Japan in a Suitcase

The Japan in a Suitcase Program presents a day in the life of a Japanese child using visual aids and items from Japan to make the experience as real as possible.

Common items used by Japanese children in everyday life - at home and in school - are brought to the school in a suitcase and used to show how a young Japanese boy spends a typical day, from morning to night. Pairs of volunteers make the presentations: English speakers facilitate the lesson and lead the discussion, while their Japanese partners provide exposure to the language and act as native experts.

Students are delighted to be able to see and touch the items from Japan - chopsticks, pencil cases, games, textbooks and much more. They are encouraged to look for similarities as well as differences in the lives of their Japanese counterparts. They also have the opportunity to hear and speak Japanese and even try their hand at writing some simple Japanese characters.

The Japan in a Suitcase Program has been a big success since its inception with over 30,000 students participating in the last 15 years.

This program is currently available for 1st through 3rd grade classes and presentations last approximately 50 minutes.

Click here to request a visit to your classroom.

Click here to see list of visited schools.