Shūkakusai (Harvest Festival)

In late October or early November  our students participate in a unique learning experience that epitomizes  our approach to teaching Japanese. In alternating years we hold a  “Harvest Festival,” in which students sell fall-related goods, or the  okashi-yashiki (a pun on the Japanese word for “haunted house,”  obake-yashiki), in which students sell donated candy.)

In both events our older students are  formed into teams and then organize and run different “shops.” For the  Harvest festival, students organize different stores – a panya (bread  store), a hanaya (flower and plant shop), a yaoya (fruit and vegetable  store) , an arts and crafts store, and the like.  Last year, the High  School students operated a restaurant, the Imo House. For the  okashi-yashiki, students display and sell a variety of candy and sweets  for Halloween. At the festival, all students and parents enjoy buying  these products. (All of the money raised goes to…