The Japan Forum > Click Nippon > Class Ideas

Students read an interview article about Mr. Shingo Usami, who was introduced in Tokimeki Shuzaiki in 2020. The interview's focus is on Mr. Usami and his short film “RICEBALLS.” This interview article will give students opportunities to think about and discuss stereotyping and deepen their knowledge about rice balls. As a linguistic point, the effects of phatic expressions like "aizuchi" will draw the students' attention.

The class activities inspired by the KIDS EARTH FUND charity "Ufufu! Let’s make Charity T-shirts" will provide students with opportunities to learn about onomatopoeias, discuss what is important for society and for the earth, and express their ideas by drawing/painting and writing some texts. In the enriched activities, students will explore sociocultural influences on children around the world through a photo book, and develop an understanding of their responsibilities from a global perspective.

Students interview each other and talk about a topic that they have chosen. Then, they write an article based on the interview, or edit the recorded video or audio files to present to the class.

Read the interview article, “Yokosuka, the town of Curry” and learn how Yokosuka used its ties with the history of serving curry in the Japanese navy in local economy revitalization efforts. Students research food festivals in their regions and recognize its history and natural features. Then they think of what kind of food festival would promote the region, and create a poster or an article in Japanese to promote the festival, reflecting the knowledge gained from their research. Students may also enjoy cooking Kaigun Curry with the recipe close to the original.

Students will read the interview article about Nakaya Chikako, who runs emakizushi workshops to promote instruction in its techniques. Students get to know about emakizushi, and think about the positive influence of making emakizushi together for the family today.

Students will read the interview article on Mr Komoto, who launched a new wave of kendama, and learn what is attractive about kendama. Students are provided with the opportunity to reflect on traditional forms and new skills and styles. Also, by interviewing parents and grandparents on what games they played as children, students learn about the changes in lifestyles of now and then.

Learn about Ikeda Mikio by reading the article and watching the video of his training for Paralympics and see examples of Ikeda's resilience.

Study the importance of preparing ourselves in case of disaster, especially storing emergency food, which leads to a discussion of what we can do to protect ourselves. Then, by studying some simple recipes, learn about some examples of traditional Japanese dried ingredients. Compare these with ingredients familiar to students, then have students create their own recipes for emergencies.

Using visual resources and text about recycling art and artist, students will learn about creative recycling. By making recycle art and learning the concept of Mottainai, students think about what they can do for the environment.

Students will read the article of a stationary designer, and explore the culture and meaning of personalizing stationary and other items as well as making handmade items.

By reading an article of a father who makes Kyara-Ben, students will learn about Kyara-Ben as a Japanese food culture and understand what he wants to express through making them. Students will also design their own Kyara-Ben and explain their thoughts for each item. The recipes of Kyara-Ben are available to expand the lesson to cross curricular learning.

Students read the text written by a female high school student, and learn about the Japanese way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and how it has changed over time. Students will then expand the topic to discuss gift-giving topics such as hand-made gifts and wrapping as aspect of Japanese culture. Students will also have an opportunity to explain, in Japanese, about how they celebrate Valentine’s Day.