Teaching Resources

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.

Paul Conneally, haiku poet, introduces the key elements of haiku in this video, illuminating some of the common pitfalls and misunderstandings of what haiku is about.

Radio Taiso is an exercise routine that has been practised for nearly 100 years in Japan. Old and young, physically fit and those with mobility issues can all experience the benefits of Radio Taiso.

Kamishibai originates from traditional Japanese street theatre in the form of picture card storytelling. Our digital kamishibai make Japanese stories easily accessible to all.

A legend from ancient Japan about a baby girl found in a bamboo stalk grows up to become a beautiful young woman.

An old couple come into good fortune when they find a puppy, but their mean-spirited neighbours are unbearably jealous.

Momotaro is the story of a boy found in a peach. He goes on an adventure to defeat the monsters terrorising his village, making friends along the way.

This is a story from Japanese folklore. A man rescues a crane and receives a mysterious visitor later that day. This is a short kamishibai, perfect for when you need a quick story.

Kamishibai is a traditional form of Japanese street theatre in the form of picture card storytelling. Unlike children’s storybooks, the text for Kamishibai is written on the reverse of cards so that the story can be easily read while pictures are shown to the students.