Students at Cook Elementary are embarking on a tour of Japanese culture — and they don’t even have to leave Columbus.
Chieko Iwata, coordinator of Mississippi State University’s Japan Outreach Initiative, visited first- and third-grade students Tuesday at Joe Cook Fine Arts Magnet School to teach them the similarities and difference between Japanese culture and American culture.
Iwata taught the children how to say “hello” and “goodbye” in Japanese, as well as how to sing, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
Students also learned what a typical day is like for Japanese students children their age.
In Japan, most students walk to school, wear yellow hats and have special backpacks, Iwata said. The classes sizes vary as well, she said, with the typical classroom having 35 to 40 students. Cafeteria workers don’t exist in Japan, Iwata said, because Japanese schools do not have cafeterias. Students serve themselves a lunch consisting of rice, soup and vegetables and then eat in their classroom. Iwata received a very loud reaction when she informed the first graders that Japanese students are also responsible for cleaning up the school, including restrooms. The room erupted in a loud “Eww,” earning a laugh from teachers and Iwata.
Iwata said while Japanese students are different in several aspects, the similarities are evident in daily Japanese life.
Baseball and soccer are popular in Japan, as well as American fast-food restaurants.
“We have different things and we have common things,” she said. “I think we have the same thing a lot.”
Iwata will be visiting the students at Cook once a month for the next two years. They will learn more about Japanese culture including tea ceremonies, origami and kimono ceremonies.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.