Traditional Games: Fun Old-Time Play. Popular Activities Useful in Childcare
Traditional folk games that have long been loved in Japan are packed with timeless charms that captivate children across generations.
Because folk games let us experience old cultures and local traditions, we want to pass many of these games from adults down to children.
In this feature, we’ll introduce a wide variety of such time-honored folk games.
We’ve gathered many activities kids can truly get absorbed in—everything from physical games, to ones using traditional toys like ohajiki (small playing pieces) and stilts, to word- and song-based games like karuta and chachatsubo.
We hope you’ll incorporate them in nursery schools and kindergartens and enjoy them together with the children.
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- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
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- A collection of ideas for infant/toddler play, recreation, and games
- [Parenting] Parent-child bonding! Hand-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes collection
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[Traditional Games] Fun Games from the Past: Popular Activities for Early Childhood Care (1–10)
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
Hearing the chant “Oshikura manju, don’t cry when you get pushed!” brings back nostalgic memories of playing as a child, doesn’t it? In the game “oshikura manju,” players stand back-to-back inside a circle, clasp their hands in front, and push against each other using their backs and hips.
It’s even more fun when everyone calls out together as they play! If you get pushed out of the circle or knocked down, you’re out.
The last person remaining inside the circle wins.
You can also change things up by making the circle smaller or shaping it like a gourd.
For small children, it’s safer to play on a mat rather than on a hard surface.
Hana Ichi Monme
It’s a traditional game enjoyed along with the children’s song “Hana Ichi Monme,” which is still sung today.
Many people may remember playing it in kindergarten or elementary school.
Players split into two groups of five or six and face each other.
Holding hands, they walk to the rhythm of the song and play by saying things like “We want [Name]-chan,” choosing members.
There are parts where the teams confer mid-song, and the calls and lyrics vary by region, making it a surprisingly deep and nuanced game.
menko (a traditional Japanese card-and-coin-flipping game)
Menko, which became a craze during the Showa era, could be seen as a game that connects to today’s trading card games.
The rules are simple: players take turns slamming their menko onto the ground, and if you manage to flip your opponent’s menko, you win.
Changing the playing surface—not just flat ground but even gravel—can raise the difficulty and make the game more exciting! Menko come in many shapes and designs, such as circular or rectangular, with lots of vivid and uniquely shaped pieces, so collecting them is also great fun.
[Traditional Games] Fun Old-Time Play: Popular Activities for Childcare (11–20)
hopscotch
The traditional game “Kenkenpa” is perfect for kids to play outdoors.
Many of you may have played it by drawing circles in a park or on the road.
It’s also said to help improve children’s motor skills, which are declining as they have fewer opportunities to play outside, so we highly recommend it.
Draw a pattern on the ground combining one circle and two circles.
Land on one foot in a single circle and on both feet in the two circles.
Adjust the spacing of the circles according to age, and try jumping to a rhythm! It helps develop balance on one and two feet, as well as strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall athletic ability.
Spinning a top
When it comes to traditional New Year’s games, many people probably think of spinning tops (koma).
Since it takes a bit of technique to spin a top properly, children might need a little practice before they can play.
Tops come in many materials—tin, wood, plastic, and more—so choose one that’s easy for your child to handle.
The key is how you wind the string.
Depending on which hand is dominant, you may wind it left or right.
Practice is the only way to master a cool spin! Try playing together with friends and family and have fun.
karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)
When it comes to classic New Year’s games, “karuta” is a staple! Karuta is a traditional game enjoyed by a wide range of ages, from sets for children to competitive play.
Basically, there are reading cards and grabbing cards based on the 46 sounds of Japanese; players race to grab the card whose picture matches the initial sound of the card being read aloud.
In the case of Hyakunin Isshu, which is themed around classical waka poems, the grabbing cards don’t have pictures; instead, they show the second half of each poem.
Because it helps develop letter recognition and quick reflexes, why not incorporate it into everyday play, not just during the New Year holidays?
Chinese jump rope
“Gomu-tobi” (rubber band jumping) is a traditional game that you can play even without a large space.
It’s fun indoors or outdoors for all ages, making it perfect for playtime at home, kindergarten, or daycare.
Prepare a flat elastic band, and have two people hold the ends.
Change the height—on the ground, at the ankles, knees, and waist—and have players jump over it.
As the band gets higher, the difficulty increases and it becomes harder to clear, so if someone catches the band, switch who’s holding it.
For small children or beginners, playing on a mat is a safe option!