After-School Club Activities
Baseball Table
Tennis Kendo Shogi
Origami Computers
Baseball
Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan.
It is played with the same rules in Japan as it is in America.
Many children play baseball at school and on Little League teams.
People enjoy watching professional baseball games on TV, and going to
games and rooting for their favorite team. Some professional Japanese
players have been signed on by American teams.
Read about baseball and other popular
sports in Japan here.
 Table
Tennis
Ping-Pong, officially called Table Tennis, is a very
popular game in Japan for boys and girls to play. It's a fast-moving
game of strategy and hard hits. It's not just a matter of hitting
the little ball with the paddle; you have to watch the ball and your
opponent very carefully. Your brain, eyes, and legs are just as
important as your hand.
Learn Ping-Pong rules and strategy at the USA
Table Tennis site.
 Kendo
Kendo is the ancient Japanese art of
sword-fighting. Students practice with harmless bamboo swords.
They never use real swords. The students in this picture are
high school students, who get to use helmets, face masks, gloves,
and other body protection. Through rigorous training in Kendo,
the student strengthens his or her body and mind, develops a strong
spirit, learns to treat people properly, and values truth and sincerity.
Students can also feel that they are carrying on a tradition of Japanese
culture and history.
Learn about the history of Kendo at
the Kendo America site
Shogi
Shogi is the Japanese version of chess. It
is a game of mental skill between two players. Many people enjoy
playing it in Japan. The goal of the game is to checkmate your
opponent's king. It is played on a board of 9 by 9 squares.
The squares are all the same color, not alternating black and white
like in Western chess. Captured pieces can be put back in play
by their captor, and most pieces can be promoted to a higher rank.
Learn how Shogi is played at ShogiNet.
 Origami
Origami is a traditional Japanese craft
that has become famous all over the world. Starting with a single
sheet of square colored paper, you can learn to fold all kinds of
animals, birds, flowers, boxes, and toys. Origami is a popular
pastime, because all it takes is a piece of paper. Everyone
knows how to fold a few shapes, like the crane, which is a symbol
of peace and long life. Students learn origami at school; it
is used to teach concepts in geometry, and for lessons in how to follow
directions.
Learn to fold a crane and other animals
at the Oriland Origami
Studio.
 Computers
Japanese schools all have good computer
labs, and these are open after school for the computer club to use.
Students can play educational games after school, take digital photos,
communicate by e-mail, and design web pages. And of course,
at home video games are very popular. After all, Nintendo, Sega
and Sony are all made in Japan!
source: Chico
Unified School District by
Nancy Leek
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