Queenswood Haiku Challenge
Thursday 4 March 2021
Here are some of the entries for this year’s Haiku Challenge launched by the Japanese department last week. Pupils and staff were invited to write a poem about the easing of lockdown restrictions, our return to school and the first signs of spring.
Haiku usually contain a kigo, or seasonal word, which is a word or phrase linked to a particular season. Can you spot them in these Haiku?
Spring is really here! | Students and staff back | Online learning done |
Dwarf Iris appears | Spring is almost here | Freedom at long last |
Quarantine ended | Happiness returns | Shoots push through the earth |
This week in Japan, girls have been celebrating Hinamatsuri – Dolls Day.
Hinamatsuri is a festival, on 3 March (03/03), to celebrate the health and happiness of girls. It is common to see public displays of ornamental dolls dressed in Heian-era fashions.
This week, pupils of Japanese have been introduced to the Doll Festival and its associated foods, decorations, and customs. Why not try your hand at some karaoke and sing along to this traditional folk song in Japanese about the festival (lyrics provided).
You could also try your hand at some traditional Japanese crafts: