All Japan, all the time

The kids are studying Japan at school this term. They have learned the numbers to 10, and the teacher has been weaving the numbers into the math activities. They use some Japanese expressions before and after meals, are performing a fan dance, and folded some origami with Japanese parents in our class. There is an outing to a Japanese themed play on Friday; I brought in some sushi and seaweed to try at snack time last week and we talked about the food; another parent with Japanese heritage read a (LONG!) folktale, and tomorrow they are performing a tea ceremony in happi coats to the accompaniment of our shakuhachi CD. Things are all coming together for Anselm as he also just moved up into a considerably more advanced aikido session with much more movement and throwing; they use more Japanese words and he has been doing "swadiwaza" (or something-- walking on his knees) through the house instead of walking. A few more surprises and events to come before the end of the unit..