S O U S j A M i K s e c u i Tu n e

by
Junichi Hatai

Copyright © 1995, P.C.S. Publications and Junichi Hatai. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission
of the publisher and the author, except limited copying for educational purposes
which must comply with the requirements and provisions of the Copyright Act.

ISBN 0 947225 38 2
0 947225 40 4 (set)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author and publisher wish to thank Mr Kazunori Kawashima of Tokyo, Japan for
the original drawings used as the basis for Illustrations featured in this book. Most of
the pictures have been redrawn using computer graphic technlgues but every effort
has been made to preserve the character of the originals, Mr Kawashlma's distinctive
work has helped to create a typically Japanese style In the Jan Ken Pon series.

First published in Australia by Printed by

P. C . S . P U B L I C AT I O N S SCANLAN PRINTING
P. O . B o x 1 5 3 5 Campbell Street
To o w o o m b a , 4 3 5 0 To o w o o m b a , 4 3 5 0
 JAN KEN PON
Jan ken pan is a simple game Japanese people play for deciding a winner and a
loser. Where Australians might toss a coin, the Japanese play jan ken pan.

Players shout jan ken pan and together form their hands into shapes to represent a
stone (a clenched fist), scissors (a fist with two fingers extended) or a paper (an open
hand). If both players make the same sign they keep repeating the process until they
are different.

A stone wins over scissors, paper wins over stone and scissors wins over paper,
stone wins paper wins scissors win

CONTENTS
JANUARY 2 SEPTEMBER 18
FEBRUARY 4 OCTOBER 20
MARCH 6 NOVEMBER 22
APRIL 8 DECEMBER 24
M AY 10 SOME TRADITIONAL SPORTS 26
JUNE 12 OTHER CUSTOMS 28
J U LY 14 STICKERS 29
AUGUST 16

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

1. Colour the pictures on each page as you learn about Japanese culture.

2. Follow the audio tape, pronounce each phrase carefully and enjoy the songs.

3. The numbered stickers are at the back of the book. Cut out the stickers using
scissors, peel off the back and carefully place the sticker over the dotted
outline containing the number. When cutting out the stickers, do not try to
cut on the outline. Cut at least 2 millimetres outside the outline of the picture.

4. Complete the Japanese words for each of the months, except January and
February which are already complete.

5. Answers to quiz questions should first be written in pencil so you can rub
out if you are not correct.

1
 JANUARY (ichi-gatsu)
In Japan...
Oshoogatsu = New Year holidays
The New Year is a very important celebration. People send and receive many New
Year cards. Celebrations are held over the first three days (January 1 is a national
holiday) and families often visit relatives and friends. Children receive money in
envelopes at New Year from their parents and relatives. They also play special New
Year games including top spinning, a type of badminton and kite flying.

"Akemashite omedetoo (gozaimasu)." = Happy New Year

sticker No.1

Children receive
otoshidama
(money gifts) from parents
and relatives.

Kakizome (first
calligraphy of the year)
is done on January 2.

sticker No. 2

Koma (top)

The game of top

spinning is called
"Joozu!" (Skilful!) koma-mawashi.
 The hagoita (bat) is made
of wood. One side has a
raised decoration such as
a kabuki actor. The hane
(shuttlecock) is made of
wood and feathers.

sticker No.3

Hanetsuki (a type of badminton) is played at New Year.

When each point is played, a mark is put on the loser's
face with ink. When there is no more room on one player's
face, the other player wins the game.

Quiz 1: A traditional costume in Japan is the k

Sticker No.4
A

Tako (kite)

Tako-age (kite flying) is a traditional New Year activity.

Also in Japan...
Special dishes are prepared for the New Year celebrations (January 1, 2 and 3) and
special sake (rice wine) is sipped by everyone. The entrance of the house is decorated
with bamboo and pine branches and a pair of rice cakes are placed in the main room.
This is a traditional Shinto (religion) welcome for the New Year.
3
 FEBRUARY ni-gatsu)
In Japan...
Setsubun (day of the bean throwing ceremony) is on February 3 each year. The
bean throwing ceremony, called Mame-maki, occurs when people throw roasted
soybeans at the doors and windows of the family home shouting the words:
"Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi." (demons out, fortune in).

Sometimes the father or elder son might wear a demon mask and pretend to be the
demon. The bean throwing ceremony is a Buddhist custom to drive out sickness and
misfortune and to welcome good fortune and the spring season.

The iron club is the

demon's powerful weapon.
The club is also mentioned
in the Japanese proverb
Oni ni kanaboo.
This means "The club will
give you an extra
advantage"and it can refer
to anything that gives you
an extra advantage over
someone else. The strong
person can be even
stronger.

Mame-maki (bean throwing ceremony)

The custom is that people

eat the same number of
roasted beans as their age,
to pray for good health and
good fortune for the year.
In the picture the beans are
in a wooden measure
called masu.

4
Use the following
colours to make the
demon's face kowai
(scary).

aka (red)

ao (blue)

midori (green)

Do not copy the sticker

below, but make your
own coloured patterns on
the demon's face.

J 1/1

Sticker No. 6 I

Oni (demon)
"KowaiI" (Scary!)

Quiz 2: Imagine there were three demons; a red one, a green one and a blue one.
According to legend which one would be the strongest?
Answer:

Also in Japan...
February 11 is a national holiday for Foundation Day. According to legend, this is
the day when the first emperor descended from heaven to rule Japan.

St. Valentine's Day (February 14) is very commercialised and a bit different in Japan.
Girls give chocolates to the boys, their male teachers and other male friends. In
return, the boys give white marshmallows or chocolates to girls on March 14 which
is called White Day.

5
 MARCH ( -gatsu)
In Japan...
The Hina-matsuri (Dolls Festival) is held on March 3 to pray for the happiness
and prosperity of girls in the family. Special dolls are displayed on stands that are
covered in red cloth. Boys are sometimes invited to celebrate this festival.

The dolls are on display for a month but must be packed away just after March 3,
otherwise girls may have difficulty in finding a husband (according to superstitious
belief).

Colour the stand aka (red)

and the paper lantern and
the girl using your own
choice of colours.

"Kawaii!" (cute/pretty)

The song which follows is sung dX Hina-matsuri. Refer to page seven and try to
write the English meaning on the dotted lines.

Akari o tsuke masho bonhori ni J

(Let's light up the )
O hana o age masho momo no hana
(And let's display the )

Go-nin bayashi no fm taiko

^I Kyoo
( musicians have and )
wa tanoshii hinamatsuri.
( To d a y Is the enjoyable )

6
 momo no hana
O d a i r i - s a m a fl o w e r ) - s a m a

(Emperor) | | (Empress)

- bonbori

(paper lantern)

san-nin kanjo
(three court ladies)

go-nin bay as hi
(five musicians)

u-daijin
sa-daijin
(emperor's samurai)

shichoo
(page boys)

Quiz 3: What do the shichoo have in their hands?

Answer:
Also in Japan...
Special foods are prepared for Hina-matsuri. These include hina-arare (rice
bubbles coloured pink and white), shiro-zake (creamy white rice wine) and
hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes coloured pink, white and green).

A national holiday is held each year about March 20 or 21 to celebrate the Vernal
Equinox, which is the date in spring when day and night are the same length. Many
fjeople visit Temples to pray and clean up their family graves. They also place offerings
of their ancestors' favourite foods on the graves and also on the Temple altar.

7
 APRIL ( -jatsu)
The school year commences at the beginning of April and finishes in March. The
school year is divided into three semesters with two weeks holiday in spring, five
weeks in summer and two weeks in winter. Schools hold special opening ceremonies
each year.

The opening ceremony for the new semester is called:

shigyo-shiki

The ceremony for students entering a new school is called:

nyuugaku-shiki

sticker No. 9

Hata (flag)

The Japanese flag is

sometimes fl o w n on
school buildings.

"Ureshii!" (I'm happy!)

The boy in the picture is happy about his first day at school. When he meets new
friends he might greet them with:

"Hajimemashite, watashi wa desu.

Doozo yoroshiku."
Which means:

"How do you do? I am (name).

Pleased to meet you."

8
In Japan...
The cherry blossoms come out in April. Many families and other groups (eg.
companies) hold open-air parties beneath the cherry blossoms and participate in
"flower viewing".

Sticker No. 10

Sakura
(cherry blossom)

"Kirei!" (Beautiful!)

People enjoy eating,

drinking, singing and
dancing under the cherry
blossoms during April.

They only have a short

time to enjoy the blossoms
as they fall in about one
week.

Hana-mi (flower viewing)

Quiz 4: What is the national flower of Japan? Answer:

Also in Japan...
April 29 is a national holiday called Midori no hi (greenery day). The purpose of
this day is to encourage people to think about plants and "greening the planet".
The seasons are opposite to Australia. April in Japan is like September in Australia.
Tokyo in the northern hemisphere and Sydney in the southern hemisphere are
about the same distance from the equator (latitude). Also, Tokyo is only one hour
behind Sydney.

9
 MAY ( -gatsu)
In Japan...
May 5 is a special day to pray for the happiness, health and success in life of children
(basically boys). This holiday is called 'Children's Day' or:

Kodomo-no-hi

Families with young boys fly koi-nobori (carp streamers) in their gardens. The
carp fish is known for its ability to swim against the current. Samurai dolls and
armour (eg. helmet) are also displayed on Children's Day.

10
Quiz 5: Why are carp streamers, and not other strong creatures such as dragons,
flown on Children's Day?

Answer:

rainbow colours

kuro

aka

a o

Use the colours

above as base
colours when
colouring the carp
streamers.

Koi-nobori (carp streamers)

This song is sung on Yane yori takai koi-nobori

kodomo-no-hi: (Carp streamers flying high over the roof)

Ookii magoi wa otoosan

J J (Big carp is the father)
Chiisai higoi wa kodomo-tachi
(Smaii carp are the children)

Omoshiro sooni oyoideru. ^

(Swimming very cheerfully.)

11
 JUNE (r -gatsu'
In Japan...
The rainy season, called Tsuyu, commences in June and lasts for three or four weeks.
The rice fields fill with water which is necessary for the rice planting to begin. Like
children everywhere, Japanese children dislike the wet season. Some of their myths
and customs about wet weather are as follows:

• Kaminari-sama (Mr Thunder) is up in the clouds beating a drum and making

raindrops;
• Teru-teru boozu (prayer-doll for fine weather);
• Children try to predict the next day's weather by the fall of a geta (wooden thong).

Thunder is the sound of

Kaminari-sama
beating his drum.

Kaminari-sama (Mr Thunder)

Sticker
No, 12

Te r u - t e r u b o o z u

Children often make this

doll before outdoor
activities such as camps
or athletics carnivals to
pray for fine weather.
"Gakkari." (Disappointed.)
12
This song is often sung by children The meaning of the words
in wet weather: of the song are as follows:

Ame ame jure jure Rain rain more and more

kaasan ga I'm glad mum is coming to

Janome de omukae pick me up with an umbrella
Fitter patter, pitter patter,
ureshii na
splash splash splash.
Pichi pichi
chapu chapu
ran ran ran.

Children will often kick

their geta (thong) into the
air and watch the way it
lands to predict the next
day's weather as in the
drawings below.

'Ashita tenki ni naare!"

(I wish tomorrow to be a fine day.)

O: 6
1
1
t 6
5(

6
O <51 1

hare (fine)
ame (rain)
kumori (cloudy)

Quiz 6: If the geta stands vertically, what will the weather be like?

Answer:

13
 JULY (s c -gatsu)
In Japan...
Tanabata (Star Festival) is celebrated on July 7 each year. It comes from a legend
about two stars who were lovers but could only meet once a year over the milkyway.

Hiko-boshi
(Cowherder)

Ori-hime
(Weaver Princess)

The picture shows the stars

of the legend (in human
form) about to receive their
wish and meet over the
milkyway.

"Hisashiburi desu ne."

(Long time, no see.)

Today, children write their wishes on long strips of paper and tie them on a branch
of a bamboo tree decorated with stars, paper lanterns, paper chains or other decorations.

For Tanabata, children

might write wishes such
as; "I want to be good at
writing", or "1 want to be
a pilot".

1 4
It is traditional to tell scary ghost stories in the hot summer months. It is said that,
chilled by fear, a person won't feel the heat.

The boy in the picture has

been scared by the obake
(ghost) and the
hi no tama (fire balls)
which usually fly around
the ghostly figure.

" Tasukete!" (Help!)

Quiz 7: What makes a Japanese ghost different from other ghosts?

Answer:

Shoji (paper screen door) Sudare (bamboo blind)

i ;

> -

k 1 i
=
It is said that listening to
the sound of the chimes
in the breeze will help a
person feel cooler.

Fuurin (wind chime)

15
 AUGUST (h e -jatsu)
In Japan...
Obon (All Saints Day) is held on August 13, 14 and 15. Most businesses are closed
and schools are on summer vacation. Many people return to their home towns
believing that the spirits of their ancestors come home at this time. People visit their
family graves with flowers and incense and make offerings of food. Dances are also
held to entertain and welcome back the spirits of their ancestors.

People wear yukata

(summer kimono) at the
dances and cool
themselves with a
uchiwa (fan). The
special belt worn with
the kimono is called an
obi.

Quiz 8: What is the name of the wooden thongs the people are wearing?

Answer:

Hanabi (Fireworks)

Most cities hold huge

fireworks displays during
August. These would
usually last for one or two
hours.

"Sugoi. "(Great.)
16
Quiz 9: What is the difference between kimono mdyukatal
Answer:

During the festivals at this time of the year a mikoshi (portable shrine) is paraded
through the streets. Participants cheer by yelling Wasshoi! Wasshoi!

The mikoshi (portable

shrine) bearers wear a
hachimaki (head band)
and a happi
(festival half-coat).

"Wasshoi! Wasshoi!" (cheer)

Cool Suika (watermelon) is a traditional favourite food in the hot summer months.

Slicker No. 14

Uchiwa (Fan)

"Suzushii ne." (It's cool, isn't it?)

1 7
 SEPTEMBER M )
In Japan...
Otsuki-mi (moon viewing) takes place at full moon in September. This is when
the moon is considered to be most beautiful. A place is chosen from which to admire
the moon and decorations of susuki (pampas grass) and dango (dumplings) are
displayed. These special rice dumplings (type of cake) are called tsukimi-dango
(moon-viewing dumplings).

"Ookii!" (Big!)

On September 13 people place the tsukimi-dango with autumn fruits and vegetables
on stands or tables on the edge of the verandah or near the windows of their home.
These are offerings to the full moon.

"Oishi so."
(Looks delicious.)

18
Quiz 10: According to legend, what do Japanese people believe to be living on the
moon and what are they doing?

Answer:

Let's sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Japanese.

Kira Kira Boshi -Tj

Kira kira hikaru
Anata wa ittai dare desho
Ta k a i osora no ue de
Daiamondo no yooni
Kira kira hikaru J
Osora no hoshi yo.

Also in Japan...
September is the typhoon season. Up to twenty typhoons can hit various parts of
Japan in a season, some of which may be strong enough to destroy houses and other
buildings. Rice crops are ripening at this time of the year so typhoons can also
threaten a major part of Japan's food supply.
19
 OCTOBER ( ^u-gatsu)
In Japan...
October 10 is a national holiday called Taiiku no hi (Health Sports Day). It was
made a public holiday to commemorate the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on this
day in 1964. Many schools and companies hold sports carnivals with as much
emphasis on having fun as on the competition. Games such as tug-of-war, obstacle
races, dancing, egg races and knocking over the log are usually played. Some of the
games played at the school undoo-kai (sports carnival) follow.

Ta m a - i r e i n v o l v e s
throwing balls into a
basket for a given time.
The team with the most
in the basket wins.
Balls are often made by
senior students in class.

Daruma race

The Daruma doll is a

symbol of good luck.
Daruma was a 6th
century Buddhist monk
who sat for a long time
in a pose of meditation.
The legend says that he
sat for so long he lost the
use of his arms and legs.
The boys are getting ready for Kibasen (battle on the horses) and kiba race (horse
race). Three boys link together to form the horse and another is the jockey.

Quiz 11: Have a guess at the kinds of obstacles that might be used in an obstacle
r a c e .

Answer:

21
 NOVEMBER (L -I
-gatsu)
In Japan...
November 15 is the Shichi-go-san day. Girls who are seven years of age, boys of
five years and girls and boys of three years of age are dressed in special kimono
and taken to a Shinto shrine to pray for health, long life and happiness. Parents buy
the children a special bag of lollies called chitose-ame (thousand year lollies). It
is said that when these long white sticks of candy are eaten, the children will have
a long and happy life.

Stick
No. 1

Chitose-ame

"Arigatoo." (Thank you.)

The Torii (Shrine gate) represents the division between the everyday (outside) world
and the sacred or divine (inside) world.

After entering the gate

people go to a large basin
to wash their hands and
rinse their mouth as an act
o f p u r i fi c a t i o n b e f o r e
praying.

Torii (Shrine gate)

2 2
Quiz 12; The special kimono is worn by the children only twice in their life. What
happens to the special kimono after the shichi-go-san days are over?
Answer:

"li koto ga arimasu yoo ni."

(I wish for good things to happen.)

Omamori (good luck charm) has special

significance in Shinto belief. The bag is said to
contain the picture/message of God and must not
be opened. It is kept for a year, or until the new
year comes. At New Year the old omamori is
burnt in the shrine and the new one is bought.

Omamori

The autumn leaves are very beautiful and many people go out hiking and on picnics
to see and collect the leaves and enjoy the beauty.

Momiji-gari (maple leaf hunting/collecting) in autumn is a custom similar to

hanami (flower viewing) in spring except the autumn picnics are very quiet, unlike
the ones in spring.

The mountains turn to

kiiro (yellow) and aka
(red) as the leaves change
to their autumn colours.

Momiji-gari (maple leaf hunting/collecting)

23
 DECEMBER { - -gatsu)
In Japan...
In December it is traditional to have a big clean-up in and around homes and
workplaces. This is like our spring cleaning and is called oo-sooji. When the
cleaning is finished a special New Year decoration called kadomatsu is set up at
the entrance to the home.

Burning the fallen leaves

is part of oo-sooji.
Sometimes sweet potatoes
are cooked in the takibi
for the workers to eat.

Ta k i b i
(fire of fallen leaves)

"Atatakai." (Warm.)
At this time of the year people are busy writing New Year cards or nengajoo instead
of Christmas cards as we do in Australia. These are written before December 20 and
posted so they will be received on January 1. It is common for business people to
s e n d a n d r e c e i v e h u n d r e d s o f N e w Ye a r c a r d s .

2 4
 It is traditional at this time
of the year to place an
offering to the gods in the
house to welcome the
New Year. This offering
is called Kagamimochi
and consists of two mochi
(rice cakes) topped with a
mi kan (tangerine),
decorated with leaves and
placed on a special stand.

Kagamimochi

New Year's Eve (Dec 31)

is called Oomisoka and
many people eat
toshikoshi-soba. Saba
is buckwheat noodles and
toshikoshi means "seeing
out the old year and seeing
in the new". Buckwheat
noodles are a symbol of
long life.

Eating Toshikoshi-soba
Temples all around Japan ring their joya-no-kane (temple bells) 108 times at
midnight for the New Year. According to Buddhist teachings human beings are
plagued by 108 earthly desires. Each ringing of the bells is said to banish one of
these earthly desires.

Also in Japan...
Silent Night •
There is no special significance for Christmas in
Japanese tradition, but Christmas has become very Kiyoshi kono yoru
commercialised in recent years. Shops are often Hoshi wa hikari
decorated (including Christmas trees and Santa Claus)
Sukui no miko wa
and have special Christmas sales. Many people put
Mihaha no mune ni
up Christmas trees in their houses, eat Christmas cake,
and give presents. It is also quite common to hear Nemuri tamou j
Christmas Carols sung in Japanese. Yume yasuku.
2 5
 SOME TRADITIONAL SPORTS
Kendo
Kendo is now a type of Japanese fencing but used to be a formal samurai martial
art of swordsmanship. Players wear protective clothing and use bamboo swords
made from four strips of bamboo bound together. The players must hit their opponent's
face, forearms, stomach, and at the same time yell loudly in a special way. The first
player to score two out of three points wins.

The players use a shinai

(bamboo sword) and score
points by hitting the face,
forearms and stomach of
their opponent. When a
scoring hit is made, the
player must yell:
"men" (face)
"kote" (forearm)
"do" (stomach)

Kendo

Judo
Judo is a Japanese martial art which has become popular in many other countries.
Judo means "the gentle way" which refers to using the opponent's own
strength/weight/power in making a throw.

The black belt is a sign of

high rank in judo. Top
ranked players wear red or
red and white belts.

Kuro-obi
(black belt)

Judo

26
Sumo
Sumo is the national sport of Japan with a history dating back many centuries. Six
times each year, fifteen day professional sumo tournaments are held. The sumo
wrestlers are usually very big, weighing around 100 kg to 240 kg. Before the match
begins, the wrestlers show respect to their opponent and purify themselves by throwing
salt into the ring and drinking water.

This picture shows two

boys in the school sumo
club. Professional sumo
wrestlers wear their hair
tied up in a traditional
topknot.

Sumo

Kyuudo
Kyuudo is a traditional type of Japanese archery which requires high levels of
concentration. In kyuudo, there is a strict procedure to shoot two arrows, and form
and attitude are just as important as hitting the target.

The bow and arrows used

in kyuudo are made out
of bamboo.

Kyuudo (Japanese archery)

2 7
 OTHER CUSTOMS

Ofuro (Japanese style bath)

In the Japanese bathroom
people wash themselves
outside the tub, usually
sitting on a stool and using
a large bowl of water.
A bucket is often used to get
hot water from the tub. After
washing, they soak in the
tub to warm up and relax.
It often takes altogether 30-
45 minutes.

Shodo (calligraphy)

This is the traditional

method of Japanese
writing, using ink and a
fude (brush) and washi
(Japanese paper). Many
people do shodo as a
hobby or after school
activity.

The drawings below show two traditional dishes that may be on the menu of a
Japanese restaurant. Find out the ingredients of these dishes and write lists in the
spaces provided.
ISBN 0 947225 38 2