Cultural Japanese Exhibit for Families and Children

***Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends who have been devastated by the recent disasters in Japan.  If you would like to help, donations can be made  through the American Red Cross.  You may also find more details through the Consulate-General of Japan in Houston.

FIVE FRIENDS FROM JAPAN: CHILDREN IN JAPAN TODAY
Children's Museum of Houston explores culture and life through the eyes of five new Japanese friends 

Now - May 1, 2011

With the support of Mitsubishi and Japan Foundation

Journey to the Land of the Rising Sun, but don’t pack your bags quite yet!  Travel without a passport to the new Five Friends from Japan exhibit at the Children's Museum of Houston (CMH).  Designed to entertain by highlighting similarities and differences between Japan and the U.S., Five Friends from Japan peeks into contemporary Japanese life through individual stories of five new foreign friends. The exhibit advances understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture with true stories and real objects straight from Japan.

Rooms modeled after real Japanese homes feature more in-depth video narratives and hands-on activities lead by the five friends:

• In Sakiko’s bedroom, dress in traditional Japanese attire, check out real manga
  (comics), and try creating your own. An only child and owner of many pets, Sakiko highlights popular culture and points out that some Japanese girls’ bedrooms may look a lot like American ones.
• In Ken’s tatami room, experiment with Japanese calligraphy, try out futon
  bedding, and learn about traditional home architecture. As the oldest of four siblings with a
  Japanese father and American mother, Ken shares details about his family and his love of baseball and Harry Potter.
• In Aisa’s kitchen and tofu shop, role-playing with Japanese cuisine is on the menu. With Aisa’s help, fill up on information about the variety of foods and eating habits in Japan, and learn about traditional festivals that take place in the town where she lives.
• In Yusuke’s yard, practice aikido moves with the help of an instructor. In the garden, you will learn that not all Japanese gardens are pristinely manicured and designed for meditation. The yard is filled with Yusuke’s bug collection and sports equipment.
• In Shoko’s living room, listen to and create different types of Japanese music. Shoko, from an elite and culturally conservative family, shares her shell and stone collections. While hanging out, notice that Shoko’s living room looks a lot like our own here in the U.S.

Observe, distinguish and acknowledge a sufficient understanding of life in Japan. Five Friends provides you with an endless opportunity of fun and adventure. Discover diversity and a different life away from your own home country.