At the start of this term, the Japanese department launched a cultural competition to celebrate the New Year. 

New Year is the most important holiday in the Japanese calendar and celebrations are very different to those in the UK.  As part of a cultural extension activity, pupils were introduced to the New Year celebrations and the seasonal foods, decorations, customs and associated vocabulary in Japanese, then invited to create their own New Year’s Card, or ‘Nengajo’.

A New Year’s card in Japan normally contains a New Year message, a family photo and a picture of the Chinese zodiac animal that will represent the year to come. 2023 marks the Year of the Rabbit.  

Thank you and well done to all pupils who completed the extension task on the Japanese New Year.  The Japanese department has been very pleased to receive your extension work (and entries to this competition) and enjoyed all of your beautiful creations!

We would like to congratulate Maryam M (7S) who was the overall winner of this competition. Her ‘Nengajo’ really captured the spirit of a Japanese New Year Card.

Here is a selection of cards created by pupils in Year 7.