Kinder in Japan

SC 4.7/10 

Year: 1968
Country: Japan
Section: documentary
Tags: bathing, boy, girl
Description: At the sliding door of a small wooden house in Tokyo, eight-year-old Kazuko and her ten-year-old brother Makoto say goodbye to their mother before heading off to school. Kazuko begins her day with a reading lesson, during which she and two other children act out the story of the little wonder pig that they read the day before. Makoto's class has math. All the children use a special calculating machine called a soroban. Makoto gets to work out a problem on the board, and then all the students work on it individually. In gym class, Kazuko shows off her climbing and throwing skills. She and her classmates play dodgeball on the sports field, which, due to the limited space in this Tokyo suburb, is located on the school's roof. While Kazuko goes home, Makoto eats lunch at school. After lunch, he has a writing practice session. He grinds his ink on the inkstone with water and then tries to paint the character exactly as shown in the picture using a brush. The teacher hangs up the completed worksheets in front of the class to show improvements. Meanwhile, Kazuko and some friends are playing the song 'Neighbor, Come Over Here' in their garden. Makoto goes to play baseball after school. When Mr. Nambara comes home from work, dinner is served, eaten from many small bowls at a low table. After their hot bath, the 'ofuru', the children go to bed, which their mother has already spread out on the floor of their nursery.
Directed by Karl Koch.
Video Added: 03.04.2026