Learning Practices with Children Connected to Japan

In this section, we present six practical examples designed to support the learning of children who are connected to Japan around the world. The ages of the learners vary, as do the ways in which goals are set, the duration of the activities, and the topics addressed. The learning activities and materials introduced here may be used as they are or adapted to suit your specific context. They may also serve as a source of inspiration for developing new activities.

What are Children Connected to Japan?

They are children living in countries or regions outside Japan who have some connection to Japan. Some come from families formed through international marriage, while others come from families in which guardians are Japanese speakers; the extent to which Japanese is used at home varies from family to family. Many families plan to reside overseas permanently or for extended periods, and some children come from families in which the parents are second- or third‑generation Japanese descendants.
Although the environments in which these children grow up and their patterns of language use differ, they share a common characteristic: a rich repertoire of linguistic and cultural resources. The Japanese learned by these children connected to Japan is sometimes described as a heritage language and may be referred to by various terms, including "Keishogo (継承語, ケイショウゴ, 繋生語)," and "Japanese as a Heritage Language (JHL)."