JASO is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting business and developing community bystrengthening the US-Japan relationship in our community. We work in Oregon and SouthwestWashington.
Japan on the Road is an education program designed to introduce elementary school students to Japan,
stimulate their interest, and help them to connect with a unique culture and country, with a view tocreating a lifelong positive relationship.

Journey with JOR to Japan:
Lesson 2: Let’s Visit Kamo Elementary School with Sousuke and Friends!
Teachers’ Guide
Journey with JOR to Japan Lesson 2: Let’s Visit! Kamo Elementary School with Sousuke and friends is thesecond in a series of online videos with support documents and resources, available free of charge inconjunction to virtual visits from JOR volunteers, to elementary schools around Oregon, Southwest
Washington, and beyond!

Included in this Teachers’ Guide are:
1. Program Notes for Teachers
2. Map of Japan featuring Tokushima
3. Featured Japanese Phrases
4. Comprehension and Discussion Questions with Answer Key
5. Links to Resources for further study and Teacher Survey

1. Program Notes for Teachers
Before the JOR class presentation
a. Give each students a copy of the Map of Tokushima, included in this packet. Explain toyour students that today you are all going to be special guests at Kamo Elementary
School, located in Tokushima Prefecture, and Sousuke, a fourth grader, is going to be
your tour guide for the day.
b. If you have time, please also preview the Common Japanese Phrases sheet, also
included in this packet, so students will be more familiar with them when they hearthem in the video—we will also practice them during the presentation.
During the JOR presentation
Japan On the Road presenters in your virtual classroom will pause the video periodically toelicit student responses, share more points about Japanese culture from their own
experience in relation to the video, and practice the Japanese Phrases from the sheet
included in this Guide. These points include:
2:26 Morning “aisatsu”/ greeting (plus discussion on showing respect to teacher and getting
ready to learn)
5:58 Lunchtime “itadakimasu” (talk about group dynamic of waiting for everyone to beready before eating)
6:14 Lunchtime “gochisousama” (talk about group dynamic of waiting for everyone to finisheating)
8:11 Final school “aisatsu”/closing (plus discussion about having a structure for your day—and parallels in American classrooms)

After the Presentationa. Comprehension and Discussion Questions are included for your use, either as a quiz or
expansion activity with your students.
b. Please create a video letter response to Kamo Elementary! Sousuke and his class would
love to hear from you and your students and answer your questions! Once your video ismade, please email to Sarah Saito at ssaito@jaso.org for an invite to the JASO dropbox.
You will be able to drop your video there, and receive replies from the school.
c. The Further Resources section contains many links to help you explore more about
Tokushima with your students, so please check them out!
d. Please fill out our Educator Survey to let us know how we did and share any suggestions
or comments. Thank you!

Hokkaido
SapporoJapan

HonshuTokyo
Shikoku ★
KyushuTokushima
Kamo Elementary School

Mikamo Café

Iya Valley

Higashi Miyoshi

Tokushima City - Awa Odori Kaikan

Yoshino River

Tokushima City - Machi Asobi Cafe

Oboke Gorge

Naruto Whirlpool

Common Japanese phrases...that Sousuke and his friends
use every day!
Sensei, ohayou (gozaimasu) Teacher, (good) morning
Itadakimasu

Thanks for this foodGochisousama deshita

This food was delicious

Sayounara

GoodbyeOyasumi (nasai)(Good) night

Mata, ne!

See you again soon!

Arigatou (gozaimasu)

Thank you

Dou itashimashite

You're welcome

Let’s Visit Kamo Elementary School with Sousuke and Friends!

Comprehension Questions

How does Sousuke get to school?
What does Sousuke do before going into his school?
How does Sousuke’s class begin the day?
How many Japanese characters will Sousuke learn this year?
What information is recorded in the student science journals? Where are the journalsstored?
6. What activity is Sousuke enjoying in PE class?
7. How do Sousuke and his classmates care for their school?
8. What instrument is Sousuke studying in Music class?
9. What are the students studying about in English class right now?
10. How do the students finish the school day in their class room?
11. What does Sousuke do after school?
12. How do Sousuke and his family enjoy the evening?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Discussion Questions
13. How is Sousuke’s day at school similar to your day?
14. What differences are there between your school day, and his?
15. If you could, would you like to spend a day at Sousuke’s school? Why or why not?
16. If you could ask Sousuke and his friends a question, what would it be?

Comprehension Questions Answer Key
1. Sousuke walks to school, sometimes with friends.
2. He changes from his outdoor shoes to his indoor shoes
3. They bow to the teacher and to each other and say “Good Morning, (Ohayougozaimasu) and let’s have a great day together.”
4. He will learn 200 new Kanji characters.
5. They record information about the loofah plants that they are growing. Sciencejournals are kept in pouches on the wall of the classroom.
6. Sousuke is enjoying his swimming lessons.
7. Sousuke and his classmates all spend time cleaning his classroom and other areas inthe school, to make sure that they are well cared for.
8. The musical instrument he is learning is the recorder.
9. They are studying about the weather.
10. They stand and bow to the teacher and to each other.
11. He practices with a softball team.
12. They play card games and computer games, and Sousuke does homework.
Discussion Questions—answers will varyLet’s Visit Kamo Elementary with Sousuke and Friends!
Further Resources

Please check out these fun links to learn more about Tokushima:
Naruto Whirlpool https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7852.html
Tokushima Vortis soccer team https://us.soccerway.com/teams/japan/tokushima-vortis/3614/
Yoshino River and white water rafting: https://setouchitrip.com/adventure-experience/7461
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3OxSlTilZk
Tokushima paragliding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdIJ6L8lzbQ
Iya Valley Vine Bridges and their history: https://discovertokushima.net/en/topics/vinebridges-in-the-iyavalley/#:~:text=The%20bridges%20were%20said%20to,harmony%2C%20creating%20a%
20beautiful%20 spectacle.
Awa Dance Festival and activities https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7802.html
Machi Asobi events and information http://www.dedao-tokushima.com/cn/machiasobi/machiasobi/eng_machi-asobi/machiasobi.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMZFm715LtA (highlights of the festival)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F7SdhIQon4 (cosplayers on the red carpet)

Kamo Ookusu shrine (the biggest camphor tree in Japan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MyGfxv9ZQU(this sacred tree is the same kind that Totoro lives in, from My Neighbor Totoro!)
Visiting HigashiMiyoshi area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0gjP_3PvMM
Handmaking their own noodles for soup (HigashiMiyoshi specialty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1RK-jKehHo