![[Respect-for-the-Aged Day Celebration] Laughter All Around! Ideas for Performances and Games You Can Enjoy While Seated](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/ABupUIsi68k/maxresdefault.webp)
The program for Respect-for-the-Aged Day is a precious time that will become a special memory for our seniors.
Through performances and games, let’s create heartwarming moments of connection.
We’ve prepared a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy together—lively conversations over a meal, the light rhythm of dance, the laughter of comedy improv, and the excitement of magic.
All ideas are designed to be enjoyed while seated, so participants who use wheelchairs or walk with canes can join with ease.
Between programs, conversation will naturally flow, creating wonderful memories.
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[Respect-for-the-Aged Day Gathering] Laughter All Around! Ideas for Seated Entertainment and Games (1–10)
street performance
Street performance is a staple act at events, and the fun part is that you can see the effort behind it—whether it ends in failure or success.
To help people feel the excitement of street performance, it’s actually important to show some failures on purpose; the success that follows will stand out even more.
And since clowns are strongly associated with street performance, putting real thought into the costume can evoke a circus-like atmosphere.
We recommend taking on a variety of acts—like juggling or cigar boxes—and letting the audience watch you work hard as you rise to the challenge.
Whac-A-Mole
Whack-a-mole is a game where your reflexes are tested as you quickly hit the moles popping out of holes with a hammer, right? We’ve recreated that whack-a-mole on a large, vertical board—let’s put everyone’s reflexes to the test.
A person waits behind the board wearing mole puppets, quickly sticking their hands through the holes, and others try to hit them with a squeaky hammer.
Since the person behind can be seen through the holes, swift movements that don’t give you away are crucial.
Seeing someone frantically moving their hands is also part of what makes it so funny.
Little Dance
It’s a dance performed with a uniquely shrunken look, where each movement exudes cuteness.
With the gimmick of only the face being real and the rest a doll, it really tests the skill of how comically you can make the movements appear.
Since the motions of the arms and legs tend to be simple, it’s also recommended to exaggerate facial expressions to bring out the humor.
There are plenty of elements you can get particular about—what kind of movements to show to what kind of music, what costumes to use, and so on.
Tankō-bushi (Coal Miner’s Song)
Tanko-bushi is a folk song from Fukuoka Prefecture, best known for being used in Bon Odori.
Let’s showcase a comical dance set to its light, buoyant rhythm.
Since the song strongly evokes Bon Odori, we’ll center the choreography around that style and gradually add variations, including comedic movements.
The lyrics that depict the moon floating in the night sky are also memorable, so dancing in moon-themed costumes inspired by that image is highly recommended.
Your creativity will be tested in how much humor you can weave into this gently paced piece.
Escape Show
Among various magic shows, the grand finale that really brings the house down is often an elaborate escape.
Let’s challenge an escape from an impossible situation and give the audience a huge surprise.
The classic routine is being locked in a box, having swords thrust into it, then removing the swords and opening the lid to reveal the performer unharmed.
The mechanism is simple—there’s a hole at the back to slip through—but the key is figuring out how to carry it out without letting the audience catch on.
Use clever touches to heighten the surprise, such as showing an initial failure to lower their guard.
Rock-paper-scissors tournament
One event that captivates people’s hearts is the Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament.
With its simple rules, a Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament wraps up in a relatively short time, and the chance to win prizes is part of its appeal.
Since it’s a game everyone knows, it’s easy to join and great fun with a large crowd.
We recommend the format where a representative on stage plays against the participants, as it tends to run the most smoothly.
Grab-and-win game
A grab-and-go game gives you that great bargain feeling and gets your heart racing, doesn’t it? Let’s enjoy that excitement at a festival as a game! Put your hand into a box filled with small treats and compete to see how many you can take in one go.
You can’t try again, and anything that falls before it’s bagged or brought to the designated spot doesn’t count.
Prizes can be anything, so prepare items that are easy to grab.
If using your hands is difficult, it’s fine to scoop with a ladle or similar utensil instead!
