Japanese News 

Japanese Penpal Letters

Students in Grades 3 to 6 have just completed a shortened version of their Japanese penpal letters and also included a sheet of their Likes and Dislikes in Japanese. It’s always eye opening to see what is particularly popular or unpopular with the children at WPS, from one year to the next.

However, after 10 years, I can now confidently say that Brussel Sprouts (mekyabetsu in Japanese) have consistently remained the #1 most hated food amongst WPS students every single year.  New Brussel Sprouts recipe ideas are urgently required.

Donald Trump remains hated by many WPS students, as he has for the past 4 years. And this year one or two Australian political figures have also made it onto the “Dislike” list.  It always makes me wonder what the Japanese students think when they receive these letters including the WPS students’ likes and dislikes. Donald Trump is often a “Like” by Japanese students, not that they know much about him, but just because anything that’s American in Japan is automatically ‘cool’.

Minecraft is definitely less popular this year than in the last 2 years, but computer games and video games are still right ‘up there’ on the Likes or Loves list. 

Finally, it’s a little sad to report that the #1 Love for WPS students this year are their pets.  Their families have slipped to #2.

Sensei