Living in Singapore, where the climate does not change much throughout the year, opportunities to experience Japan’s four seasons and events do not come naturally. This time, I would like to think about how we can convey Japan’s sense of the seasons and events in our daily lives.
1. Reasons why people tend to have fewer opportunities to experience seasonal events
In Japan, seasonal changes such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, Tanabata, and New Year’s Day serve as reminders of events. In an environment like Singapore where the climate does not change much, there are few natural triggers like this, and if you don’t consciously take advantage of them, a year can go by without you having a chance to experience seasonal events. Seasonal supermarket products and TV specials that you would normally see in Japan don’t come naturally overseas, so it’s not uncommon to find out that you’ve missed the season.
2. Common problems
We often hear people say, “I tried folding a helmet on Children’s Day, but I couldn’t really explain its origin,” or “I wrote a strip of paper for Tanabata, but the story didn’t spread.” Even if you know about the event itself, it is surprisingly difficult to explain why the event is held and how to spend your time in Japan.
Even just representative events,new year(celebrating the start of the year and wishing for the health of the family),Hinamatsuri(I wish the girl a healthy growth)children’s day(Decorate carp streamers and helmets to wish for the growth of boys)Tanabata(Write a wish on a strip of paper)Moon viewingThere are different things for each season, such as (gazing at the full moon in autumn and giving thanks for the harvest). You don’t have to do everything perfectly, just start with one or two.
3. What is important at the Children’s Club
At the Children’s Club, one of our educational policies is to actively incorporate Japanese seasons and events into our classroom curriculum. Through productions and activities related to events, we set aside time to experience Japanese culture while touching on its origin and meaning. The idea is that through classroom activities, students will be able to compensate for the experience of experiencing the changing seasons, which is difficult to obtain when living overseas.
When dealing with events, we try not to unilaterally explain their origins, but rather to let people experience nature through production, song, and play. Rather than having students memorize the reasons for doing a certain event, we first value making it a memorable experience as a fun experience, and we believe that it is sufficient to gradually deepen their understanding of the origins.
4. Tips that are easy to incorporate at home
At home, we recommend starting with small things like cooking together a dish related to the day of the event or preparing decorations together. Even if you can’t fully explain the origin, just sharing the feeling that “Today is a special day” with your parents and children is enough of an experience. If you take photos so you can look back at them every year, you’ll start having conversations about “this is what it looked like last year,” and it will also give you a clue as to how the seasons are changing.
5. Frequently asked questions
Q. My parents don’t know much about Japanese events. I’m worried about whether I can teach it.
A. It’s okay. You don’t need to be able to explain everything perfectly; just the act of investigating and experiencing things together will be a positive experience for your child.
Q. I’m worried that it might be confused with an event in Singapore.
A. Being exposed to both cultures is not a bad thing. You will be able to naturally accept each event as “both important to me.”
Q. Will the classroom provide teaching materials and tools for the event?
A. Yes. We provide the materials necessary for the activities in the classroom, so you do not need to prepare them at home.
Q. Does the difficulty level of the content change depending on the event?
A. Yes. We adjust the depth of the explanation of the origin and the difficulty of the production depending on the age and course, so you can work on it in a way that suits your developmental stage.
6. Please take a look at the seasonal events held in the classroom.
We introduce seasonal events held in our classrooms through request for materials and trial lessons.