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We always arrange a special event for our Japanese school students on the first day of the new year. On the first day of classes this year, we arranged a full program of activities.
First, we took Fukuoka students to a nearby shrine for 初詣 (“hatsumoude”, first visit to a shrine of the new year)
We took students to 警固神社 (Kego Jinja, Kego Shrine), a lovely little shrine close to school. Shrines often have a festival atmosphere at this time of year, and Kego Shrine did too, with food stalls out.
Then students made new year wishes.
And finally students bought おみくじ (“omikuji”, fortunes), and if they liked their fortune, tied it to the rails to help it come true.
Then we had a demonstration of traditional 獅子舞 (“shishimai”) dancing at school.
Lucky students were bitten by the lions.
Even luckier students had the chance to try on the costumes themselves!
It was a great chance to experience some parts of Japanese culture you don’t get to see everyday!
