[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games
January brings cold winds and a lingering chill in the air.
Here are some recommended recreational activities and games for older adults that are perfect for January.
We’ve gathered many options that can be enjoyed in a warm indoor setting!
As the weather gets colder, people tend to move less—so let’s get the body moving through games!
And of course, January means New Year’s.
New Year-themed activities and games might help older adults recall fond memories of the games they played in their childhood.
Enjoy a fun time with January-themed recreation while sparking lively conversations.
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For Seniors: January Activities and Recreation Games (71–80)
Bozu Mekuri
When it comes to New Year’s games, Hyakunin Isshu usually comes to mind, but it can be challenging for those who haven’t memorized all the poems.
For people like that, there’s a game using the picture cards called “Bōzu Mekuri.” It’s simple: if you draw a monk, you lose all the picture cards you’ve collected so far, and if you draw a princess, you get them all.
Despite its simplicity, it gets really exciting, so I highly recommend it!
Shogi
Thanks to the spectacular success of shogi player Sota Fujii, there’s said to be a shogi boom among children.
Since becoming a professional in 2016 at the youngest age ever—14 years and 2 months—he’s gone on an unstoppable winning streak, capturing various titles, and I think news of his achievements has reached even people who don’t usually play shogi.
How about playing shogi indoors on cold days in January? If you don’t know the full-fledged rules, “Hasami Shogi” is fine too—people say the simpler the rules, the deeper the game.
The sharp snap when you place a piece on the board—that sound is so cool!
Hand Play: Mochitsuki (Rice Cake Pounding)
There was a time when kids invented games using just their hands and feet, even without any tools.
Let’s reminisce about those days and try the hand game “Mochitsuki” (rice-cake pounding).
To the pe-tan pe-tan rhythm of pounding mochi, you alternately move your hands in and out, make kneading motions, and it’s fun when the song and your hand movements sync up! The lyrics and actions vary by region, so it can be enjoyable to chat about those differences, too.
Hand and finger games are perfect for days when you can’t go outside!
Hyakunin Isshu
The Hyakunin Isshu has once again stepped into the spotlight thanks to the huge success of the manga Chihayafuru, which features competitive karuta.
In the film adaptation, Suzu Hirose’s excellent performance became a hot topic.
These days, Hyakunin Isshu is also thriving as a club activity in junior high and high schools.
And don’t many of us have bittersweet memories of being made to memorize dozens of poems as part of Japanese class? Let’s all enjoy Hyakunin Isshu together while we reminisce! Reciting waka poems feels perfectly New Year’s-ish, doesn’t it? If you can’t remember both the upper and lower halves of the poems, you can just play in the karuta format.
Sharing your favorite poems with each other also makes for a lovely time.
Hanafuda
The opening of the anime Jarinko Chie was very bright, featuring colorful hanafuda cards.
Personally, it was the moment my image of hanafuda—so often associated with yakuza films—changed completely.
The timeless beauty of plants like pine, plum, and wisteria, the pleasing design of aoni and akani colors—this would likely appeal to people overseas as a card game too.
If it’s January, let’s flip over the kotatsu to use the green tabletop and play hanafuda! Koi-Koi, Hana-Awase, Hachi-Hachi—you can play however you like.
It’s fun even as you’re learning the rules!
Snowball fight
A “snowball fight” is something that’s commonly enjoyed in snowy regions.
I grew up in an area where it didn’t snow much, so whenever I saw it on TV or in the newspaper, I felt a bit envious.
Why not try a snowball fight to suit the season in January? Let’s enjoy a snowball-fight-like game indoors using “paper snowballs” made by crumpling white paper.
In a facility for older adults, it could be fun to split into teams and play a dodgeball-style game where you try to hit each other.
You could also liven things up by treating snacks or small prizes as the “enemy” and trying to hit them with the balls as a game!
mahjong
What kind of image do you have of mahjong? I think many people might say, “A slightly scary vibe like in old movies…” These days, though, what’s popular is so-called “sports mahjong” or “health mahjong,” where you don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, and don’t gamble.
There’s even an organization promoting a brighter, friendlier kind of mahjong called the Japan Sports Mahjong Association.
Why not enjoy a game of mahjong on a cold day in January? One nice thing about mahjong is that you can learn the rules as you play.
Just be careful not to get too absorbed—set a time limit and play within it!