The most important staple food in Japanese cooking is rice. No Japanese meal would be complete without it. Create a class cookbook featuring different rice recipes. For homework, have each student write and illustrate a favorite rice recipe. Collect the rice recipes and make a cookbook to give to mom on Mother's Day.
Japanese people eat their food with chopsticks.
For example, it is good manners to pick up a rice bowl and hold it up to your mouth, so that the rice doesn't fall. Bring in inexpensive chopsticks for your students to try using them. Have them practice using the chopsticks by picking up cotton balls before they try eating with them. When ready give every student a small bowl of sticky rice to try. Help students understand how many 100 is by having them count out 100 pieces of rice.