Kids Web Japan

Japanese children spend their free time in all kinds of ways. Video games, such as those made by Sony and Nintendo, are very popular, but Japanese children also go outside to play soccer (football) and baseball or to ride their bikes. Some kids also like playing card games and collecting cards used in the games.

Small children love to watch anime (animated shows) on television, but after they turn 10 or so, many youngsters begin watching dramas and variety shows. They also buy CDs and decorate their rooms with posters of their favorite pop stars.

Japan has many traditional toys and games that have kept children amused for centuries. Origami, for example, is an activity that every Japanese child tries at least once. It involves folding sheets of square colored paper into shapes, such as yachts, cranes, and feudal helmets. Bei-goma, which is popular with boys, is a game in which several people spin tops at the same time, and the last one left spinning wins. Many girls enjoy playing o-hajiki, which involves flicking a small glass marble against other marbles, which the player is then allowed to keep.

Japanese children also enjoy taking part in seasonal activities with their families. A particular favorite is summer vacation, when they go to swimming pools or to the seaside. From summer through autumn, many children enjoy hiking and camping in the mountains, and during the winter they sometimes go skiing or snowboarding at Japan’s many winter resorts.

Children often take private lessons outside of school, learning how to swim or play the piano, for example. Others belong to local baseball or soccer teams. Also, to improve or broaden their studies, many children attend private tutoring schools called juku.