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Japan
Here is a list of the resources we used, videos we watched, and activities we did in our study of Japan.
Every time we begin our “travels” to a new country, we always do the same 5 things:
1) Find the flag sticker for the country we are going to travel to, and stick it in our
2) Set up a pretend airplane and sing our "All Around the World" song as we pretend to fly to our destination.
3) Assemble our first travel book page, with the name of the country, the flag, country outline, and the pictures of people dressed in traditional costume.
>> Japan Travel Page 01 - Country Profile Page
4) Have a fun little country themed scavenger hunt! (featured below)
5) Assemble our second travel book page. Although, this page we usually do on our LAST day of learning about the country, since the kids like to pretend that they took all these pictures while they were visiting the country, so this second page is a place for them to “scrapbook” their memories of what they did on their adventure.
>> Japan Travel Page 02 - Scrapbook Page
Japan Scavenger Hunt. We always like to do a scavenger hunt when learning about a new country. This is the scavenger hunt we put together for Japan.
Japan For Kids. Fun, interesting facts for kids about French food, language, history, people and art in France.
You May Also Like:
>> Japan For Kids (Playdate With Stacy)
>> Map of Japan and Fun Facts (We Love Puzzles)
>> Learn About Japan for Kids (Ozzie)
For Older Students:
Where Is Japan? Join Archie and Beans in this quick 3-minute video as they explore this fascinating country in Asia . . . Japan!
Hogie Goes to Sapporo. The friends take a trip to Japan on Children's Day and experience all that the holiday has to offer when their new friend, Masa Hiro, shows them around before the robot race.
This Is How Japan Is Living In The Year 2050. Welcome to JAPAN - the world's most futuristic country! In this video, Drew Binsky shares 12 mind-blowing ways that Japan is living in the future.
You May Also Like:
>> What Is Japan? (Geography with Drew Binsky)
>> What Can $10 Get In Okinawa, Japan? | Drew Binsky (The $10 Travel Show)
>> Living On Vending Machines in Tokyo for 1 Week (LivingBobby)
>> Inside Tokyo's Weirdest Tiny Apartment (Tokyo Lens)
For Older Students:
>> I Stayed In Every Robot Hotel (drewdoes)
>> Entering the Slum That Japan Doesn't Want You To See (Drew Binsky)
>> China v. Japan: 10 First Impressions That Shocked Me (Brendan in Japan)
>> Truth About Living In Japan No One Talks About (Map Pack)
>> How to Tell Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese Apart (Off the Great Wall)
>> Quiz: Can You Distinguish Chinese, Korean, and Japanese People? (Jon Corez)
Visit Beautiful Japan. Join these three friends, ABC Mouse, 123, and Do Re Me, in an animated adventure as they explore Japan with its rich history, iconic geography, and unique cultural traditions!
Are We There Yet? Exploring Japan. Join our young adventurers as they explore the wonders of Japan in this fun-filled episode. From wrestling with real sumo wrestlers to slurping up delicious soup with chopsticks, every moment is an exciting discovery. They visit a famous hot spring and meet a family of playful snow monkeys enjoying a warm bath.
Kids Try Japanese Food. Exactly what the title suggests -- American kids are given some popular foods from Japan to try. Watch their genuine reactions!
You May Also Like:
>> Kids Try Japanese Street Food (HiHo Kids)
>> Kids Try Snacks From Japan (HiHo Kids)
>> Kids Try MORE Snacks From Japan (HiHo Kids)
>> I Tried The Most Exclusive Restaurants In Japan (FaZe Rug)
>> I Tried Every Viral Street Food in Japan (Joshua Weissman)
>> Three Types of Chopsticks: Chinese vs Korean vs Japanese, Do's & Don'ts (CiCi Li)
>> Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean Chopsticks Explained (History of Simple Things)
>> Chinese Food vs Japanese Food | 3 Main Difference Explained (Bitemybun Japanese Food)
For Older Students:
>> Feeding the Shogun: The Feasts of Feudal Japan (Tasting History with Max Miller)
I Made The World's Largest Sushi. Join Nick, as he sets out to break the Guinness World Record for the largest sushi roll, weighing 3,000 pounds!!
You May Also Like:
>> Best Way To Make Sushi At Home (Nick's Kitchen)
>> I Ate Every Japanese Fast Food (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> I Ate The World's Best Sushi (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> I Turned A $3,000 Tuna Into Sushi (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> How To Make Chicken Katsu Curry (Nick's Kitchen)
>> The Best Restaurant-Style Ramen At Home (Nick's Kitchen)
For Older Students:
>> I Visited A Secret Japanese Fish Market (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> Carving A Whole Bluefin Tuna (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> How Wagyu Steak Is Made (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> I Cooked 10 Levels Of Wagyu (Nick DiGiovanni)
Are We There Yet? Ninjas in Japan. Join the travel kids as they learn about what it takes to be a ninja!
You May Also Like:
>> Ninja Warrior Training for Kids (The River and Wilder Show)
>> Free and Fun Ninja Workout for Kids (Workout for Kids with Coach J)
>> The Ninja Diet of Feudal Japan (Tasting History With Max Miller)
>> This Recipe Took 3 Years . . . Ninja Kikatsugan (Tasting History With Max Miller)
For Older Students:
>> What Was The Life Of A Ninja Really Like? (KnowledgeHusk)
>> What You Didn't Know About Ninjas (Weird History)
>> Ninjas Were Real. How We Portray Them Is Not (PBS Origins)
>> History of Ninjas for Kids (Bedtime History)
>> History of Samurai Warriors (Bedtime History)
>> I Went To Ninja School (Drew Dirksen)
>> I Tried Samurai Training With a Real Samurai (Drew Dirksen)
>> I Trained With Japan's Last Samurai (Lost LeBlanc)
>> Shinobi Survival: Ninja Quest (Inside Ninjutsu)
Read Aloud: Do You Want To Be A Ninja?. Get ready to learn the secrets of becoming a Ninja. Follow along, and don't forget to keep an eye out for hidden ninja tools along the way!
How To Draw A Ninja. Easy step-by-step instructions on how to draw a cartoon ninja.
You May Also Like:
>> How To Draw Lloyd From Ninjago (Art for Kids Hub)
How To Make A Paper Ninja Star. Step by step instructions on how to make a really easy origami ninja star!
You May Also Like:
>> How To Fold An Origami Throwing Star (Art for Kids Hub)
>> Origami Japanese Samurai Sword (Origami World)
>> Read Aloud: More-igami (Blue Oak Charter School)
Origami | Short Animated Film. A beautiful, mesmerizing short film that explores the infinite possibilities of origami to bring life and wonder to the simplest material. Every aspect of the film is based on the skills and techniques used in actual origami art.
You May Also Like:
>> Making Of The "Origami" Short Animated Film (Kei Kanamori)
>> Paperman: A Walt Disney Short Film (Jordan F)
>> The Violinist | An Origami Stop Motion Film (Origami Folders)
>> Origami Butterfly Stop Motion Animation (Shigeru Okada)
>> Mr Magnify Origami Stop Motion Animation (YourSaviour)
Physicist Teaches Origami in 5 Levels Of Difficulty. WIRED has challenged origami artist and physicist Robert J. Lang to explain origami to 5 different people: a child, teen, a college student, a grad student, and an expert.
You May Also Like:
>> 11 Levels Of Origami: Easy to Complex (WIRED)
>> The Amazing Origami Of Robert Lang (WIRED)
>> The Math And Magic Of Origami | Robert Lang (TED)
>> Origami Master Robert J. Lang (ChristopherHelkey)
>> We Tried 100 Levels Of Origami (The Try Guys)
>> See a NASA Physicist's Incredible Origami (Great Big Story)
Kids Make Sumo Wrestling Sumo Suits. In this episode of 'The River and Wilder Show', brothers must battle!! But can they team up to defeat their dad in a sumo challenge?
You May Also Like:
>> Are We There Yet? Japan Sumo Wrestling (Travel Kids)
>> The Rules of Sumo Wrestling Explained (Ninh Ly)
>> Feeding A 600 Pound Sumo Wrestler (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> I Cooked A Whole Cow For A Sumo Wrestler (Nick DiGiovanni)
>> I Tried Sumo Wrestling (Sensei Seth)
>> I Ate Like a Sumo Wrestler for 1 Day (Sensei Seth)
>> This One-Pot Sumo Meal Makes Healthy Eating Effortless (Dan Martin)
For Older Students:
>> What Is Sumo, And Why Is It So Popular? | Lee Thompson (TED-Ed)
>> How Sumo Wrestlers Stay Healthy On 7,000 Calories A Day (Insider Science)
>> Sumo Wrestler Diet: Chanko Nabe (Tasting History with Max Miller)
What Children's Day In Japan Is Like. May 5th is Children's Day in Japan. Join the SYR Brothers to learn about this popular holiday and how it is celebrated in Japan.
You May Also Like:
>> What Is Children's Day In Japan? (Found In Japan)
>> What Children's Day In Japan Is Like (SYR Bros.)
>> Koinobori in Japan: Children's Day Tradition (Makejiten)
>> Koinobori: Floating in the Wind (Japan Forward)
For Older Students:
>> May 5th Is A Day Just For Children in Japan (GTV Japan)
>> March 3rd Is Hina Matsuri & Girls’ Day In Japan! (GTV Japan)
>> Hinamatsuri: The Beautiful Tradition of Girls' Day in Japan! (JapaTales)
>> Boys' Day in Japan (JapaTales)
Koinobori Flying Carp Craft. Celebrate Japanese Children's Day by making your own mini "Kionobori" Flying Carp!
You May Also Like:
>> How To Draw A Koi Fish (Art for Kids Hub)
>> Origami Koi Nobori for Children's Day (TheJapanSociety)
>> Easy Origami "Koinobori" Fish Streamer (Origami Tree)
>> Japanese Art: Where Did Origami Come From? (Kev Maher)
For Older Students:
>> The Satisfying Math of Folding Origami | Evan Zodl (TED-Ed)
Koi Origins | History of the Koi Fish. Dive into the captivating history of the koi fish, a symbol of beauty and resilience!
You May Also Like:
>> Why Koi Fish Are So Expensive (Business Insider)
For Older Students:
>> The Carp and the Dragon Gate
>> Farming The Most Expensive Fish In The World (The Koi Partner)
Celebrating Cat Day In Japan. Did you know Japan has a special day just for cats? February 22nd is Neko no Hi (Cat Day in Japan), a fun and heartwarming celebration dedicated to our feline friends! But why this date? And how do cat lovers across Japan celebrate? In this video, we’ll explore the history of Cat Day, the cultural love for cats in Japan, and the fun traditions that make this day so special!
The Story Behind the Waving Cat. Have you ever walked into an Asian restaurant and found yourself wondering why there is a waving cat greeting you at the entrance? This short little video helps to answer that question!
For Older Students:
>> What's The Story Behind Japan's Lucky Cats? (TODAY)
Cats Take Over Japanese Island. Did you know that there is a tiny fishing village off Japan's west coast that is nicknamed "Cat Island"? It's a place where cats outnumber the humans ten to one!
You May Also Like:
>> Japan's Rabbit Island (Great Big Story)
Giant 3D Cat Display Bilboard. I was curious about how Shinjuku's 3D cat would look especially from different angles and so wanted to come here and check it out for myself too! This optical illusion is super well made especially when looking at it from the correct angle giving it this really neat 3d feel, but how does it look from the sides? Come check it out with me!
You May Also Like:
>> [4K] Giant 3D Cat on Buillboard in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan (TOKYO NHK)
>> Enormous 3D Cat Towers Over Intersection in Japan (CTV Your Morning)
>> Realistic Giant 3D Cat in Shinjuku, Tokyo (Gulnar in Japan)
The History of Japanese Fans. A brief history of Japanese fans, and how they became popular throughout the world.
How to Make Japanese Fans. Make your own handcrafted Japanese folding fan in just a few simple steps!
You May Also Like:
>> Japanese Fan Paper Craft (Shagufta Art Hub)
> >How To Make an Origami Paper Fan (Karimah Art and Craft)
>> Origami Fan with Japanese Kimono Doll Decoration (NiceNo1 Origami)
Japanese Cultural Night. Watch a traditional Japanese fan dance performance!
You May Also Like:
>> The Timeless Beauty of the Japanese Fan Dance (Global School Chennai)
>> Japanese Parasol Dance (Judy Ann Cobarde)
>> 'Sakura Sakura Nihon Buyo' Japanese Fan Dance (Takayo)
>> Samurai Dance Kenbu
Beautiful Japanese Music. 3 hours of relaxing, traditional Japanese music.
You May Also Like:
>> Sakura Petals at Dusk (Relaxing Japanese Music)
25 Musical Instruments of Japan. Japan has some very interesting and unique instruments. This video takes you through the names and sounds of 25 Japanese musical instruments.
Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Hanami — Japan’s centuries-old tradition of cherry blossom viewing. In this video, we explore the rich history, culture, and celebration behind Hanami season and why it's such a beloved event across Japan.
You May Also Like:
>> Tokyo's Ultimate Cherry Blossom Itinerary (Japan by Food)
>> The Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo (Tokyo Cheapo)
>> When To See Cherry Blossoms In Japan (Tokyo Cheapo)
>> $11,500 for a Box of Cherries?! (ONLY in JAPAN)
>> Inside Japan’s Premium Cherry Industry (Ashley's Farm Insight)
>> Japanese vs American Cherries (ONLY in JAPAN)
>> How To Draw Cherry Blossoms (Art for Kids Hub)
>> Q-Tip Cherry Blossom Tree Painting (Jasmine)
For Older Students:
>> Why Japanese Are Obsessed With Cherry Blossoms (Let's Ask Shogo)
>> Hanami: The Beauty of Letting Go (mono Japan)
>> Torii Gates: What Are They and What Do They Mean (JapaTales)
>> The Beauty of Japanese Tea Ceremony (JapaTales)
The Unbelievable History of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Rock, Paper, Scissors-one of the simplest games known to humankind, yet its history stretches back over 2,000 years and spans the globe. From its origins in ancient China as 'Shoushiling' to its evolution into 'Janken' in Japan and eventual spread to Europe and America, this game has been a tool of strategy, chance, and wit.
You May Also Like:
>> How To Win Scissors, Paper, Rock Using Maths (ABC Science)
>> The Only 100% Winning Strategy for Rock, Paper, Scissors (Bright Side)
For Older Students:
>> Go! A History of Rock Paper Scissors (The History Guy)
My Rock, Paper, Scissors Robot Never Loses (+9 Other Inventions). Mark Rober counts down ten inventions built at Crunch Labs over the past year, including a robot that can win at Rock, Paper, Scissors EVERY TIME!
NAO Robot Is Amazing Soccer Player. In this video, NAO shows off its soccer abilities at RoboCup 2010 in Singapore. Today over 1500 NAOs are utilized throughout the world as research and educational platforms in 35 countries.
You May Also Like:
>> Funniest Dives of RoboCup 2016 (CNET)
>> NAO Evolution 2007 to 2020 At The RoboCup Soccer! (NAO by Maxtronics)
>> Booster Humanoid Soccer Robot Makes New Breakthrough in Kicking (RCAP Academy)
>> Honda's Asimo Robot (Auto Express)
>> Humanoid Robots With Kid Kung Fu Performance (USA NEX MEDIA)
>> Martial Arts Robots Dazzle At 2026 Spring Festival Gala (CGTN)
For Older Students:
>> Unitree's Robots (America's Got Talent)
>> Experiencing Tokyo's Robot Revolution (TakeisTake)
Why Japan Made Square Watermelons. A short animated video that explains the reason behind this uniquely shaped fruit.
Square Watermelon Farming. Travel to Shikoku Island to find out how square watermelons are grown!
You May Also Like:
>> Eating a $200 Square Watermelon (Only In Japan)
>> How To Grow Square Shaped Watermelon (Garden Fresh)
>> Why You Can't Eat It | Japanese Square Watermelon, 3 Months Later (Only In Japan)
>> How Japanese Square Watermelons Are Made & Eaten (Only In Japan)
For Older Students:
>> Watermelons: China vs. Japan (Factory Agriculture)
What's Inside a Square Watermelon? We travel over 5,500 miles JUST to buy a square watermelon and see what's inside!
How a Kingfisher Helped Reshape Japan's Bullet Train. Japan's famous bullet train used to make a loud boom when it travelled through tunnels. But, thanks to a spot of bird-watching, an engineer was able to fix the problem after he was inspired by a kingfisher.
You May Also Like:
>> How Electric Trains Work (The Fixies)
>> I Tried Japan's Fastest Bullet Train (Simon Wilson)
>> I Rode the Craziest Trains in Japan (Not Just Bikes)
>> How Do Maglev Trains Work? (TED-Ed)
>> Bullet Train: How Japan Built the World's BEST Train Network (Everything Explained)
>> Behind the Scenes: Untold Work Behind Your Smooth Ride (Nippon Television News Japan)
>> How Japan's High Speed Bullet Train Works (Quest TV)
For Older Students:
>> Top 10 Facts | Bullet Train (TTI Build Stories)
What Is a Bonsai Tree? They're the little trees you often see indoors, sitting on someone's table. Do you ever wonder where bonsai trees come from? Are bonsai trees normal trees or are they naturally tiny? Come find out on this episode of FactBites and check out some of our favorite bonsai trees that we’ve seen on this week’s episode!
You May Also Like:
>> Learn About Bonsai and Give It a Go (Gardening Australia)
>> How to Create Bonsai From Regular Trees (This Old House)
>> Making $35,000 Bonsai Scissors (Great Big Story)
For Older Students:
>> The History of Bonsai (Planty Jen's Tiny Landscapes)
>> What Makes Bonsai So Mysterious? (History of Simple Things)
>> Japanese Bonsai Tree Museum (Only In Japan)
>> Why Bonsai Are So Expensive (Business Insider)
>> The History of Bonsai in Japan (Eisei-en Bonsai)
>> Japan's Best Bonsai Gardens in 2024 (Eisei-en Bonsai)
LEGO Bonsai Tree. LEGO Designers Niko and Carl show you LEGO Bonsai tree set from the LEGO Botanical collection.
Katsushika Hokusai - The Japanese Artist that Made the Biggest Splash! Let's learn about Katsushika Hokusai who made a huge splash with his art 200 years ago in Japan and is still influencing art and design today!
You May Also Like:
>> What Made This Painting So Famous and the Story Behind It (Stories Behind Art)
>> What Is A Woodblock Print? (ARTSQ)
>> Japan Woodblock Inspired Print (Miacademy)
>> How Did Hokusai Create The Great Wave? (Christie's)
For Older Students:
>> The Man Behind the Wave | Katsushika Hokusai (The Secret Chamber)
Learn Japanese for Kids: Food. Learn food in Japanese with children's book characters Bocchi & Pocchi.
You May Also Like:
>> Learn Japanese for Kids Youtube Playlist (Bocchi & Pocchi)
Learn Japanese For Kids. Have Fun Learning simple words in Japanese at home like how to say yes, good morning, hi, please, thank you and more!
Does Japanese Really Need Three Writing Systems? Did you know Japanese uses three different writing systems? How are they different? Can you choose just one? All these answers and more in today’s insightful video!
You May Also Like:
>> How To Write Japanese A to Z English Calligraphy Writing (All YU Need)
>> The Hardest Writing System - An Animated Rant About Learning Japanese (NativLang)
>> Kanji Story - How Japan Overloaded Chinese Characters (NativLang)
>> WHY We Need 3 Types of Alphabets in Japanese: EXPLAINED (StudyIn Daily Japanese)
>> Understanding the Japanese Writing System (Academia Cervena)
>> What Is Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji? (Kensei Sensei)
>> Why Does Japanese Have Three Writing Systems? (Why Japan?)
>> How To Write Your Name In Japanese (The Learning Forge Academy)
>> How Do We Write Japanese Names In English? (Name Explain)
>> Learn Kanji In 45 Minutes (Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101)
The Japanese Alphabet. My kids wanted to try and spell their names in Japanese, so we used these alphabet guides to give it our best shot. Go ahead and give it a try for yourself! Pick a writing system, then find the sounds of the words you are trying to write, and see if you can piece words together using Japanese writing characters. It's hard! But have fun!
>> Katakana Chart
5 Japanese Habits, Americans Never Learned, That End Weekend Cleaning Forever. Everyone tells you Japanese homes stay clean because Japanese people are disciplined, or tidy by nature, or spend their weekends deep cleaning. That's not it. They aren't cleaning more than you. They've built habits that stop the mess from forming in the first place.
You May Also Like:
>> 9 Ruthless Decluttering Rules The Japanese Use to Clear Entire Homes (The Japanese Method)
>> 10 Real Japanese Organization Tricks (Samurai Matcha)
>> 11 Japanese Organization Rules Americans Break That Make Your House Messy (The Japanese Method)
HISTORY
