Back to the Imaginarium
Ages 6–8Wonder
Japanese Theme Dinner
A culinary adventure to Japan — delicate flavors, art, and cherry blossoms.
Embark on a culinary adventure to Japan with this Japanese-themed dinner for kids ages 6-8! This dinner will introduce your children to the delicate flavors of Japanese cuisine while they explore Japan's cultural history, traditional art, and famous landmarks. Alongside the meal, the kids will discover iconic Japanese artists and create their own masterpieces inspired by them. It's a perfect way to blend delicious food with art and culture. Each night, your kids will explore a different element of Japanese culture and history, while engaging in hands-on activities.
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. The point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Gather Your Supplies
The Provisions
Props
- Art supplies (crayons, markers, watercolor paints)
- Small canvas or paper for mini paintings
- Printouts of famous Japanese artists and their works (Katsushika Hokusai, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama)
- Aprons (or old T-shirts) to wear while painting
- Frames (or paper borders) to display artwork
- Music playlist with traditional Japanese music or modern J-Pop
- Fun fact sheets about Japanese artists and landmarks (Mount Fuji, The Great Wave)
- DIY "bento plate" to serve the food
Recipes & Food
- Hokusai's Great Wave Sushi Rolls (colorful fillings shaped like waves)
- Murakami's Smiling Rice Balls (onigiri decorated with seaweed faces)
- Yayoi's Polka Dot Salad (cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, sesame seeds in dot patterns)
- Ramen in Mount Fuji Bowls (topped with eggs, seaweed, and veggies)
- Cherry Blossom Mochi (sweet mochi with cherry blossom flavors)
- Bento Box Cookies (cookies shaped like small bento boxes)
Language & Music
- Play traditional Japanese music or soothing Koto melodies during dinner (modern J-Pop too if the kids enjoy it)
- Learn Japanese words: "arigatou" (thank you), "konnichiwa" (hello), "sushi" (sushi), "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing)
- Discuss Japan's famous art movements and artists — Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, pop art influences, and Yayoi Kusama's dots
Peripherals
- Mini art stations for kids to create their own artwork (their version of "The Great Wave" or a Kusama-inspired polka dot design)
- Fun fact sheets about famous Japanese artists and their iconic pieces
- Japan-themed puzzles or games (a puzzle of Japanese landmarks or a "guess the artist" card game)
Your Week of Wonder
The Five-Day Itinerary
1
Monday
Introduction to Japanese Art & Planning
- Start your Japanese-themed week by introducing the kids to famous Japanese artists like Katsushika Hokusai, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama. Share fun facts about their iconic works and explain how their art represents Japanese culture and history.
- Activity: Have the kids create their own version of Hokusai's "The Great Wave," using blue, white, and green paint or markers to mimic the swirls of the ocean.
- Dinner: Prepare Hokusai's Great Wave Sushi Rolls, letting the kids help roll and arrange the sushi to look like waves. They can use ingredients to decorate and create their own version of the iconic image.
2
Tuesday
Exploring Pop Art & Bold Colors
- Dive deeper into modern Japanese art by introducing Takashi Murakami's bright and cheerful pop art style, known for its bold colors and smiling flowers.
- Activity: Have the kids create a colorful "Murakami-inspired" art piece with flowers, smiles, and bright patterns using markers or paint.
- Dinner: Prepare Murakami's Smiling Rice Balls. Let the kids shape the rice balls and decorate them with seaweed and vegetables to make fun faces.
3
Wednesday
The Beauty of Polka Dots & Nature
- Focus on Yayoi Kusama's unique polka dot style, which has become an iconic symbol of Japanese modern art. Introduce the idea of creating art with repetition and pattern.
- Activity: Have the kids paint their own "polka dot" art, filling a picture with different-sized dots in vibrant colors, inspired by Kusama's style.
- Dinner: Create Yayoi's Polka Dot Salad, where each salad ingredient (cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes) is arranged to mimic a polka dot pattern. Let the kids help with the plating and decorating.
4
Thursday
Noodles & Mount Fuji
- Focus on the beauty of Mount Fuji, Japan's most iconic landmark, and how it has inspired both art and nature in Japan.
- Activity: Help the kids draw or paint a picture of Mount Fuji, either as a landscape or with other Japanese symbols like sakura (cherry blossoms) around it.
- Dinner: Serve Ramen in Mount Fuji Bowls, where kids can arrange the ramen ingredients to look like a scenic view of Mount Fuji, with toppings like eggs, seaweed, and vegetables.
5
Friday
Final Japanese Dinner Celebration!
- Celebrate your Japanese culinary and artistic journey with a grand dinner! Let the kids dress up like little artists or wear aprons as they prepare the final meal.
- Menu: Hokusai's Great Wave Sushi Rolls, Murakami's Smiling Rice Balls, Yayoi's Polka Dot Salad, Ramen in Mount Fuji Bowls, Cherry Blossom Mochi, and Bento Box Cookies.
- Display the kids' artwork from the week around the room, play traditional Japanese music or calming Koto melodies, and use the DIY "bento plate" to serve the meal. Let the kids help roll the sushi and create the smiling rice balls.
