD and takes a lot of practice ) Have fun! Origami is an activity people do to relax and enjoy themselves

Lets Fold!
Put your paper with the white side facing up.

Lets Fold!
Fold in half at a diagonal

Lets Fold!
Fold in half again

Lets Fold!
Then unfold

Lets Fold!
You now have a crease in the middle of your triangle

Lets Fold!
Fold the bottom points up

Lets Fold!
Fold the middle point down

Lets Fold!
Turn the whole piece over

Lets Fold!
Cat Face