. . . programme ideas from Japan
Public Holidays
January 1
New Year's Day.
July 20
Day of the Sea.
January 13
Coming of Age Day.
September 15
Respect for the Aged Day.
February 11
National Foundation Day.
September 23
Autumnal Equinox Day.
March 21
Vernal Equinox Day.
October 13
Sports Day.
April 29
Greenery Day.
November 3
Culture Day.
May 3
Constitution Memorial Day.
November 23
Labour Thanksgiving Day.
May 5
Children's Day.
December 23
Birthday of the Emperor.
Climate
Except for the Hokkaido area and the subtropical Okinawa region, the weather is mostly temperate,
with four seasons. Winters are cool and sunny in the south, cold and sunny around Tokyo (which
occasionally has snow), and very cold around Hokkaido, which is covered in snow for up to four months a
year. Summer, between June and September, ranges from warm to very hot, while spring and autumn
are generally mild throughout the country. Rain falls throughout the year but June and early July is the
main rainy season. Hokkaido, however, is much drier than the Tokyo area. Rainfall is intermittent with
sunshine. Typhoons are only likely to occur in September or October but rarely last more than a day.
Everyday Japanese Words:
ohayo gozaimasu (oh-hi-yo go-zai-mus)
konnichi (co-hnee-chee-wah)
komban wa (com-ban-wah)
sayonara (sigh-oh-nah-rah)
doozo (dough-zo)
arigato (ah-ree-gah-toe)
haha (ha-ha)
chichi (chee-chee)
onna noko (on-nah-no-koh)
otokonoko (o-to-co-no-co)
- good morning
- good afternoon
- good evening
- good-bye
- please
- thank you
- mother
- father
- girl
- boy
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Tel. 020 8433 7120/020 8433 7121  Fax. 020 8433 7103  E-mail. Jamboree2003@scout.org.uk 
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May 5 is Japan's national holiday, Kodomo no hi (Children's Day). Families with boys fly koinobori (carp
kites) to pray for their children's strong growth.
Carp Kite
Needs:
Two large sheets of green tissue paper (3/4metre - 30inch long) and some smaller pieces in contrasting
colours. A piece of wire long enough to form a circle (For fish's mouth). A ball of kite string
(lightweight string). Scissors. Glue. Pliers. Sellotape.
Draw and cut out the two main body shapes. Use the full length of the tissue to ensure the largest
possible kite... Add fins and eyes using contrasting colours.... Cut the tissue paper 'parts' in pairs so
that the finished kite will be symmetrical.... When attaching features do not use too much glue... Glue
the two body pieces together leaving the mouth and tail open so that the wind will blow through.....
Make a hoop with the wire, securing the ends by twisting them round and round (you may need pliers
for this)..... Fit the hoop into the fish's mouth, folding the edges of the tissue paper over it..... Either
Sellotape or glue the mouth carefully so as not to tear the tissue..... Fasten a piece of string on either
side of the mouth and attach this to a longer line.... The carp is now ready to fly 'upstream'!
Colourful carp hangings
• Cut a fish shape from construction paper.
• Use a paintbrush and a mixture of half glue and half water, gently paint over tissue paper pieces so
there are no dry spots.
• Hang or attach to stick to wave or ''fly';.
Or
Give each child a paper bag with the corners of the closed end tucked in and stapled to look like a
fishes head, a hole cut in the centre for its mouth, and the open end scalloped for its tail. Sponge paint
'scales' all over the fish. Add eyes and tissue paper streamer 'tails'. Punch a hole above and below the
mouth to attach strings to fly or hang.
. . . 3 of 5
Japanese Paper Lanterns (chochin):
• Fold a 12" x 18 " sheet of construction paper in
half lengthways.
• Draw a heavy line about 1" from open end of
paper.
• Draw lines from the fold to the heavy line,
about 1" apart.
• Cut on these lines only while folded.
• Unfold the paper and form it into a cylinder.
• Staple the ends together.
• Cut a paper handle and staple to one end of the
cylinder.
• Decorate if you want.
• If you have any left over wall paper, this would
make nice lanterns.
• Stop cutting at the heavy line.
Flapping Fish Game
• Cut large newspaper fish in preparation (about 12" long)
• If you have lots of young people let them decorate and put their names on them.
• Lay out your start and finish lines.
• Give each child a newspaper folded in half, and have them line up with their fish.
• Now they have to flap the newspaper vigorously to make the fish "swim" along the floor.
• The winner is the first across the line.
• Larger groups could do a relay race with the children taking over from one another on the start and
finish lines
Number Song (tune of Three Blind Mice)
Ichi, ni, san
Ichi, ni, san
Shi, go, roku
Shi, go, roku
Shichi, hachi, ku, ju
Shichi, hachi, ku, ju
Ichi, ni, san
Ichi, ni, san
( 1, 2, 3 )
( 1, 2, 3 )
( 4, 5, 6 )
( 4, 5, 6 )
( 7, 8, 9, 10 )
( 7, 8, 9, 10 )
( 1, 2, 3 )
( 1, 2, 3 )
Onigiri (Rice Balls)
Ingredients: sticky rice, tuna fish, water and spinach
• Cook rice in a covered pot on the stove.
• Steam until soft and sticky, cool slightly.
• Give each child a small handful of rice, a paper towel, and a bowl of water. Wet hands to keep the rice
from sticking. Make balls out of the rice.
• Put a teaspoon of tuna inside.
. . . 4 of 5
•
Traditional onigiri can be wrapped in seaweed, but you can use spinach as a substitute.
Moon Cakes (Makes 24)
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 cup strawberry (or your favourite) jam
Preheat the oven to 190°C = Gas Mark 5.
Combine the butter, sugar and 1 egg yolk and stir. Mix in the flour. Form the dough into one large ball
and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough for half an hour. Unwrap the chilled dough and form small
balls in the palms of your hand. Make a hole with your thumb in the centre of each mooncake and fill
with about half a teaspoon of jam. Brush each cake with the other beaten egg yolk and place on a baking
sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or just until the outside edges are slightly brown.
Sparkle Fish
• Make a round template out of scrap card.
• Lay the template onto a piece of brightly coloured paper and cover the exposed circle in glue
• Sprinkle glitter over the glue and remove template to show a beautiful circular fish body!
• Cut fins and a long shiny tail out of foil, glue in place
• Use card scraps or paper to add eyes, mouth, gills etc...Sparkle Fish!!!
Streamers
Children can make streamers then they can watch them float in the breeze.
Take a paper towel tube and let the children cut and twist lengths of crepe paper to sellotape to one
end. Then let the children decorate the tube with markers and stickers any way they like. This will be a
big hit to dance around with during your outdoor play. Tip: You can also punch three holes at the top
and attach string to hang and watch blow in the wind.
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Port/Starboard Game
(With thanks to Callum Farquhar)
Based on the game Port / Starboard that most groups will know, you will not need to take a long time
explaining rules. The game will give participants a bit of an understanding of the geography and culture
of Japan.
Sides of Hall
North
=
Hokkaido
East
=
Pacific Ocean
South
=
Kyushu
West
=
Sea of Japan
Actions
Mount Fuji
Volcano-like actions!
Mayor's coming
Bow from the waist
Before a meal
Everyone says "Itadakimas"
Eating time
Sit cross legged, eat with one hand
Baseball
Ready to hit a strike
Sowing the Rice
Bend and plant rice like actions
Other Japanese Activities:Paper making
Fan making
Kimono making
Kite making
Cooking
Green Tea
Calligraphy
Flower arranging
Kendo
Karate
Aikido
Bonsai
Origami