Japanese

Last month in Japanese class, we learned about the annual festival in Japan, Setsubun or the Bean Throwing Festival marks the beginning of spring. The word setsubun means “changing of the seasons”. When seasons change, people are at their most vulnerable to flu, colds, or other ailments. The rituals for the festival of Setsubun are meant to purge one's house and surroundings of all bad things (which we thought were caused by oni 'demon') and to keep disease and misfortune at bay. 

Students made Oni with origami paper and learned how to overcome or defeat misfortune by throwing beans during this festival. However, instead of throwing beans, we practiced picking up beans with chopsticks and it is the second time we used chopsticks since last year. They are getting really good at this, we used chickpeas instead of soybeans. Unfortunately, I was so busy getting organised this activity and missed the chance to get some photos in action. 

We also learned about the year of rabbits "うさぎどし(usagi doshi)". People born in a year of the Rabbit (which includes 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927) are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious. Here is the snapshot for the first Japanese lesson for our beautiful foundation class. 

The target phrase for March is また、らいしゅう (mata raishu) = See you next week!

Bawden Sensei

kbawden@sjyarrajunction.catholic.edu.au