Resources for Learning About Japan

My family has a fascination with Japan. OK, we are a little obsessed, but we can’t help it. If the Japanese culture intrigues your family then these resources for learning about Japan will be a great place to start studying all about the country.

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Can I tell you how excited I am to write about Japan?!

OK, truth is, my husband and I have hopes to move to Japan. Not forever, but definitely for a couple of years. It’s just a dream of ours.

This can be a total coincidence, but my daughter has taken a liking to learn Japanese. There are a number of scholarships where we live in Tonga to go to college in Japan. That is her goal.

Then my son, only 10, yet he wants to play rugby in Japan when he gets older… and he wants to be a bus driver when he is done with rugby. However, let’s stick to the rugby in Japan for now. The bus driver-goal is a whole other story.

We also love JiuJitsu, which of course originated in Japan. My husband started teaching JiuJitsu under the guise of black belts in Australia and America. Although, he had to stop because of the country’s lock-down and restrictions.

Anyway, I say all this to say, we think Japan is super cool and learning about it is even better.

So far, my daughter is learning the language however, next year we will begin learning more deeply about the culture and geography. We are so excited about the Unit Study.

Japan is a country with a beautiful and vibrantly rich culture. We love the idea of its cleanliness and how polite the people are rumored to be.

Here are some interesting facts that I have been gathering to share with the kids in our Japan Unit Study. Your kids may also find them interesting.

-The word “Gohan” in Japanese means cooked rice but when you put it next to certain words it also means meal. This shows just how significant rice is and how it is always one of their main foods.

-Kids LOVE Pokemon, my kids still do as well. Pokemon began in 1996, the name being short for Pocket Monster. It debuted in Japan first as a video game. They are going to LOVE getting assignments to write about Pokemon, something they enjoy.

-The ancient skilled warriors of Japan were called Samurai. They used a special weapon named the katana, a long sword with a slight curve.

–Hello Kitty was launched in 1974 by a Japanese company. Guess what? DO you know that in 2014 it was revealed that Hello Kitty was not a cat at all? Finding this out, for some, was worse than finding out Pluto wasn’t really a planet.

-Japan is a leader in the world for developing robots. Honda engineers invented a robot named ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility). It is said to be the most advanced humanoid robot ever, with recognizing faces, voices, and responding to preprogrammed commands and gestures.

-In the military, I had a lot of friends who loved karaoke. Karaoke was invented in Japan in 1969. This fun singing activity came from the word “kara okesutura,” which means “empty orchestra. The art of karaoke started during an orchestra-players strike in Japan.

-Japan is super serious about its toilets and it’s not only the bidets. Their toilet seats can come heated, scented, pre-washed, and musical all while being activated by motion or remote control. Wowzers!

-Japan is made up of 6,852 islands. The mainland is made up of four – Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

-Japan has the very highest number of vending machines in the world.

-Law and order is a MUST in Japan. Cleaning is a part of the country’s education system. I love this idea.

-Japan has more than 1500 earthquakes a year.

-Slurping noodles loudly is considered polite. My husband and son will LOVE this one.

-Japanese people eat over 17 million tons of fish per year. This is more than any other country. The Japanese eat fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our country exports fish to Japan. The most we export to Japan is sea cucumbers. They are so gross looking, but Japan loves them! Yes, to eat them.

-Tokyo is the biggest city in the entire world!

-It has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. So cool!

Of course, I can go on and on. I haven’t even mentioned anime yet. However, I will stop there.

Explore these resources for learning about Japan in your homeschool:

Date Dash Japan – Japanese History Game

Country Research Project – A Country Study About Japan with Reading Passages | Teaching Products

The Educational Summer Vacation: Studying Japan | Unremarkable Files

FREE Japan Unit Study | Firstieland

Japan Mini-Unit | Guest Hollow’s Store

FREE Japan Printables | ThoughtCo.

Japan for Kids FREE Printable Book | 123 Homeschool 4 Me

FREE Printable Coloring Pages About Japan | Ayelet Keshet

Japan Country Lapbook FREE | Homeschool Share

Traditional Japanese Clothing FREE Worksheet | Education.com

Japan FREE Matching Game | Go Places with Kids

Studying Japan: Week 1 FREE Printable: | Homeschool Creations

A cool site about Japan for Kids | Web-Japan.org

All About Japan | National Geographic Kids

FREE Japan Map Coloring Page | Coloring Printables

Things to Know About Japan for Kids | A to Z Kids Stuff

Japan facts for kids | Kids.Kiddle.co

Country Japan Facts for Kids | Science Kids

Facts About Japan | NatGeoKids

Interesting Japan Facts for Kids | Kids-World-Travel-Guide

Fun Japan Facts for Kids | Easy Science for Kids

18 Japan Facts for Kids – Learn About the Japan | Facts Just for Kids

Geography for Kids: Japan | Ducksters

Japan Culture for Kids: 10 Fun Facts + FREE Printable | Kids Travel Books

Japanese Culture for Children– fun facts, food, music, language, Nihongo 日本: Japanese Culture interesting Facts | DinoLIngo BLog

Ancient Japan | Kids Discover

Expectations for Japanese Children | SocialStudies.org

Kids from Japan | Fact Monster

10 Fun Facts About Japan | MulticulturalKidsBlog

Books to check out from the library about Japan:

10 Books that Teach Kids about Japanese Culture | Kyuhoshi

Learning About Japan For Kids: Picture Books | The Global Kids Clan

Activities to go alongside your lessons on Japan:

Japan Activities Your First Grade Students Will Love | Firstieland

Learning All About Japan With Stories and Crafts | Castle View Academy

10 Japanese Cultural Activities and Games To Do with Kids | Just One Cookboook

Discover Tanabata: the Japanese Star Festival | Globe Trottin’ Kids

Learn about Japan: Kids’ Activities and Books | Rebekah Gienapp

Virtual Trip to Japan: Japanese Crafts, Activities for Kids | Pack More into Life

Awesome Japan Preschool Unit- Crafts, Activities, and More! | Go Places with Kids

Cherry Blossom Tissue Paper Craft | Go Places with Kids

Videos all about Japan:

Geography Kids Video – Japan! | Geography Kids

Children’s introduction Video to Japan | shinadie

I hope you enjoy your unit on Japan with your children. Sayōnara!