Recommended in March! A collection of surprising, little-known trivia that elementary school students will want to share

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

What comes to mind when you think of March? There are so many events unique to this season, like graduation ceremonies, the Doll’s Festival, and the song of the bush warbler announcing the arrival of spring.

In fact, March has many beautiful alternative names besides Yayoi, such as Sakura-zuki and Hanami-zuki, and there are lots of fun tidbits you’ll want to share—like how the flavor of hina-arare differs between the Kanto and Kansai regions! In this article, we’ll introduce March trivia and topics that even elementary school students can enjoy.

Share them with family and friends, and you might just become a little trivia expert!

Recommended in March! A collection of surprisingly little-known trivia that elementary school kids will want to share (21–30)

Tsukushi is the stem part of the plant.

When spring comes, horsetails pop up here and there from the soil.

In fact, horsetails are part of the stem of a plant called field horsetail (Equisetum).

Beneath the ground, the leaves and roots of the field horsetail spread out, and the horsetail shoots are the stems emerging above ground as they prepare to produce their reproductive structures.

At the tip of the shoot are tiny spores, from which new field horsetails grow.

If you observe horsetails you find in spring, you can feel the wonder of plants—“Oh, future horsetails grow from this little stem!” Horsetails aren’t just spring weeds; they are important beings that teach us about the beginnings of plant life.

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Eating too much garlic chives makes my stomach hurt.

Nira (garlic chives) are delicious in Chinese dishes and stir-fries, and they’re packed with nutrients that are good for you.

However, eating too much can cause stomach aches or diarrhea.

This is because nira contains components that are hard to digest, which can lead to a buildup of gas in your stomach.

So it’s important to eat small amounts when adding it to dishes.

Nira also has a strong aroma, so overeating it can cause not only stomach issues but also noticeable odors from your mouth and body.

To enjoy it deliciously and stay healthy, the key is to watch your portions.

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They may seem similar, but chirashi-zushi is a dish where the toppings are placed on the rice, while gomoku-zushi is one where the ingredients are mixed into the rice.

Chirashi sushi and gomoku sushi, which are often eaten for celebrations, may seem similar but are a bit different.

Chirashi sushi is a style where colorful toppings are placed on top of the rice.

For example, shrimp, egg, and snow peas are arranged neatly on top.

In contrast, gomoku sushi is made by thoroughly mixing the rice and ingredients from the start.

Carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and kamaboko are well mixed into the rice, so you can enjoy the flavor of the ingredients in every bite.

Both are perfect for spring or celebratory tables, but the name and how you eat them differ depending on whether the ingredients are placed on top or mixed in.

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The river that served as the model for the children’s song “Spring Stream” is located in Tokyo.

It is said that the model for the children’s song “Spring Brook” may have been a tributary of the Shibuya River, near where the lyricist Tatsuyuki Takano lived.

The poem is believed to have been inspired by the image of a clear stream with small fish and blooming flowers.

In spring, the water would sparkle, and tiny fish and frogs would swim about lively— it was a very beautiful river.

The words in the song directly express the sounds of the water and the behavior of the creatures.

People in the past composed songs while looking at rivers like this, enjoying the arrival of spring and the beauty of nature.

When you walk along a riverbank, try to feel nature while imagining the world of the children’s song.

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People who suffer from hay fever should visit a hospital before the pollen starts to spread.

In spring, cedar and cypress pollen begins to spread, and some people experience sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes.

This is hay fever.

For those who suffer from hay fever, it’s considered best to visit a doctor before symptoms appear—that is, before the pollen starts to spread.

The reason is that starting medication in advance can lessen the body’s reaction to the pollen.

There are medications that prevent itching in the nose and eyes, as well as ones that suppress the body’s internal reaction to pollen.

If you consult a doctor and prepare before spring arrives, you may be able to get through pollen season a bit more comfortably.

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In conclusion

March brings a season full of delightful events, like White Day, the Doll Festival, and the blooming of cherry blossoms.

The trivia and fun facts introduced here are perfect conversation starters with elementary school children.

Learning unexpected facts hidden in familiar traditions and nature might make spring scenery look different to you.

Be sure to enjoy lively conversations with family and friends about topics unique to March.