On May 14th, 2025, I had the pleasure of performing a Japanese cultural show at Bee Happy Childcare in Croydon Park, Sydney, for children aged 1 to 5 years old. From the moment I stepped into the centre, I could feel the excitement and warm welcome. A handmade sign caught my eye right away. It read, ‘Japanese Cultural Show へようこそ,’ which means ‘Welcome to the Japanese Cultural Show.’ It was a simple but touching gesture that set the tone for the day.
As I entered the toddler’s room, the educators and children greeted me with enthusiastic ‘Konnichiwa!’ The director shared that they had been practicing Japanese words in preparation for my visit. One educator even told me that a child had asked if a real Ninja was coming to the centre that day. She told him that there wouldn’t be a real Ninja, but there would be a fun Ninja game – and she was right!
During the show, the children were completely engaged, especially with Samurai Puppet Taro. They loved interacting with Taro, even teaching him how to say ‘Konnichiwa’ properly. It was such a heartwarming moment to see the children so eager to share what they had learned.
The preschoolers and even the toddlers joined in enthusiastically, singing the Japanese version of ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.’ They also participated in the Ninja Action Game, listened attentively to the storytelling segment, and danced along with the fan dance. The level of engagement from such young children was incredible.
After the show, I received a wonderful Google review from Bee Happy Childcare. It’s always so rewarding to see how much joy and cultural learning these incursions bring to the centres I visit. I also captured some great moments on video – a highlight reel that shows the children’s excitement, laughter, and the magic of Japanese culture coming to life right in their centre.
Thank you, Bee Happy Childcare, for welcoming Wasabi Kids with such warmth and enthusiasm. It was an absolute joy to share the wonders of Japanese culture with you all.
If you’d like to see what Bee Happy Childcare had to say about our show, check out their Google review here: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/V1psCbgmNxtxc3a57].
Stay tuned for more upcoming performances and cultural experiences with Wasabi Kids!