Kamishibai is a traditional form of Japanese street theatre in the form of picture card storytelling. As creating and using Kamishibai hones speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, they have many cross-curricular applications.

Tanzaku are coloured strips of paper which make during the Tanabata Festival. People usually write a personal wish on tanzaku and hung it up on bamboo. Make your own tanzaku with coloured paper/card by following our instructions.

Tanabata is a summer festival based on an old story which tells of the annual reunion of two lovers in the Milky Way.

Manga (comics or graphic novels) are a Japanese form of visual storytelling. These lessons give students an introduction to the history and cultural significance of Manga in Japan and as an art form.

In the first lesson, use the teachers' notes to provide students with key information about Manga. Students will then compare Japanese Manga style with the Western comic book style.

In the second lesson, students learn about diversity within Manga by watching the videos of Japanese artists talking about their work.

On Children’s Day in Japan (May 5), many school children will make origami kabuto helmets. Follow this video to make a mini version.

Follow this video to make your own teru teru bozu dolls. They are thought to work as a charm to stop the rain and bring sunshine.

Follow this video to make a paper lantern. Traditionally people light chouchin lanterns on the first day of Obon festival to invite the spirits of ancestors back to their family home.

In the summer in Japan, you will also see many people carrying fans called uchiwa. Follow this video to make a mini origami version.