Shirogane Primary School - Day 2

It was another very warm day in Sakura - about 30 degrees, and very humid! It looks like the typhoon to the south of Japan that was threatening to bring rain in the next couple of days has blown itself out, so we are looking froward to some good weather.

We began the day with the Year 5 class in Periods 1 and 2, playing "Ground Golf". It's a little bit like playing putt-putt, but you can play it anywhere, including on a school sports ground. Like golf, the aim is to get the ball from the marker to the flag in the least number of shots. Easier said than done on a bumpy Japanese school playground! As you will see from the photos, the school "oval" doesn't have any grass - it is a dirt field, covered by a thin layer of fine gravel. The All Saints' students did very well in their groups, upholding the strong Aussie sporting tradition!

After a short rest, we joined the Year 1 and 2 students in the gym for Periods 3 and 4 to play with traditional Japanese toys. The young Japanese students tried very hard to introduce themselves to us in English (and we returned the favour in Japanese), and then to demonstrate to us how to play the various games and activities. They had ayatori (cat's cradle), otedama (juggling bean bags), origami, koma (spinning tops) and kendama (catch the ball on a cup) for us to try.