Yokohama, Japan
Decorations
Like China, fans and lanterns are decoration staples for Japan. Add in colorful umbrellas, room separating screens, and silhouettes of traditional architecture.
Music
Traditional Chinese and Japanese music is very similar. Here is another YouTube video that you can just play.
Language
How fun would it be to introduce yourself to the campers in this area in Japanese? Wait until the end of the video to get tips on making the introduction even easier.
Food
I’ll take a chicken teriyaki rice bowl anytime, but I think it would be a fun activity to teach the older kids how to make sushi rolls.
If that doesn’t work for you, or you have younger campers who want to get involved, how about sushi candy rolls?
Clothing
Kimonos.
Crafts
There are a number of Japanese-inspired crafts you can lead, but I am partial to Origami (like Pikachu below) and Koinobori. Koinobori are windsocks made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth or other non-woven fabric. Below is one way for kids to make Koinobori, but you’ll find plenty of others if you Google it.
Want to combine Origami with Koinobori? Here you go.
Celebrations
Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day or Boys’ Day)
This day celebrates children’s personalities and happiness. Families hang up carp (fish) flags, one for each member of the family.
Circus
In the book Around the World in 80 Days Passepartout and Fogg get separated trying to get to Japan. Passepartout gets there first but has no money. He talks his way onto the cast of a traveling circus that is headed to America after they are done performing in Japan. It was the typical circus of acrobats, jugglers, clowns, sideshow acts, etc.
This is a great opportunity to hold your own camp circus. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. In fact, it could be more of a talent show, or it could be a set of challenges open to campers. Challenges would consist of juggling, balancing, clowning, gymnastics, variety performances, dressing your counselor up as the strangest, most bizarre sideshow act ever, etc.
PAGE 1 – Decorations
PAGE 2 – Opening Activities and London, England
PAGE 3 – Paris, France
PAGE 4 – Bombay, India
PAGE 5 – Hong Kong, China
PAGE 7 – San Francisco and New York, USA
PAGE 8 – Cultural Mistakes
I love your ideas and creativity!
Thanks, Sandi. I really appreciate the kind words. This post took a long time to put together, but it was one that I had wanted to write for a while.
What a great post I really did enjoy! May I ask where you obtained the back drops from? Lovely and LOVE the book!
Thanks, Joanne. I like Shindigz.com for back drops. Occasionally, I can find something on OrientalTrading.com as well.
You ideas are creative and easy to use. For our summer camp in India, i have this theme for a week. Kids are given passports and campers are travelling to Africa in the theme. In craft we are creating tribal costumes using paper and beads. Wearing these costumes kids will have a tribal dance performance. So much of fun with this theme.
Thanks, Sangeeta. I am glad you are finding the ideas useful. Good luck with your camp.