[For seniors] January health topics: A roundup of popular recreational activities from exercises and crafts to New Year’s games

New Year’s Haiku Gathering

Day Service Tamagawa Gakuen Haiku Club

Have you ever written a haiku? Haiku is said to be the shortest form of poetry in the world.

It seems deep, but the entry barrier might be surprisingly low.

Even if you’re unsure or not very good, why not try turning your daily life, thoughts, or scenes into haiku? Haiku are expressed in 17 syllables with a 5-7-5 pattern and are said to always include a seasonal word (kigo).

It could be fun to share the same theme with everyone, compose haiku, and present them, and it might also be enjoyable to write the haiku you create on tanzaku slips or shikishi boards.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Making amazake

How to Make Amazake Using Only Rice Koji — A Recipe for Amazake Made with White Rice and Koji / How to Make Rice-Koji Amazake

Did you know you can make amazake using only rice malt (kome-koji)? All you need is rice koji and water.

You can also use a yogurt maker like a Yogurtia or keep a rice cooker on the warm setting.

Since koji mold dies at temperatures above 60°C, be careful with the heat.

Keep it warm at around 55–60°C for 5 to 6 hours, and you’ll have delicious amazake.

It’s rich in vitamins and amino acids, and if you dilute it with hot water, it will warm you up.

It also contains no alcohol, so it’s a highly recommended drink.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese New Year’s face-making game)

A lively New Year’s recreation! Deciding the Fukuwarai Lucky Maiden! [Senior Recreation, Winter Recreation, Also Usable for Day Services]

Many older adults can enjoy Fukuwarai, a traditional New Year’s game.

Using facial parts made of paper or wood, players try to place the eyes, nose, mouth, and other features in the correct positions to complete a face.

Because players aim to place each part where it belongs, the game helps build concentration and may help prevent cognitive decline.

It’s a recommended recreation that lets you have fun while celebrating the New Year.

You can adjust the difficulty by changing the types and number of facial parts.

For beginners, it’s best to reduce the variety of parts or make the placement positions easier to understand.

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Kawamura Mina

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Paper cup kendama

Recreation for Seniors – It’s Challenging! That’s Why It’s a Huge Hit When You Nail It! Paper Cup Kendama

Many people have probably played with a kendama, but how about trying this paper-cup kendama made with paper cups? With just a paper cup, cardboard, string, and a colored ball, it’s easy to make—but while it’s simple to build, it’s relatively challenging to play.

If that sounds too difficult, there’s also a version that uses a deep paper plate instead of a cup, which is recommended.

You can make two identical sets and race to see who reaches the goal first, or try team matches and time trials.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Battledore and Shuttlecock Tournament

Day Service Asumiru: Today's recreation, a ‘Hanetsuki’ (traditional Japanese battledore) tournament

How about a New Year’s recreation of hanetsuki using homemade hagoita paddles and balloons? Using a paddle is more challenging than batting the balloon with your hand, and it requires controlling strength and direction, so it’s highly recommended.

Try cooperating as a group and competing to see how many consecutive hits you can get.

If you don’t have handmade paddles, you can still enjoy it by cutting a clear file or a piece of cardboard into the shape of a hagoita.

It’s also a great idea to include making the paddles themselves as one of the activities.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Kagami mochi stacking

Get excited from New Year 2022! New Year’s activities to enjoy the seasonal spirit [2021 • Recreation • Senior Recreation]

Kagami mochi, a symbol of the New Year, is an important presence when welcoming the season, isn’t it? It’s considered a lucky decoration displayed to invite the gods and bring them joy.

In fact, it’s said that the spirit of the gods dwells within it.

The two stacked round rice cakes are also said to mean that good fortune will be layered upon itself.

Here’s a fun game using this auspicious kagami mochi.

Everyone stacks kagami mochi and competes to see who can build theirs the fastest.

Careful, detailed handiwork is key—if you don’t stack them carefully, they might topple over!

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Nanaka

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Snowball Fight Game

@hirose_ds

TranslationCaregivingElderlyRecreation#2021New Year's partySnowball fightBalloonTerritory capture

♬ Starman (2012 Remaster) – David Bowie

When it comes to winter snow play, nothing beats a snowball fight! Many of us played as kids and ended up covered in snow.

Here’s an event that brings back those fun memories: a snowball-fight game using balloons.

Put tape down the center of the room to divide it into two sides.

Place several inflated balloons on the tape, and at the starting signal, throw “snowballs” to knock the balloons over to the other team’s side.

When the game ends, the team that has moved more balloons into the opponent’s territory wins.

Throw lots of snowballs, get moving, and feel like a kid again!

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sasashina

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