by The Tokyo Olympics are postponed for one year but we can still learn about Japanese culture. Did you know that sumo was being considered as an exhibition sport for the Tokyo Olympics? Sumo wasn’t chosen because only a few countries with a sizeable Japanese ex-pat population had sumo. Karate was chosen instead. But I […]
Ikebana-Inspired Paper Kid’s Craft
by Now that it’s officially spring, it seems fitting to do a craft centered around flowers. I love to do projects with my kids inspired by the arts and crafts of other cultures which I feel adds depth and meaning to our crafts. I’ve always been drawn to the Japanese aesthetic, therefore, Japan was an […]
10 Fun Facts About Japan
by Japan is a country with an incredibly rich and varied culture and history. Interesting facts about the country, the language and its citizens abound. Please see our previous blog post to learn more about the Japanese language and Japanese books. In this post, we’ve picked 10 fun and fascinating facts about Japan that should pique […]
Hanukkah in Japan – Celebrating Family Traditions
by Hanukkah approaches – it’s November, after all. Leaves are changing and the days grow visibly shorter with every passing, dark evening. I’m thinking about latkes, those crispy potato pancakes, and taking out our menorahs. I’m also recalling that time our eldest daughter, barely aged two, scared the living daylights out of me. Don’t set […]
メリークリスマス * Merry Christmas in Japanese
by Christmas in Japan is unlike Christmas anywhere else in the world. The employees in the shopping centre entrance shout out aloud “Meeri kurisumasu!!!“, the Japanese way of “Merry Christmas”, and welcome you with a deep, elegant bow. Their uniforms sparkle in the colourful lights of the big plastic Christmas trees along the escalators. A big Santa […]