[For Seniors] January Activities and Recreation Games

Spot the differences in New Year’s illustrations

Spot the Difference Game: New Year Illustrations for Brain Training / Recreation to Help Prevent Dementia and Memory Decline in Seniors

A spot-the-difference game that helps develop memory, concentration, and attention.

In nursing care facilities and day service centers, it’s often used as brain training for older adults.

In January, using New Year-themed illustrations for the spot-the-difference game is a great idea.

There are plenty of New Year motifs to choose from, such as kagami mochi, the zodiac animal, and kadomatsu decorations! Setting a time limit and tackling the game as a team can also lead to lively interaction with others.

Give it a try!

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Kawamura Mina

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Karaoke Contest

Day Service Howdy’s Community Center Event (2): Karaoke Contest

Projecting your voice from the diaphragm is said to be good for your health.

Karaoke is also very popular as a recreation at day-service centers and as a regular event at senior facilities.

Singing is enjoyable on its own, but since it’s January, it would surely be fun to focus on a theme like “songs about January” or “winter songs.” There are rental karaoke sets that display scores, so it might be nice for music lovers to gather and hold a karaoke contest together.

If you’re shy about singing solo, it’s also fun to form a unit and sing like The Peanuts or Candies!

Spinning a top

How to spin a tin top

I think everyone over 70, regardless of gender, has memories of playing with spinning tops.

These days, it seems traditional tops are hard to find even if you look for them.

It’s said that their origin dates back to the Heian period, when people packed sand or clay into a Babylon shell and spun it with a string.

Apparently, there are similar kinds of tops around the world, too.

It’s nice to know that what people find fun is universal.

How about playing with tops to suit the spirit of January? You could make a top out of paper, or compete to see whose top spins the longest—either way, tops are perfect for bringing everyone together for a lively, good time.

Listen to rakugo

Rakugo performance by the rakugo club “Wakai” on February 8, 2017

Start the year with the first laughs of the season! Some older adults may enjoy rakugo, a traditional performing art that has been passed down since the Edo period.

There are surely people who used to spend New Year’s by going to a yose and listening to rakugo.

Since January marks the beginning of the year, we want to spend it laughing and having fun.

You could invite a rakugo storyteller for everyone to enjoy together, or create an opportunity to learn a piece and perform it.

Three rakugo stories recommended for the New Year are Yabuiri, Katsugiya, and Hatsu Tenjin.

Be sure to give them a listen!

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Kagami-biraki (the ceremonial opening of a sake barrel or breaking of New Year kagami mochi)

What day is it today? Kagami-biraki (Rice Cake Cutting) — January 11

On Kagami Biraki, let’s all eat mochi together! Kagami mochi, with its plump, rounded shape, is just so cute—a classic New Year’s decoration.

January 11 is called Kagami Biraki, an event where you take down the kagami mochi you had on display, break it apart, and eat it.

Since it’s a seasonal food for January, it’s perfect for a get-together everyone can enjoy.

A tip for eating mochi safely is to cut it into dice-sized pieces, grill them, and then add them to ozoni (New Year’s soup) or oshiruko (sweet red bean soup).

You can also coat the mochi with grated daikon to help reduce the risk of choking.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)

Today's activity at Day Service Asumiru

When it comes to January activities the whole family can enjoy, “Fukuwarai” is a classic, isn’t it? I think it’s twice as fun if everyone makes their own instead of buying one! Whether the pieces end up in the right places or the face turns out a bit goofy, it’s fun either way—that’s the charm of Fukuwarai.

It might not be very familiar to many older adults, but there’s a song called “Fukuwarai” by the musician Yu Takahashi.

It’s about smiles making the world a happier place, and just listening to it can make you feel really happy.

If you get the chance, please give it a listen!