Article written by Denise Kua Sze Min and photography, with additional photos from Rebeca Villarroel Altamirano
Pupils from Christ Church Primary School, Gosforth Central Middle School and St Paul’s CE Primary School took part in engaging Japanese cultural workshops at Newcastle Civic Centre as part of the Festival. The event offered students a hands-on introduction to Japanese traditions, language, guided by Rebecca Lee from The Japan Society.
The event began with an introduction to Japanese culture, including the proper way to greet others in Japanese. Students enthusiastically practiced these greetings under Rebecca’s guidance, gaining a sense of the respect and etiquette that form an essential part of Japanese communication.
Following this, pupils participated in a calligraphy session, where they learned to write Japanese characters with brushes and ink. Rebecca patiently demonstrated each step at the front of the classroom and provided individual guidance. The students eagerly followed along, concentrating carefully as they practiced forming the intricate strokes of each character. Many expressed prides in their efforts, excited to see their creations come to life on paper.
The children then moved on to a session on Japanese geography and numbers, led by Fumika Cartlidge. During this session, pupils participated in a lively game of Bingo, where numbers were called out in Japanese. Students were challenged to identify the numbers they had written on their cards, and it was impressive to see how quickly they picked up the language. The session not only helped pupils become familiar with Japanese counting but also encouraged teamwork and listening skills in a fun, interactive setting.
In addition to these activities, pupils had the opportunity to practice using chopsticks, a skill that required patience and concentration.
Using small bowls of dried pasta, students carefully attempted to pick up pieces with the chopsticks, enjoying the hands-on challenge of mastering this traditional eating utensil.
The activity proved both educational and entertaining, allowing pupils to gain a small but meaningful insight into Japanese daily life.
Overall, the day was a resounding success. Pupils left the Civic Centre with smiles on their faces and new knowledge about Japanese culture.
I especially enjoyed the calligraphy. “Today’s event was exceptional!
Purity, Pupil at St Paul’s CE Primary School
I really enjoyed the activity because I always like learning about different cultures. Speaking Japanese was the highlight of today’s event.
Malia, Pupil at St Paul’s CE Primary School
Their enthusiasm reflects the excitement of many participants, who found the combination of cultural insight and interactive learning both enjoyable and memorable.
Rebecca Lee from The Japan Society highlighted the importance of such events, stating:
Our main mission is to improve understanding and strengthen relationships between the UK and Japan. The education team aims to foster interest in Japanese culture among younger generations and to promote the study of the Japanese language in the UK.
Teachers also appreciated the value of these cultural experiences for their pupils:
I really enjoyed watching the children engage with the formation of the characters (kanji).
It’s fascinating to see the origins of these characters, and the children clearly enjoyed seeing how they developed over time.
Jason Cochrane, Head Teacher, St Paul’s CE Primary School
Our pupils don’t often have the opportunity to explore different cultures and languages. While we do offer some within school, I don’t have the expertise to teach many different languages. Many of my students are interested in Japanese culture, so this event was a perfect opportunity for them.
Rebekah Walker, Teacher, St Paul’s CE Primary School
From calligraphy to chopsticks and number games, the Japanese cultural workshop at Newcastle Civic Centre offered pupils a rich and immersive experience. By combining hands-on activities with educational insight, the event successfully introduced students to new cultural perspectives, leaving them inspired and eager to learn more. It was a day of curiosity, learning, and enjoyment that will likely leave a lasting impression on everyone involved.
We were thrilled to welcome The Japan Society to Newcastle again as part of the Festival. The quality of the sessions they provide to North East children is outstanding and they bring Japanese language and culture to life – inspiring children to find out more. Thank you to Rebecca and Fumika for hosting these wonderful sessions and to all the schools and pupils who participated with such enthusiasm!
Declan Baharini, Festival Coordinator
Further information and links
- Fun with Japanese free online taster session and resources for children aged 5-11 is online activity for North East schools available as part of the Festival. Click on the link to register for this activity, which includes language and calligraphy activities.
- More information and free resources are available on The Japan Society website here. These include the 10 lesson Japanese Language and Culture Resource Ready Steady NihonGo! the free online resources for all and free loan resources for schools including calligraphy equipment
- Follow Japan Society London on X (twitter) / Facebook / Instagram
- Click here to see other Festival events and activities relating to Japan and Japanese, plus links and resources from The Japan Society and The Japan Foundation to find out how to celebrate Japan and bring Japanese language and culture into the classroom
About the author and photographers
Denise and Rebeca are part of the team of five Festival interns from Northumbria and Newcastle Universities producing articles and digital content for the Festival this year. The Festival wants to provide opportunities for students to gain real-world experience to help them in their future careers.
Denise Kua Sze Min is originally from Malaysia and is currently studying for a MSc in Forensic Science at Northumbria University. She has a passion for photography and digital content creation.
Rebeca Villarroel Altamirano is from Peru and is is a Media, Communications and Cultural Studies student at Newcastle University. She is passionate about advertising, marketing and PR and is developing her skills in content creation, social media and audience engagement.