[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games

omikuji (a Japanese fortune slip typically drawn at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples)

January, Year 31 – Omikuji (fortune slip)

What event comes to mind when you hear New Year’s Day? That’s right—hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year.

Visiting large shrines like Meiji Jingu or Sumiyoshi Taisha is a lot of fun, with festival stalls creating a festive atmosphere.

There’s also a special charm to quietly paying your respects at a small local shrine.

And speaking of hatsumode—omikuji, the fortune slips.

If someone can’t go to a shrine due to mobility issues or other circumstances, please draw an omikuji on their behalf and bring it back for them.

Opening them together makes for a warm, cheerful time for everyone.

party trick

[Great Escape Magic] Easy magic anyone can do with cardboard! Seniors burst out laughing! Perfect for festivals, Christmas, and Respect-for-the-Aged Day events

Let’s try putting on an escape-game-style performance using cardboard, with staff presenting it for the seniors.

A person gets inside a box, and people insert swords into the box from the outside; when all the swords are finally pulled out, the person inside comes back to life.

It really livens things up if you let the seniors participate by inserting the swords.

You can get even more laughs by having the person inside react with exaggerated “pain” each time they get poked, or by adding other creative touches.

Staff can also make it more fun by wearing costumes or adopting characters that are different from their usual look.

And if someone figures out the trick, turn it into a funny moment by ad-libbing!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Kendama

Simple yet fun! It’s a PET bottle kendama!

I always kind of thought kendama was a traditional Japanese toy.

But in fact, kendama-like toys exist all over the world, and in early modern France they were reportedly enjoyed not only by children but also by nobles and the upper classes.

It’s even considered good for developing concentration, to the point that some schools include it as part of their curriculum! Kendama is fun solo or with a group—on cold days, you can have a blast indoors.

In facilities for the elderly, it also makes a nice little party activity.

It’s a game anyone can enjoy regardless of fitness or age—let’s have fun with kendama!

mochi pounding

We became a 'big family' through a symbiotic model. Mochi pounding (making kagami mochi).

Japan has had rice-cultivation beliefs since ancient times, and it has long been believed that foods made from rice are imbued with sacred power.

Within that belief system, sake and mochi made from rice are thought to possess especially strong power.

Hishimochi for the Peach Festival and kashiwa-mochi for the Boys’ Festival—when you think about it, mochi plays an important role, doesn’t it? It might actually be better to do it before New Year’s, but buoyed by the celebratory spirit of January, let’s all enjoy a mochi-pounding party! At facilities for the elderly, it could be nice to set up a mortar and pestle and hold a mochitsuki event.

Even just rolling the mochi into balls is sure to be fun.

Beigoma (spinning top)

How to spin a beigoma (traditional Japanese spinning top)

In the hugely popular Weekly Shonen Jump manga KochiKame (short for “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo”), beigoma spinning tops appear frequently, and the children look like they’re having a great time playing.

You can almost feel like you’re playing yourself just by reading: tops spinning vigorously on a competition platform made from a bucket wrapped with a sheet, tops losing and getting flung away.

How about rekindling your childhood this cold January by spinning beigoma indoors? Try changing how you wind the string with the otoko-maki and onna-maki styles, or customize your top by shaving its “belly button.” The ways to play are limitless.

Women, please join in too!

Egg Steamed Bread with Pancake Mix

[Sweets Made with Pancake Mix!] Fluffy Steamed Egg Bread: Easy Dessert Recipe

Let’s try making steamed egg cupcakes as a snack activity.

Using pancake mix, it’s an easy treat you can make without an oven.

January 20 is the coldest day of the year in the traditional calendar, and in the past, eggs laid on this day were said to be especially nutritious and called “Daikan eggs.” Also, January 25 is apparently Pancake Day.

It’s a great idea to make them while sharing these little stories.

Enjoying teatime with sweets you’ve made yourselves can give you a special sense of satisfaction.

Give it a try!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Health Quiz

[Health Quiz for Seniors] 10 Questions! Useful and Interesting Health Knowledge [Easy, Multiple Choice]

Let’s help older adults enjoy a health quiz and start the New Year on a healthy note.

When you’re thinking through quiz questions, you’re focused, which can reduce stress and offer a refreshing change of pace.

With that in mind, here’s a “New Year Health Multiple-Choice Quiz” perfect for January.

Because it’s multiple choice, it’s easy for older adults to answer—and easy to try.

Quizzes also naturally spark conversation with those around you, making it easier to boost communication.

Let’s have a fun time while learning about New Year health.