Minato Ku

Next term, we have 18 Japanese  students staying with families from our school. They are all from Minato Ku, Tokyo, Japan. I will upload some photos from our week. Don't forget to practice your jikoshoukai ready for their upcoming visit..

They are staying with families from our school. Please look at the page about Minato Ku to find out more about the week and some words/phrases you could use with them.

New Years Day in Japan

January 1 is New Year's Day, a national holiday and one of the biggest events on the calendar of annual festivities in Japan.

 

From well before dawn on New Year's Day, people flock to shrines and temples to pray for a healthy and happy year. This is called hatsu-mode and is one of the most important rituals of the year. When we greet our acquaintances, moreover, we say "Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu 　あけましておめでとうございます" (a happy new year) to convey our wishes that the year to come will be full of hope and good health.
        

Nengajo

One thing children look forward to doing on New Year morning is reading nengajo (New Year greeting cards) from friends and acquaintances.

Otoshidama

The biggest treat on New Years Day is receiving otoshidama (money given as a gift at the beginning of a year) from parents, relatives, and other adults they meet during New Year.

Daruma

On January 6 and 7 each year, a temple in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, hosts a fair of daruma dolls. These dolls are bright red likenesses of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who founded Zen Buddhism in the sixth century. Legend has it that the monk sat meditating in a cave for so long (nine years!) that he lost the use of his legs.
This is why the daruma doesn't have any limbs. It's a roly-poly doll that returns to an upright position when tipped over. It's also a good luck charm that helps people fulfill their wishes; it encourages us to keep working toward our own goals even when others are trying to knock us over.
A new doll doesn't have its eyes painted in yet; this is because the purchaser draws in one eye while making a wish, and draws in the other when the wish is fulfilled.

What will your goal for this year be???

 

Welcome to Year of the Monkey!

 

The general image of people in this zodiac sign is of always being smart, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth. They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile. In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.

• Strengths
  enthusiastic, self-assured, sociable, innovative
• Weaknesses
  jealous, suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant

 

 

Find out what year you were born in and see if the description sounds like you?

Write and tell me what you think below.

	Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tiger people are brave, powerful, loyal, intelligent, competent, and stubborn. Tigers make great friends. Tiger people tend not to respect their elders and that can get them in a lot of trouble.
	Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Rabbit people are lucky, happy, independent, affectionate, bright, ambitious, and trustworthy. Rabbit people have little interest in learning to appear smart. They simply like to know how things work.
	Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Dragon people are honest, full of energy, stubborn, loyal, strong, and protective. Dragon people are incredibly lucky. They love flattery, and can be attracted to bad behavior. That is their weakness.
	Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Snake people are wise and focused. They trust their own judgment. Snake people cannot help but do their best because they hate to fail at anything. Snake people believe everyone should lend a helping hand.
	Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Horse people are popular, cheerful, quick witted, and shy. For some reason, horse people have a great deal of trouble believing they are loved, when in fact, horse people are easy to like and love.
	Ram (Black or Gray Sheep): 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Sheep people are elegant, wise, gentle, shy, and compassionate. They can be bossy, but that's because they're worried things will not get done correctly. This character trait often makes money for them.
	Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Monkey people are quick, funny, nosey, clever, witty, and successful. They have wonderful memories and are well informed about everything. They tend to chatter. This does drive friends away sometimes.
	Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Rooster people are early risers, proud, alert, deep thinkers and good speakers. They like to stay close to home. If you can break through their natural suspicion, they make wonderful friends.
	Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Dog people are loyal friends, quick to learn, eager to please, and always try to do their best. They prefer to be with people they know and like. Dog people cannot stand injustice.
	Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 People who are born in the Year of the Pig are intelligent, sincere, brave, popular, and treat all people with great kindness. Pig people are often late and often forgetful.
	Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 People born in the Year of the Rat are famous for cheerfulness and kindness. They are generous with those they love. Rat people love to gossip. That can cost them many friendships if they are not careful.
	Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Ox people are easy going and have a great deal of self-assurance that helps help them to be successful. Ox people have thoughtful responses. Ox people love deeply and share their strength with those they love.

New Years Day in Japan

January 1 is New Year's Day, a national holiday and one of the biggest events on the calendar of annual festivities in Japan.

 

From well before dawn on New Year's Day, people flock to shrines and temples to pray for a healthy and happy year. This is called hatsu-mode and is one of the most important rituals of the year. When we greet our acquaintances, moreover, we say "Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu 　あけましておめでとうございます" (a happy new year) to convey our wishes that the year to come will be full of hope and good health.
        

Nengajo

One thing children look forward to doing on New Year morning is reading nengajo (New Year greeting cards) from friends and acquaintances.

Otoshidama

The biggest treat on New Years Day is receiving otoshidama (money given as a gift at the beginning of a year) from parents, relatives, and other adults they meet during New Year.

Daruma

On January 6 and 7 each year, a temple in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, hosts a fair of daruma dolls. These dolls are bright red likenesses of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who founded Zen Buddhism in the sixth century. Legend has it that the monk sat meditating in a cave for so long (nine years!) that he lost the use of his legs.
This is why the daruma doesn't have any limbs. It's a roly-poly doll that returns to an upright position when tipped over. It's also a good luck charm that helps people fulfill their wishes; it encourages us to keep working toward our own goals even when others are trying to knock us over.
A new doll doesn't have its eyes painted in yet; this is because the purchaser draws in one eye while making a wish, and draws in the other when the wish is fulfilled.

What will your goal for this year be???

 

Welcome to Year of the Monkey!

 

The general image of people in this zodiac sign is of always being smart, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth. They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile. In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.

• Strengths
  enthusiastic, self-assured, sociable, innovative
• Weaknesses
  jealous, suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant

 

 

Find out what year you were born in and see if the description sounds like you?

Write and tell me what you think below.

	Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tiger people are brave, powerful, loyal, intelligent, competent, and stubborn. Tigers make great friends. Tiger people tend not to respect their elders and that can get them in a lot of trouble.
	Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Rabbit people are lucky, happy, independent, affectionate, bright, ambitious, and trustworthy. Rabbit people have little interest in learning to appear smart. They simply like to know how things work.
	Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Dragon people are honest, full of energy, stubborn, loyal, strong, and protective. Dragon people are incredibly lucky. They love flattery, and can be attracted to bad behavior. That is their weakness.
	Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Snake people are wise and focused. They trust their own judgment. Snake people cannot help but do their best because they hate to fail at anything. Snake people believe everyone should lend a helping hand.
	Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Horse people are popular, cheerful, quick witted, and shy. For some reason, horse people have a great deal of trouble believing they are loved, when in fact, horse people are easy to like and love.
	Ram (Black or Gray Sheep): 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Sheep people are elegant, wise, gentle, shy, and compassionate. They can be bossy, but that's because they're worried things will not get done correctly. This character trait often makes money for them.
	Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Monkey people are quick, funny, nosey, clever, witty, and successful. They have wonderful memories and are well informed about everything. They tend to chatter. This does drive friends away sometimes.
	Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Rooster people are early risers, proud, alert, deep thinkers and good speakers. They like to stay close to home. If you can break through their natural suspicion, they make wonderful friends.
	Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Dog people are loyal friends, quick to learn, eager to please, and always try to do their best. They prefer to be with people they know and like. Dog people cannot stand injustice.
	Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 People who are born in the Year of the Pig are intelligent, sincere, brave, popular, and treat all people with great kindness. Pig people are often late and often forgetful.
	Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 People born in the Year of the Rat are famous for cheerfulness and kindness. They are generous with those they love. Rat people love to gossip. That can cost them many friendships if they are not careful.
	Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Ox people are easy going and have a great deal of self-assurance that helps help them to be successful. Ox people have thoughtful responses. Ox people love deeply and share their strength with those they love.

Some fun facts about Japan

Japan’s Indoor Beach: Where The Surf is Always Up

The world’s one and only indoor beach can be found in Japan’s Ocean Dome about 1,200 miles south of Tokyo in Miyazaki, on Japan’s southernmost Kyushu Island.

It looks fun doesn't it.

Umbrella's

During the rainy season it is vital to have an umbrella. Have a look at the different ones you can buy.

Dog fashion

Square watermelons

Japanese grow these so they're easier to pack

Vending Machines

you can buy just about everything from a vending machine in Japan.

Games

hot meals

Ice creams

alcohol

walking coke vending machine

A sleeping bag with legs.

A new school bus in Japan

maru maru song

This is a popular song in Japan. See if you can learn the dance.

Car parking in Japan

It's very expensive to park your car in Japan. Have a look at this car parking place.

Japanese obento lunches

Japanese take great pride in their bento lunches. Some of them look too good to eat...

Japanese fashion

Not everyone in Japan dresses in Kimono. Have a look at this fashion...

Tokyo fashion parade model....is she real?

Japanese invention

Japan have lots of crazy inventions.. What do you think about this one?
If you want to see some more look at the Chindogu page.