Letters from Second Grade Students

 
This class of second grade students celebrated Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) as part of their studies of Japan and their participation in the Friendship Doll Program sponsored by Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute. The students exchanged information and letters with a school in Yokohama, Japan. Below are a few of the letters written by the second grade students.


Konnichiwa New Friends,

I know some things about Hina Matsuri. It sounds interesting. I had a question to ask you. How many dolls do you have? We made paper Emperors and Empresses. Are the real Emperors and Empresses very fancy? Have you ever visited the Emperor and Empress? I wish I could meet you but I've got to go sayonara.

Your friend,
Signed by 2nd grade girl


Konnichiwa Second Grade Class,

We have been learning about Doll Day. We learned that when children are naughty during the year the priest will say a prayer to take the naughtiness away from them and to put it into the doll. Then the doll is sent out to sea. We have learned how to make the Emperor and Empress out of origami paper. I was wondering how you spell my name in Japanese?

Love,
Signed by 2nd grade boy


Konnichiwa New Friends,

I have been learning a lot about Dolls' Day. We made models of the Emperor and the Empress.

We learned that when you want to get rid of bad things you go to the shrine and take your dolls. The dolls are put in a boat and sent to the sea with the bad things and they sink.

I really like dolls. I hope you have fun on Dolls' Day.

Bye for now,
Signed by 2nd grade boy


Dear Class,

I made a stand-up doll with the Emperor and the Empress. I tried on a Kimono. We learned if you don't put your dolls away by the next weekend, you might not get married when you want to. We have a doll display in our classroom. Our teacher brought in a Japanese Friendship doll that her grandmother gave to her. I hope you have a nice Dolls' Day at school and at home.

Your friend,
Signed by 2nd grade girl


Konnichiwa,

We have made origami doll sets with the emperor and the empress in them. We have also been studying about the Friendship doll program that happened in about 1927. Our teacher has a friendship doll that was given to her by her grandmother.

Your friend,
Signed by 2nd grade boy


Dear New Friends,

I think your culture is interesting and neat. We have been learning about Dolls' Day. I can imagine them in my head. Yesterday we made an origami Emperor and Empress. I wish we had a holiday like this. I was wondering how old do you have to be to get your own set of dolls? Arigato for the movie.

Your friend,
Signed by 2nd grade girl


Dear New Friends,

I think Dolls' Day is interesting because I like dolls. Our teacher has a Japanese friendship doll. Our class made origami Emperor and Empress models. What does it feel like to wear a kimono? I hope you have a happy Dolls' Day!

Your friend,
Signed by 2nd grade girl


Dear New Friend,

We may not know each other but we are still one world together. In Japan how is the weather? Dolls' Day is very interesting. I learned some people think if you do not put the doll display away before the next weekend you might not get married when you want to. We have a display too. I'm very interested in Japan. Please teach me more about Japan.

Sayonara for now,
Signed by 2nd grade boy

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