Have you been to Japan or wanted to explore more? Well, I'm going to tell you all about Japan and its amazing facts, people, and culture. We're going to go over festivals, food, martial arts, school lunches, and many fun facts! Lets go!

                                FESTIVALS!

 In the beginning of spring, in Japan, they have a cherry blossom festival to welcome spring. It begins in March and ends in May. On March 3rd they celebrate children's

        Cherry blossoms

                     Joey dolls

      <- -Japanese Fag

day with Joey dolls, which is a special childrens toy. On August 13-16 Japanese people celebrate a holiday called "Obon Festival."Which is similar to day of the dead. On this day they honor their ancestors.

                                      FOOD!

   Japanese people used  a food preservation practice that originated in China. Chinese people stored fish in rice and salt, then threw away the rice. Japanese used that method to make food, instead of throwing away the

      Obon Festival

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          Sushi

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           YUM!

 rice they made it with more veggies and meats. Have you ever wondered why Japanese people eat eggs raw? Well Japan cares so much about their people they check the eggs for dirt, cracks and even inside the egg with computers! They get very, very well cleaned so its safe to eat raw. Do you like kit-kats? In Japan kit-kats are lucky because it sounds like "kito kasto"(you will surely win) in Japanese. When your low on energy, but don't like coffee you could eat a Kit-kat or get some energy gum. The energy gum is like coffee, but different, it gives

         Eggs

         Japanese kit-kats

   you energy in gum form and doesn't taste like coffee. In Japan it is polite to slurp because it means you're enjoying your food. While slurping your bringing the taste of the broth to your mouth. In 1974 a group of visitors discovered that finding turkey for christmas was difficult, so they decided to eat  fried chicken. KFC was then the place everybody in Japan went to eat for Christmas.

   KFC at Christmas time

     Energy gum

Japanese Ramen

         Yummy!

                         Martial Arts!

       Judo is a type of self defense, but you don't hit or kick. Instead, you throw the person with your body! There are many techniques to this sport. All can help you learn to fight for yourself, you just need to find the one that suits you best. The founder of Judo is Kano Jigoro. It was founded 1882 and inspired by jui jistu and sumo wrestling. Speaking of sumo wrestling, sumo is a national sport  where two big men fight each other.

   Kano Jigoro

    Judo (San Fernando Valley Judo Club) I also train here!

Sumo wrestler

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                                School Lunches                                      In Japan school lunches are different. Instead of going out to eat in a cafeteria, they eat in their classroom. And as a learning experience, students serve other students. For example, each class might have five people serving everyone, when everybody's served, they serve themselves. Some wear white chef clothes to serve, but you don't have to. The teachers will eat in the classroom with his or her students.From first grade to sixth they all do this practice. Of course 1st and 2nd graders get help.

Teacher eating with students

 students serving each other