Natsumatsuri (Summer Festival)

OCG holds this very enjoyable event  at the end of the summer, building on the theme of the Summer program.   As with all events at OCG, we incorporate understanding Japanese culture  with our teaching of the Japanese language.  At the Natsumatsuri  students are able to see, and taste, a part of Japan – an opportunity  they normally could not enjoy anywhere else.

Each summer we present students with a  new set of activities and foods.  The festival starts with all learning  bonodori (O-bon festival dance). Arts and crafts activities have  included origami, making uchiwa (paper fans), and kumihimo, a  traditional Japanese braiding technique.  Games have included suika wari  (a watermelon splitting game), a bean bag toss game, and a fishing game  in which students “catch” traditional Japanese yo-yo balloons.

Most OCG events include traditional  foods, and the Summer festival is no exception!  Over the years we have  served many festival…