Japanese Inside Story

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Term 2 Week 6!

We began Term 2 by learning about the Cherry Blossoms and the cultural festival Hanami.

Hanami, or flower viewing, is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers (hana). Flowers in this case almost always refer to those of the cherry blossom (sakura). From the end of March to early May, cherry blossom trees bloom all over Japan. In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the blossoming sakura. Hanami at night is called yozakura. In many places, temporary paper lanterns are hung for the purpose of yozakura.

In Japanese Club, we have been making different origami shapes and discussing the history of origami. No one knows exactly where or when origami was first created, but it is believed that the Japanese first used paper during the 6th Century, after it was brought from China by Buddhist monks. The term origami originates from the Japanese words our, meaning to fold, and kami, meaning paper. Traditional Origami does not allow any cutting or gluing.

So far, we have created Samurai Helmets, various animals, Pokemon, hearts, and boxes.

Japanese Club is held each Tuesday Morning Tea play.

So much fun!!

Arigatou gozaimasu,

Poetschka Sensei