2020 NATIONAL JAPAN BOWL®
COMPETITION GUIDEThe Japan-America Societyof Washington DC© 2019 by The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc.
Japan Bowl® is a registered trademark of The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc.
The Japan Bowl name and logo may be used only with the permission of
The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc.

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC) is pleased to announce thatthe 28th National Japan Bowl® will take place at the National 4-H Conference Centerin Chevy Chase, Maryland in April 2020. The tentative dates are April 2-3, 2020. The
final, confirmed dates for both the National Japan Bowl and Sakura Matsuri will beannounced in fall 2019.
The Competition Guide’s purpose is to help students and teachers form teams and prepare
for the competition. It includes:


format, content, and rules of the 2020 National Japan Bowl competition
eligibility information

The list of topics to be covered at the 2020 National Japan Bowl, as well as the required Kanji
and other language lists are included in the Team Study Guide.
The Registration Guide and registration forms will be issued in the fall of 2019. The
Registration Guide will describe the registration process and provide information on lodging,transportation, and payment.
JASWDC will inform all participants promptly of any changes to the Competition or Study
Guide.
Inquiries should be sent by email to japanbowl@jaswdc.org.
The Director of the 2020 National Japan Bowl is Nancy Marsden (nmarsden@jaswdc.org).

Note: The Japan Bowl® name is an official trademark and is registered with the US Patent andTrademark Office. The Japan Bowl Official Guide, Team Study Guide, logo, the design of theofficial mascot "Kanji-kun," and all questions and other materials used in the competition areprotected by US copyright law. Permission to use the Japan Bowl name or logo, and to use oradapt the Study Guide or Japan Bowl questions must be obtained from The Japan-America Societyof Washington, Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0

What is the Japan Bowl?
1.1
1.2

2.0

Competition Format, Rules, and Schedule
2.1
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5

3.0

Goals of the Japan Bowl
What is the National Japan Bowl?

Tentative Schedule for 2020
Preliminary Rounds - Format and Rules
Format of the Preliminary Rounds
Specific Rules for Questions in the Preliminary Rounds
Conversation Round - Format and Rules
National Championship Round - Format and Rules
Grounds for Disqualification

Preparing for the Japan Bowl
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Helpful Hints for Preparing
Reference Materials for Non-Language Topics
Reference Materials for Language Topics
Sample Questions

Be sure to “like” the National Japan Bowl Facebook page and follow us throughout theyear for updates on Japan Bowls across the nation and around the world, as well asinteresting information and news on Japan.

1

1.0

What Is the Japan Bowl?

The Japan Bowl® is a Japanese language competition created in 1992 by the Japan-America
Society of Washington DC (JASWDC). The Japan Bowl tests the achievements of high school
students throughout the United States who are studying Japanese. But what makes the Japan
Bowl unique is that the competition goes beyond language and asks students about Japaneseculture, society, daily life and customs, history, geography, and current events.
The Japan Bowl is not an exam; it uses a fun but challenging “quiz bowl” format. Students
represent their school and compete as members of 2 or 3-person teams, based on how many
years they have studied Japanese. The questions are asked and answered in a variety of ways.
Students listen to Japanese and American moderators read the questions, and they look forvisual clues on PowerPoint slides or for written hints on the answer sheet. Teams are given a
timeframe, usually 30 seconds, within which to respond.
From its beginning, the Japan Bowl has focused on practical, real-world communications
skills, and not textbook learning. It encourages students of Japanese to go "beyond thelanguage" and learn more about the culture, society, and history of Japan, the country whose
language they are studying.
When the Japan Bowl was created in 1992, studying Japanese at the high school level was rare,
but today over 70,000 American high school students are learning Japanese. According to theJapan Foundation, most Japanese language learners in America today are in high school, notcollege.
The Japan Bowl was first held in 1993 as a local competition for high schools in the
Washington DC area. Within a few years, schools from other parts of the nation heard of thecompetition in Washington and joined. It then gained a new name -- the “National Japan
Bowl.” (For more information on the National Japan Bowl, see Section 1.2.)
In recent years, JASWDC has worked with other organizations across America and aroundthe world to create more Japan Bowls. Today, there are local Japan Bowls in California,
Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah, Ohio, and Oregon. International interest also is
growing; at present there are global Japan Bowls in Poland, Mexico, Serbia, Italy, the UK,
Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Kazakhstan, and Japan. In 2018, the first “America Bowl”
was held in Tokyo, and the second "Junior Japan Bowl" was held in Northern Virginia forstudents in Grades 1-6 who are enrolled in Japanese language immersion programs. In 2019,
the “Junior Japan Bowl” expanded to include middle school competitors as well.

1.1

Goals of the Japan Bowl

Whether it is the National Japan Bowl in Washington, or a Japan Bowl elsewhere in the
United States or around the world, the goals of every Japan Bowl are the same:To recognize and encourage students who chose Japanese as their foreign language
To motivate students to reach higher levels of academic achievement
To challenge students to learn not just Japan’s language, but also its culture, history,geography, and society and daily life practices

2





1.2

To provide an opportunity for students to meet others who share their passion forJapan's language and culture
To encourage participants to continue their study of Japanese in college and to study
abroad in Japan in future
To encourage students to have a “Japan connection” in their adult lives -- whether inbusiness, academia, the arts, public service, or science -- and to become leaders of therelationship between Japan and their own country in the years to comeTo bring together stakeholders -- from government and non-governmentalorganizations, foundations and associations, academia, and the business community - who share an interest in promoting Japanese language education and supporting"the next generation" of leaders in the relationship with Japan

What is the National Japan Bowl?

Today the two-day National Japan Bowl, held each spring in Washington DC, is recognized as
the premiere national competition for high school students of Japanese.
The National Japan Bowl is a “total experience” for students. In addition to the academic
competition, over the two days students get to watch Japanese cultural performances, talk to
Japanese and American role models, take part in hands-on activities, learn about study
opportunities at American and Japanese universities, and meet other students from acrossthe nation who share their passion for the Japanese language and culture.
Most participants stay an extra day to attend the Sakura Matsuri, the largest one-day
Japanese cultural festival in the country. Sakura Matsuri also is presented by the JapanAmerica Society of Washington DC. The National Japan Bowl and Sakura Matsuri are bothofficial events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which celebrates the gift of theflowering cherry blossom trees from Japan to the United States in 1912.
JASWDC also organizes a 2-hour networking breakfast for teachers to share professional
information.
It depends on the weather, but students often get to see a spectacular sight in the Nation's
Capital -- the full bloom of the Japanese flowering cherry trees. And students from across thecountry appreciate the opportunity to visit their nation's capital with their teammates. Many
teams come a day or two early to see the sights and visit the museums, which usually havespecial Japan-related exhibits at that time.
The National Japan Bowl has enjoyed support and guidance over the years from the UnitedStates-Japan Foundation; the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC; the Japanese Ministry ofForeign Affairs; the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; the JapanFoundation; the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ); universities in Japanand the United States; members of the Japan Commerce Association of Washington DC; andother foundations and private donors.
The Honorary Patron of the Japan Bowl is Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, whohonors the National Japan Bowl by meeting with the winning team during their trip to Japaneach year and sending a message for the annual competition.

3

2.0

Competition Schedule, Format, and Rules

2.1

Tentative Schedule for 2020

This is the tentative schedule and is subject to change. It is provided early to assist
you in planning your visit to the 2020 National Japan Bowl. As noted before, these are
the tentative dates. JASWDC will notify participants of any changes.

Thursday, April 2
3:00-5:00 p.m.

Japan Bowl Registration

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Dinner, Clover Cafe

5:45-6:45 p.m.

Opening Ceremony, Auditorium

6:45-7:00 p.m.

Break (move to the competition rooms)

7:00-8:30 p.m.

First Preliminary Round – All Levels

8:30-9:30 p.m.

Evening Get-together

Friday, April 3
7:00-8:15 a.m.

Breakfast, Clover Cafe

8:00-10:30 a.m.

Conversation Round – All Levels

8:00-10:30 a.m.

Teachers’ Breakfast Meeting

10:45-11:15 a.m.

Second Preliminary Round – All Levels

11:15 a.m.

Lunch

12:15-1:30 p.m.

Cultural Event(s)1:30 p.m.

Announcement of Finalists, Auditorium

1:45 p.m.

Introductions and Explanation of Rules

2:00-2:45 p.m.

National Championship Round – Level II

2:45-3:30 p.m.

National Championship Round – Level III

3:30-4:15 p.m.

National Championship Round – Level IV

4:30-5:00 p.m.

Awards Ceremony and Closing Remarks

4

2.2

Preliminary Rounds - Format and Rules

The 2020 National Japan Bowl will have two Preliminary Rounds: the First Roundwill be Thursday evening, April 2, and the Second Round will be Friday morning, April
3.

2.2.1

Format of the Preliminary Rounds

The Room
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Each team is placed at a table in one large room and competes with other teams at thesame level.
Each team is provided with pens, scratch paper, and the official answer sheet.
The Preliminary Rounds are closed to the general public. Teachers, chaperones, family
members, and others who have pre-registered will be admitted, based on available space.
All personal belongings must be placed on the floor.
The National Japan Bowl follows the SAT rules regarding electronic devices. All devices,
including watches, that are capable of recording, photographing, or transmitting must be
turned off and put away. This rule applies to everyone in the competition room –students, teachers, and guests.

Asking the Questions
Fifty questions are presented in the first Preliminary Round, and 40 in the second, for a
total of 90 questions. Each question is worth 2 points, for a total of 180 points.
7. The questions cover both language and non-language topics. They are asked andanswered in a variety of ways. The questions also vary in difficulty.
8. Visuals for all questions are projected on a large screen using PowerPoint slides.
9. American and Japanese moderators (native speakers) read the questions.
10. Each question indicates how the answer should be given: in English, in hiragana, in kanji,
etc. (See the list of answer icons below.)
11. Halfway through each round teams shift tables so no team is disadvantaged by viewing
angle or distance from the screen. In other words, teams will sit in four different locationsin the room during the 2-day competition.
12. After each set of questions is read, students MUST put their pens down and stop writing
when told to do so by the moderator. Failure to do so may result in disqualification fromthe competition.
6.

Reviewing the Answers
13. At the end of each round, correct answers are given during a review session in order toreinforce the learning experience of the National Japan Bowl. Students and teachers areencouraged to take notes during the answer review session
14. Students and teachers may talk about the questions with others studying Japanese attheir school. But under no circumstances should anyone – student or teacher - make anyof the questions or answers known to the public via any kind of electronic

5communications network. If that happens, that team’s score might be invalidated, andany awards or recognition given to that team may be forfeited.

ANSWER ICONSENEnglishJP

Any combination of Japanese(kanji, hiragana, katakana – but not
romaji)ひらhiragana

カナkatakana

漢

kanji

ABC

Multiple choiceROromaji for Japanese names*

123

Western numerals*Any commonly-used variant of romaji can be used. For
example, a newspaper can be “shinbun” or “shimbun.”

2.2.2
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

Specific Rules for Questions in the Preliminary Rounds

Questions will be read only once, except for Japanese listening comprehension questions,which will be read twice.
Conferring among team members is allowed.
All teams must write their answers clearly and legibly on the team answer sheet. Any
member of the team may write the answer(s) to the question. Any answers that are
difficult or impossible for the judges to read might be judged incorrect.
As described above in the box about "answer icons," the slide will give the answer icon,
and the moderator also will state in which language form the answer should be
written. If there is a discrepancy between the answer icon on the screen and what themoderator says, ask for clarification. The moderator will be able to tell you how to answer.
There is a 30-second time limit for answering each question. However, 60 seconds will beallotted for questions that require writing a complete Japanese sentence. The clock
begins when the moderator has finished reading the question.
For every question, the timekeeper will call a “10 seconds” warning. At the end of theallocated time, the timekeeper will call “time,” and the slide will advance to the nextquestion. Although you may keep working on questions after the time has expired, youwill run the risk of missing the next question.

6
7. There is no partial credit for a partially correct or incomplete answer. (See examples
below).
8. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer.

EXAMPLES OF INCOMPLETE OR PARTIAL ANSWERS
Japanese Moderator: 兄は黒いオートバイを買いました。
English Moderator: What did the older brother buy? Answer in English.
Answer: The correct answer is "a black motorbike, black motorcycle, black motor scooter,etc. - something that indicates that it is propelled by a motor. If you say or write just theword "bike" or "black bike," your answer is incomplete, because the English word 'bike"
can also mean a pedaled bicycle. You also must include the bike's color (black) to make it
a complete response.

English Moderator: In the Japanese calendar, what year is this? Answer in Japanese.
Japanese Moderator: 今年は何年ですか？ ことしは、なんねんですか？
Answer: If you only give the number, your answer is incomplete. A correct answer must
include "Heisei," the year's number, and the word "nen" -- all three points -- todemonstrate that you know exactly how a Japanese person would answer the question.
► Key point: Be as specific, accurate, and complete as you can ◄2.3

Conversation Round - Format and Rules

On Friday morning, National Japan Bowl judges will hold a Conversation Round witheach team to judge the speaking ability and communication and presentation skillsof each team member. Please refer to the study guide for each level’s content.

Format1.

Each team will be assigned a time to meet with two NJB judges, one Japanese and one
American (who is fluent in Japanese), for a Japanese-language conversation. The Japanesejudge will conduct the conversation.
2. The sessions will be closed; no teachers, chaperones, or members of the public will beallowed to observe.
3. Students should not tell the judges what school they are from.
4. Each team will be allotted 5-6 minutes for a conversation in Japanese, or about 2 minutes
per team member. This includes the time for self-introductions.

7

Scoring
5. The judges will consider both the self-introduction and the replies to their questions indetermining how many points to award.
6. Each team member will be awarded between 1 and 3 points, based on ability tocommunicate effectively with a native Japanese speaker. Judges will consider the
students’ language competence (vocabulary, language control, pronunciation) andlanguage performance (fluency, confidence, comprehension) when awarding points.
A student whose spoken Japanese is below the expected level will receive 1 point; at the
expected level, 2 points; and above the expected level, 3 points.
7. If a team has only two members, its score will be averaged and then multiplied by 3; that
number then will be multiplied by 2 points to produce the final team score.

2.4

National Championship Round - Format and Rules

Advancing to the National Championship Round
1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

The combined scores from the First, Second, and Conversation Rounds will determine
which three teams at each level advance to the National Championship Round. The
combined scores also determine the 4th and 5th place winners.
If there is a tie for any of the top five positions, the judges will review the teams' answers
to five pre-determined questions, covering both language and non-language topics, todetermine the top five teams.
After lunch on Friday, a National Japan Bowl judge will announce the names of the threeteams at each level that will compete on stage in the National Championship Round. The
names of the 4th and 5th place teams will be announced at the Awards Ceremony.
If a team qualifying for the National Championship Round is not present at the time of
the announcement, the next runner-up team will replace the team that is missing.
The scores from the First, Second, and Conversations Rounds will not be carried over to
the National Championship Round. Final results will be determined solely by the teamscore in the Championship Round.

National Championship Round - The Room
1.

The National Championship Round will be conducted on stage before an audience, using
a “live” quiz show format with a buzzer system.
2. The National Championship Round is open to the public, so students, friends, and family
are welcome to attend.

8Types of Questions in the National Championship Rounds
The National Championship Round has three types of questions:
1.

Team Questions - 8 questions, 10 points per question; total possible points 80. The
answers to team questions are written, and the questions usually involve teamcollaboration and problem-solving to respond.

2. Individual Questions - Each student will be asked one question, chosen by a random
drawing. The question is worth 5 points.
3. Toss-Up Questions - 15 questions, 5 points per question, total possible points 75. Two of
the 15 toss-up questions will have bonus questions attached, each worth 5 points. The
total possible score from the Toss-Ups therefore is 85 points.
The total possible team points for the Championship Round therefore is 210.

Rules for the Team Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.

10.

There will be 8 team questions. Each question is worth 10 points.
The same question will be asked to all teams simultaneously.
Questions, including the Japanese language part, will be read only once.
Conferring among team members is allowed.
All teams must provide their answers in writing on the white boards that areprovided. Any member of the team may write the answer(s) to the question.
There is a 30-second time limit to answer each question. The clock begins whenthe moderator has finished reading the question. The timekeeper will call a “10seconds” warning. At the end of the allocated time, the timekeeper will call“time,” and teams must show their white boards.
There is no partial credit for partially correct answers. There is no penalty for an
incorrect response.
Any answers that are difficult for the judges to read may result in an incorrect
answer. Therefore, please be sure that your handwriting is large and clear.
If there is a discrepancy between the answer icon on the screen and how themoderator says the answer should be given, the judges will accept a correct
answer in either format.
For the benefit of the teams and the audience (who cannot see the whiteboards
from a distance), the moderator will provide the correct answer for all questions.

Rules for the Individual Questions
1.

Each team will select an envelope at random. Students should not open their individual
envelopes until told to do so.
2. Students then will be called on to answer in numerical order. A PowerPoint slide willappear for each number, with an expression from the "Expressive Japanese" lists in thisStudy Guide. The team member must use that expression in a sentence or two todemonstrate that he/she fully understands its meaning.
3. Conferring among students is not allowed.

94. Each student will have a total of 30 seconds to prepare an answer and say it. If a student
has not started to speak after 20 seconds, the timekeeper will say, “10 seconds.”
5. The student should speak clearly and loudly into the microphone. The judges will not ask
the student to repeat.
6. A panel of special judges, all native speakers of Japanese, will decide whether the student
has clearly and accurately communicated his/her sentence in Japanese. The special
judges will use a maru-batsu, yes or no decision, with the majority decision to prevail.
7. Each question is worth 5 points.

Rules for the Toss-Up Questions
1. There will be 15 questions, plus two bonus questions. (See Rule #11 on bonus questions.)
2. Conferring among students is not allowed. (Exception: bonus questions. See #11 below.)
3. Any student on the team may answer a toss-up question. A student must ring the buzzer
to signal, and only that student may answer.
4. A student must wait to be called on before answering. The moderator can see the orderin which students rang in and will call on the first student who signaled. Answers given
prior to being called on will not be accepted.
5. If a student signals before the moderator finishes reading the question, the moderator
will stop reading. The remainder of the question will not be read. If the student whorang in early answers incorrectly, his/her team will be penalized 5 points. (See #13 onscoring below.)
6. The student may answer only once and may not change his/her answer. Each judge willrecord what he/she heard, and the decision whether to declare the answer correct will bebased on what a majority of the judges heard. The judges will not ask the students torepeat their answer, unless there is a technical problem. Students therefore should
answer loudly and clearly so the judges can hear them.
7. If there is a discrepancy between the answer icon on the screen and how the moderator
says the answer should be given, the judges will accept a correct answer in either format.
8. If a team member gives an incomplete or partial answer, the judges will say that it is “notcorrect.” They will not say that it is “incomplete,” as that would give a hint to the otherteams.
9. The moderator will read a toss-up question only once. (1) If no team “buzzes in” after a
toss-up question is read, the moderator will encourage teams to “buzz in,” but will notread the question again. (2) If two teams answer incorrectly, the moderator will ask if thethird team wants to answer, but will not re-read the question. (3) However, if a teambuzzes in early, before the question is read in its entirety, and if the team answers
incorrectly, the moderator will then read the entire question.
10. If no team answers correctly, or if no team buzzes in, the moderator will give the answer
and move on to the next question.
11. There will be 2 bonus questions during the Toss-Up Round. The moderator will giveadvance notice when a question has a bonus question attached to it. If a team member
answers the first (main) question correctly, his/her team will be given the bonus question,
which is worth an additional 5 points. Team members may confer, and the team captainmust answer within 30 seconds. If the team’s answer is incorrect, other teams cannot
answer the bonus question.
12. Scoring: Each correct answer is worth 5 points.

10
 There is no partial credit for partially correct or incomplete answers.
 A team will not receive credit for a correct answer if its members
conferred. (Exception: bonus questions.)
 If a student signals before the moderator has completed reading the question andthen answers incorrectly, his/her team will be penalized 5 points. If a student
from a second team also signaled before the moderator finished reading thequestion and answers incorrectly, that team also will be penalized 5 points.
 If a student signals after the moderator has read the entire question, there is no
penalty for an incorrect response.

If There is a Tie
1. At the end of the toss-up round, the judges will check with the score-keepers anddetermine whether there is a tie for either 1st or 2nd place.
2. If there is a tie, then a series of toss-up questions will be asked to the two teams thattied, until one of the teams answers two questions correctly.
3. There are no PowerPoint slides for the tie-breaker round.
4. The first team to answer two questions correctly wins the tie-breaker.

2.5

Grounds for Disqualification

Following are the possible grounds for the disqualification of a student or team fromthe competition. JASWDC has the sole right to determine, in its own judgment,
whether any action requires disqualification.
a. Challenging or showing lack of respect to National Japan Bowl officials, staff, orvolunteers by a student, teacher, or chaperoneb. Inappropriate dress (See Section 5.1 in the Registration Guide)c. Use of offensive languaged. Substantial violation of the rules of the National 4-H Conference Center (See Section 5.2
in the Registration Guide)e. Misrepresentations and/or other irregularities on an application form which become
apparent at the time of registration or during the competition.
f. Cheating or dishonestyg. Violation of the National Japan Bowl rules about photographic equipment and electronic
devices, including watches, that are capable of recording, photographing, or transmitting.
h. Making the questions or answers known to others via any kind of communications
network, including email and social media.
Depending on the severity of the infringement, JASWDC also may prohibit the student(s)concerned, the entire team, and/or the school from participating in the National Japan Bowl
at any Level in the following year. We therefore ask students, parents/guardians, andteachers to encourage appropriate behavior, in order to ensure that there are no
misunderstandings.

11

3.0

Preparing for the Japan Bowl

3.1

Helpful Hints

Preparing for the National Japan Bowl is a lot of work, but students and teachers say
it is worth it. In addition, both teachers and students say that the study habits thatteam members acquire as they get ready for the Japan Bowl help make them better
students overall, in all their subjects.
Here are some ways in which you can increase your chance for success at the National
Japan Bowl.
1. Form a team of three, not two. There is a Japanese proverb, Together, three people are as
wise as Monju.1 There is nothing to lose, and a third person makes it easier to study andprepare for the Japan Bowl. That third person can also make a difference during thecompetition itself, since there are no penalties for a wrong answer. That third person justmight know the answer!
2. Be sure you understand exactly what is covered under each category, and thenlearn those topics. The chart of non-language topics in the study guide is very thorough.
For example, "visual arts" includes not just art and painting, but also classical film, pottery,and even Japanese landscape architecture. The tea ceremony is considered a "performing art."
Literary arts includes children's stories. Physical geography includes questions about theenvironment and agriculture, and so on.
3. Learn all of the Kanji, aisatsu phrases, idiomatic expressions, and onomatopoeia
that are listed in the Study Guide. Know them cold. You can be certain that many of thewords and phrases on the language lists will be included in the questions. To prepare,
download the Team Study Guide from the Japan Bowl website as a WORD document, andformat and export and use it as you wish. In addition, use the Quizlets2 that JASWDC
prepares each year; they can be accessed from the Japan Bowl website. There is also a set of
40 “Kanji-kun" stamps that can be downloaded on the LINE App and used as a fun way tolearn Japanese onomatopoeia and converse with your friends. 3
4. The Japan Bowl is not trivia or random facts. We want students to have a "basic
knowledge" of Japan and to know the most important things about the country whose
language they are studying. Questions differ in difficulty, but overall the questions ask
some of the most common, basic facts about Japan and Japanese language.
11

A Japanese kotowaza says, “Sannin yoreba, Monju no chie / Three people together have the wisdomof Monju.” It is the Japanese equivalent of "Two heads are better than one." Monju (or Monju-Bosatsu)
is the Japanese Buddhist saint of wisdom, learning, and enlightenment.
2

You can access the Quizlet page by going to the Japan Bowl website's "Resources" page -- or you cango directly to Quizlet.com and search our username, "nationaljapanbowl."
3

You can find the stamps by going to the Sticker Store in LINE's U.S. site. Type Kanji-kun in the
search bar, and then go to the "Creators" tab after you hit search. You can download the set of 40
stamps for 50 coins (99 cents). All proceeds from the stickers go to the Japan Bowl.

12For example, consider "Japanese classic films." Who are/were some of Japan's most famous
directors, and what are some of the most famous Japanese films? What do you think are theten most basic, important things to know about sumo, or about kendo? Do you know thebasics of the Japanese tea ceremony?
5. In the same way, the kanji and other language lists include the most common
characters and expressions. For example, the kanji lists include the top 10 family names,
the largest cities and islands, and so on. The aisatsu and idioms lists have some of the mostfrequently-heard expressions in Japan. So learn them. They are in the Team Study Guide
and available online as Quizlets.
6. Think about specializing by topic, and divide research on topics - especially the
non-language topics -- among your teammates, as well as students at other levels inyour school. Share your notes with students at other levels, and save those notes forstudents in future years. Talk to your classmates about what you have learned, eventhough they are not on the team. It is a way to "share the Japan Bowl" with them and help
them learn more about Japan.
7. There are certain basic facts about Japan that we expect well-informed students toknow. For example, do you know the name and face of Japan's Prime Minister, and its
Emperor and Empress? Do you know what Japan's population is? Can you recognize its flag,
the Diet building, and its national seal? Do you know what the current exchange rate is?
8. You might not be interested in Japanese history or the "high brow culture" of theliterary, performing, and visual arts, but they are important, both to the Japan Bowl
and to the Japanese people. Our surveys of students each year show that these are theirleast favorite topics. When we check the scores each year, we find that teams score lower inthose areas than they do in questions about daily life and society, holidays and festival, andpop culture. So like it or not -- make the effort and spend extra time learning about theseimportant topics. You will score higher at the Japan Bowl, and when you meet Japanese, they
will be impressed by the interest you have shown in their history and culture.
9. Be prepared for your jikoshoukai for the Conversation Round (especially if you are
Level II and III), and think of what you might say for your Individual Question
response if you advance to the Championship Round. Even if you think you might not
make it to the championships, using those phrases in sentences in the best way to learn themand make sure you get the nuances correct. Plus -- everyone should be prepared with ajikoshoukai when they meet a Japanese person!
10. Explore authentic Japanese materials such as books, magazines and newspapers,
movies and TV dramas, music, anime and manga, commercials and advertisements,
and Japanese language websites etc. to become familiar with the way the Japanese
use their language in real life. Doing this also helps you learn more about Japanese society
and culture and brings you closer to Japan and the Japanese people.

3.2

Reference Materials for Non-Language Topics

The chart in the study guide lists the categories from which non-language questions are
drawn each year. These categories should act as a curriculum guide for students to develop

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their knowledge of Japan over a three-year period. In 2020, non-language questions will bebased on the topics in the column marked “Year 3 (2020),” which is highlighted in yellow.
JASWDC has over 1,200 books in its reference library. But over the years, Wikipedia has
emerged as the "go to source" for fact-checking questions at the National Japan Bowl. We use
both the English and the Japanese versions.
Another good source of information on Japan is Nipponia Magazine, which is available online at http://web-japan.org/nipponia/archives/en/index.html.
A great website with lots of fun info about Japanese culture -- especially modern and pop
culture -- is Japan Talk. http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/johnSpacey
Daily reports on current events in Japan can be found at http://www.newsonjapan.com.
Finally, be sure to "like" the Facebook pages of The Japan-America Society of Washington DC
and the National Japan Bowl. They both have lots of interesting information about Japan andJapanese culture throughout the year.
There also are some useful reference books that we like and use:

Kodansha’s Japan at a Glance: 日本まるごと事典

The JTB series The Illustrated Guide to Japan and Japan in Your Pocket (available
through www.jptrading.com and from Amazon.com)

Are Japanese Cats Left-Handed? and Who Invented Natto? , written by Yoko Toyozaki,
Stuart Varnam-Atkin, and Sawada Gumi (IBC Publishing)

Shikitari: Unfolding Japanese Tradition, available through Amazon.com

Annual Events in Japan (2 volumes), by Noriko Takano and translated by Reiko
Matano and Margaret Breer (Ehon House Publishing)

3.3

Fodor’s Japan: Full Color Travel Guide

Reference Materials for Language Topics

Each Japanese-language textbook treats grammars differently, in terms of when it introduces
different grammatical rules and patterns. Our surveys over the years have shown that the twomost commonly used textbooks at the high school level are Adventures in Japanese and Genki.
Our decisions about what grammatical patterns are appropriate for each level is based on areview of those textbooks.
Dorling Kindersley (DK) publishes an attractive and “fun” Japanese English Bilingual Visual
Dictionary in paperback, which is currently available from Amazon. It has a wealth ofvocabulary and subject matter, arranged by topic, not alphabetically.

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Two excellent references on Japanese idioms and especially kotowaza are Japanese Proverbs:
Wit and Wisdom: 200 Classic Japanese Sayings and Expressions by David Galef and 101
Japanese Idioms, by Michael L. Maynard and Senko K. Maynard. Both are available from
Amazon.com.
An excellent reference for 四字熟語 (yojijukugo) is Kanji de Manga's Yojijukugo, which isavailable as a used book or Kindle download at Amazon.com.
An excellent reference for onomatopoeia is Jazz Up Your Japanese with Onomatopoeia, byHiroko Fukuda, published by Kodansha International in 2003 and sold by Amazon.com.
The only reference that we have found for affective expressions is out of print, although it isavailable from used book sellers via Amazon.com. It is Ronald Suleski and Masada Hiroko's
Affective Expressions in Japanese (日本語感情表現の手引）.

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3.4

Sample Questions

The following are actual questions that were used during the Preliminary Rounds at
Level III in a past National Japan Bowl. They show the wide range and style ofquestions used during the Japan Bowl Rounds, as well as the way in which thequestions are posed.
ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:

MODERATOR:ANSWER:

Picture of something wrapped in a furoshiki.
The Japanese often wrap gifts in a square cloth, like this.
What is the name of this cloth? Write your answer in hiragana.
ふろしき

A. Rice
1. Shizuoka
B. Tea2. Hokkaido
C. Dairy
3. Niigata
Match the Japanese product with the region that isfamous for producing it:
A3, B1, C2

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ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:

MODERATOR:ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:

Woodblock print of the Satsuma Rebellion
Who was the leader of the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877? Write
your answer in Romaji.
Saigo Takamori (or Saigo)

Picture of a Shinto priest doing "oharai"
This priest is performing a common ritual. What does it
signify? Write your answer in English.
Purification / driving out evil spirits

Show a picture of ひなだん
March 3 in Japan is a special day for girls. What is the name ofthis holiday? Write your answer in hiragana.
ひなまつり or
もものせっくA. 今年日本へ行きました。
B. 来年日本へ行くほうがいいです。
C. まだ日本へ行ったことがありません。
Choose the sentence closest in meaning to the following:
来年日本へはじめて行きます。
C“Listen Carefully”
Please listen carefully and then write this sentence in English.
まどの そばにすわっている学生はけんじさんです。
The student who is sitting by/near the window is Kenji.

MODERATOR:ANSWER:

ひさしぶりに鈴木さんからメールが＿＿＿＿＿。
A もらいました。
B きました。
C くれました。
What word should go in the blank?
B

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:

ぼうしを＿＿＿＿＿とあたたかくなりますよ。
In hiragana, fill in the blank with the appropriate verb.
かぶる

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:

Picture of one dog and three cats
絵を見て犬と猫の数を数えてください。ひらがなでこたえてくだ
さい。

ON THE SCREEN:

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ANSWER:

いぬがいっぴきと、ねこがさんびきいます。

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:

Student arriving back home
When Japanese children come back home in the afternoon fromschool, what is their mother likely to say? Write your answer inhiragana.
おかえりなさいANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR：ANSWER:ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:

Picture of someone swimming
Please listen carefully. 「山本くんは水泳部なので、学校のプールで練習しています。月曜日から金曜日まで一日 2000 メートル泳ぎます。山本くんは一週間に何メートル泳ぎますか。」
10000（メートル）ANSWER:volunteerThis English word has become part of the Japanese vocabulary.
How do the Japanese write it? Write your answer in katakana.
ボランティアON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:色In kanji, write the names of any three colors.
Possible answers include: 黒白赤青

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:

わたしのなまえは、田中さんです。
What is wrong with this sentence? Answer in English.
You should not call yourself ”san.”

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:

気
Using the kanji on the screen, write an expression which means"be particular about, worry about, bother about, be concerned
about."
気にする、気になる

ON THE SCREEN:
MODERATOR:ANSWER:番
How many strokes are in this kanji?
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