chestnut

rabbit

The correct answer for the animal with long ears is the rabbit. Rabbits love foods like carrots, cabbage, and komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach). They also enjoy activities like digging, chewing, and hiding. If you see rabbits at a zoo, be sure to observe closely to see how they move!

Sardine Day

October 4 has been designated Sardine Day in Japan because the numbers 1-0-4 can be read as i-wa-shi. In Japan, there is a custom of eating sardines on occasions such as Setsubun. Some schools even serve fried sardines for lunch on Sardine Day, October 4. It’s a great way to spark interest in food.

persimmon

Persimmons are nutritious and delicious, aren’t they? The varieties that are in season in October are Hiratanenashi and Tone Wase. These are seedless varieties that are easy to eat. It’s said that persimmons with black speckles inside when you cut them open are sweeter and tastier. Keep an eye out for that when you eat them!

Sports Day is on the second Monday of October. It used to be called Health and Sports Day, but the name was changed to Sports Day in 2020. We want to share the fun of moving our bodies through sports, talk about different kinds of sports and Olympic sports, and convey how enjoyable being active can be.

Halloween

October 31 is Halloween, isn’t it? Recently, more and more places like daycare centers, kindergartens, and child-rearing support centers have been holding Halloween as an event. Seeing children and teachers dressed up in costumes and going to get candy is just so cute! It’s also fun to come up with costume ideas every year, isn’t it?

squirrel

A squirrel’s cheek pouches can hold three acorns on each side. Though small, it’s a clever animal that uses its very handy cheek pouches to carry food. When eating acorns and the like, squirrels use their impressive front teeth to crunch as they eat. They may look small and cute, but squirrels are remarkably strong animals.