© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

The pack contains examples of games played at Sports Day in Japan so you can recreate your very own
undokai (sports day) in the garden or in the park. You can award points to the winning player or team at theend of each game and keep score, or just play for fun!
Almost all the games can be played with 2 players, but can be adapted according to the number of players
and the equipment you have. Add your own variations and ideas too!
Normally in Japan, schools are divided into the Red Team and the White Team.
Why not get dressed up in team colours?
To add more Japanese elements to your sports day hold an opening ceremony with music and perform aRadio Taiso* warm-up.
Non-competitive elements are also important at undokai so you can add some cheerleading and dance
performances, and when youʼre finished with the events, have a picnic together.

Link to Radio Taiso video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xfDmrcI7OI© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Late for School
Aim: To cross the finish line in uniform with all the correct itemsin the bag.

Equipment:
••••
•
•

Players: 2 or more (can be played as a relay)
To play: Decide a start and finish point. Pick 4 different ʻstationsʼand place items for players to collect in each one. Stations could
be corners of the garden or different rooms in the home.
Instructions:•Once the race starts, players run to each station in turn.
•Players put on a tie from station 1, then race on to station 2.
•Players put on a jacket at station 2, then race to station 3.
•At station 3 players first pick up a bag then fill it with amobile phone, tissues and a notebook before racing to thefinish line. If playing as a relay, tag the next player to start.
•The first over the finish line is the winner.

JacketsTies
Bags
Tissue packs
Mobile Phones
Notebooks

Variations:•••

Ties done up already, or players to tie
at the station.
Jackets buttoned up, or alreadyopen.
Choose different items to collect ordifferent clothes to dress in at eachstation.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

What a Racket!
Aim: To carry the ball safely sandwiched to the target without
dropping it.

Equipment:•••

Variations:

Players: 2 or more•

To play: Decide a route in your garden or home and mark ahalfway point (a laundry basket works well).

•Make sure the path is clear before starting so you donʼt trip!

Rackets/Bats
Ball/balloon
Halfway marker

Sandwich a ball between players
backs instead of using rackets.
Players race against each otherindividually by balancing a ball on aracket.

Instructions:•Once the race starts, sandwich the ball/balloon between therackets/bats (or use cardboard “rackets”).
•Set off on the course, towards the halfway point.
•Run around the halfway point, and then back to start.
•If the ball is dropped, it must be picked up immediately, andplaced back within the sandwich.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Giant Jumps
Aim: To complete as many consecutive jumps as possible withinthe designated time period.

Equipment:••

Skipping rope
TimerVariations:

Players: 2 or more•

To play: Set a time limit and count the number of jumps
achieved. With 2 players, one player stands behind the other andboth jump together. With 3 players, 2 players hold the rope whilst
the other player jumps. At the end of the time, switch over soevery player has a turn to jump.

•Increased speed of the ropeturns will increase difficulty.
Hop with alternate legs insteadof jumping.

Instructions:•Once the activity starts, each player/team will try to get as
many consecutive jumps as possible within the time limit.
•If the jumps break down, the player/team must start fromzero again.
•Each player/team can submit their highest consecutive jumpscore at the end of the time period. Jump counts cannot beadded together.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Obstacle Course
Aim: To complete all sections of the obstacle course.
Players: 2 or more
To play: Set up 4 different obstacles or activities for players tocomplete and a start/finish point. Time each player as they
complete the course. Use the ideas below or make up your own
original course.

Equipment:
••
•
•
•

Cones (or other marker)
Football
Small ball (or scrunched upnewspaper)
Bucket or other target
Hula hoop or skipping rope

Variations:••

Cones further apart, or closer together.
Target closer or further away.

Instructions:• Dribble a football around cones (or another marker if you
donʼt have cones)• Throw a ball (or scrunched up paper ball) into a target• Do 20 hula hoops or 20 skips or 20 star jumps• Hop until the finish line. Once players reach the finish line
they should sprint back to the start and high-five the next
player, for them to set off.
• The player/team with the fastest overall time is the winner.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Hurricane Game
Aim: Players must work together to complete the course byspinning round the cone obstacles whilst holding onto a pole.
(Note: watch the example video for the full idea).
Players: 2 or more.
To play: Each team needs a minimum of 2 players. Pick a start/finish
line and place a cone at the end of the course. Place another cone at
the half-way point. Time each team as they complete the course.

Equipment:••

Cones (or other marker)
Poles (broom handles can be used)

Variations:••

Make the distance between cones
shorter.
Add an extra cone to go around.

Instructions:• Each team holds take hold of the pole and move forwards
together.
• Go around the first cone in a full circle, maintaining contact withthe pole. (So the player furthest from the cone does a larger
orbit than the player nearest the cone).
• Carry on to the second marker, go round it and to head back to
the first marker.
• Do another full circle around the first marker before going backto the start/finish line.
• The next team can start their turn.
• The winning team is the fastest to complete the course.
Link to example video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zt̲7kRpTA© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Paper TossAim: For each team to successfully toss as many scrunched up
paper balls as possible into their target within the designatedtime.
Players: 2 or more
To play: Place two targets 1 metre apart and decide which target
belongs to which team. Scrunch up old newspaper/magazines
into paper balls and scatter them around the targets. Make atleast 20 paper balls for each team. Set a time limit before starting.
Instructions:•When the game starts players must run to pick up a paperball and try to throw it into the target.
•Players can throw only one paper ball at a time and are notallowed to pick up or hold multiple balls.
•When the time runs out, the team with the most paper ballsin the target is the winner.

Equipment:
••
•

Timer
Old newspaper or magazines
Two targets (buckets,empty bins or laundry baskets)

Variations:•••Set up targets next to each other.
Paper balls that go into the rival
teamʼs target will give them a point.
Have a zone around the targets thatthe players canʼt enter.
Use one target only and play one
team at a time.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Speed Clean

Equipment:

Aim: To leave the playing area as tidy as possible by collecting
any rubbish created from the picnic or games and gathering up
all the other equipment.

Variations:

Players: 2 or more
To play: Set the centre of the play area as the base and place abin, carrier bag, or large box for each team. Players spread out
and await the starting signal. Set a time limit before starting.
If playing in a park,
only collect litter or rubbish that belongs to you••••••

TimerBin, carrier bag, or large box

Add in constraints such as hoppingor skipping to the base area.
Allow only one collection at a time
Speed clean your room or anotherarea in the house.
Scatter the same number of paperballs (from the paper toss game) for
each team to collect and time theirperformance.

Instructions:• Players from each team must run around trying to gather any
rubbish and taking it back to their teamʼs bin.
• Players should also collect any up equipment or items andorganise them neatly in the centre, ready to be put away.
• When the time ends, ask an adult to decide which team hascollected the most and which has left the area tidiest.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Maru/Batsu QuizEquipment:
Aim: Each player must try to correctly guess the answer to eachquestion. Last player(s) standing are the winners.
Players: 3 or more
To play: One player will be Quiz Master. The remaining players
stand in a central area, facing the two signs.
Instructions:• The Quiz Master stands in the centre and ask questions with aTrue or False answer (see the Quiz Sheet for a list ofsuggested questions or write your own).
• Players must quickly decide whether each question is True orFalse and run to stand by the O (Maru or True) or X (Batsu orFalse) signs.
• After the Quiz Master reveals the answer those standing at
the incorrect sign are either out or lose a life (play with up tothree lives).
• Those left at the end of the questions are the champions.

••Prepared questions
2 signs: one circle and one crossVariations:••Start with easier questions.
Hop, skip or run backwards tothe signs.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Maru/Batsu (True or False) Quiz ‒ Sample Questions
Ask someone to be the Quiz Master and read some of the questions out loud. A circle (maru in Japanese) indicates thestatement is true. A cross (batsu in Japanese) means the statement is false.

Geography• The capital of Japan is Tokyo. O/maru.
• There is an average of 57 earthquakes in a year in Japan. X/batsu. There are over a 1000 every year.
• Japan is smaller than the UK. X/batsu. Japan is larger and has roughly double the UK population.
• Japan has 4 seasons. O/maru.
• Japan is an archipelago that consists of around 5000 islands. X/batsu. The Japanese archipelago consists of over 6800 islands.
• Like the UK, Japan has long days in summer and shorter days in winter. X/batsu. Japan is located closer to the equator and thehours of sunlight are similar in both winter and summer.
Food• Sushi is always made with raw fish and rice. X/batsu. Sushi is often made with raw fish and vinegared rice, but can also bemade with other seafood and vegetables instead of fish.
• Instant noodles were invented in Japan. O/maru.
• Sushi is a traditional Japanese breakfast. X/batsu. A traditional Japanese breakfast consists of cooked fish, rice, pickles, andmiso soup.
• Fruit is expensive and considered a luxury in Japan. O/maru. Mangos, melons, and strawberries are some of the mostexpensive, with some very special varieties costing over £100 each.
• The Japanese eat more fish than meat. O/maru. As an island country it has plenty of easy access to fish and limited space forlivestock (most of the land consists of housing and mountain/forests).
• Japan is the largest producer of rice in the world. X/batsu. It is not even in the top three.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

Maru/Batsu (True or False) Quiz ‒ Sample Questions (Page 2)
Culture• Japanese people visit temples and shrines on New Yearʼs Eve. X/batsu. Many Japanese visit shrines or temples to pray on
New Yearʼs Day.
• Four is an unlucky number in Japan. O/maru. The word for ʻfourʼ can also be read as ʻdeathʼ and is considered unlucky.
• Only Japanese people are allowed to become Sumo wrestlers. X/batsu. There are many professional sumo wrestlers who are notJapanese.
• Japanese hot springs are called sentō. X/batsu. Japanese hot springs are called onsen. Sento are Japanese public bathhouse.
• Shinto is an ancient religion/faith in Japan. O/maru. Today, Shinto shrines, festivals and religious practices exist alongside Buddhist
ones in Japan.
School Life
• In Japan, all students take a packed lunch to school. X/batsu. At primary and secondary school all students eat a school lunch.
• Japanese students have to clean their own classrooms. O/maru. Every day after lunch Japanese students take out cleaning
equipment and clean the school.
• In a Japanese school, each class can have up to 40 students. O/maru.
• The Japanese school year starts in January. X/batsu. The school year starts in April in Japan.
• Japanese students change their shoes when they get to school. O/maru. Japanese students have a different pair of shoes to wear
inside school.
• Japanese students never have homework. X/batsu. Japanese students have homework too!
Other
• Like England has a Queen, Japan has a King. X/batsu. Japan has an Emperor.
• The Japanese flag is blue and yellow. X/batsu. The flag is red and white.
• The red circle in the Japanese flag represents the sun. O/maru.
• Karate and Judo are both Japanese sports. O/maru.
• The Japanese currency is called the Japanese dollar. X/batsu. The Japanese currency is called ʻYenʼ.

© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk

This resource was developed by The Japan Society withHelen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa.

The Japan Society
www.japansociety.org.uk
Tel: 020 7935 0475
Email: education@japansociety.org.uk

Follow us on:@japansocietylon@JapanSocietyLondon© The Japan Society with Helen Kerray and Hugo Yoshikawa (2020) | www.japasociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk