pecial Online Edition No. 2 DIGITAL CONNECTIONS In our second online edition of Japan Now, we have gathered even more resources to help you stay connected to Japan! The Embassy has a recently redesigned page that is all about Japanese language education, and our Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC) has some exciting new resources for kids to explore as Children's Day (May 5) approaches. And for anyone looking for something new to read, we have a selection of online Japanese fiction and nonfiction that we recommend! Release of New Education Page We have just revamped our Japanese Educational Resources page, complete with a new mascot, Kana-chan! Anyone wanting to study Japanese will find easy access to many online and DMV-area resources. Teachers can discover different ways to bring Japan into their classrooms. Learn how to get your local community excited about learning Japanese. And if you are curious about how Japan's education system works, then you can read all about that, too. Resources abound, and Kana-chan is ready to show you around!  Click here to access the Japanese Education Resources page. Children's Day with the JICC On May 5th, families across Japan celebrate Children's Day, called "kodomo no hi." The holiday celebrates the health and future success of all children and is marked by displays of carp streamers. And now you can celebrate, too! The JICC Children's Day 2020 Booklet has a great collection of activities for kids that covers reading, writing, cooking and crafting! And for storytelling, you should check out the JICC's "kamishibai" videos. Kamishibai is a tradition of storytelling that uses colorfully drawn panels for illustration. Enjoy two famous stories: The Grateful Crane and Momotaro. For more updates from the JICC, check out their Facebook and Instagram. Reading Resources If you have a few minutes to spare, then we have some great reading suggestions for you! Dozens of short stories by critically acclaimed Japanese author MURAKAMI Haruki are available for free online, for a limited time. His works have earned him recognition across the globe and have been translated into more than 50 languages. We also recommend taking a look at Niponica magazine, which focuses on topics like Japanese gardens, festivals and pop culture. Many editions are available online and feature gorgeous pictures accompanying each article!

Embassy of Japan in the United States of America Official Newsletter