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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 1

When Numbers Turn into Words

Read the story. 英文を読もう。

ClassNo.Name
🔊 音声を聞こう
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1In Japanese, every number can be read in more than one way. The number 2 can be ni or fu. The number 8 can be hachi, ha, or ya. Japanese people play with these sounds and make words out of numbers. This word game is called goroawase.

2Goroawase has given Japan many special days. February 22 is Cat Day, because 2-2-2 can sound like nyan nyan nyan. That is how cats say meow in Japanese. August 7 is Banana Day, because 8 and 7 can be read as ba and nana. And November 22 is Good Couples Day, because 11-22 sounds like ii fufu, a good couple.

3Some of these days are quite old. In 1928, Japanese dentists chose June 4 as a day to protect teeth. The numbers 6 and 4 can be read as mu and shi. Mushi means bug, and a bad tooth in Japanese is mushiba, a bug tooth. The police use goroawase, too, so January 10 is 110 Day, for the emergency number.

4Today, companies and groups often create their own pun days. A company can pick a date that sounds like its product and use it in ads. English speakers play this game, too. May 4 is Star Wars Day, because May the Fourth sounds like May the Force. But in Japanese, numbers have so many sounds that puns can fill the whole calendar.

Words 単語
  • pun ダジャレ、語呂合わせ
  • sound like ～のように聞こえる
  • read 読む
  • protect 守る
  • dentist 歯医者
  • emergency 緊急事態
  • product 商品、製品
  • calendar カレンダー、暦
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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 2

Reading Check

Choose the best answer. 正しいものを選ぼう。

ClassNo.Name

  1. What is the main idea of the passage?

    A Japanese numbers can be read as sounds, so many special days come from puns.B Japan has only one special day for cats.C All special days in Japan are national holidays.D Goroawase started in the United States.

  2. Why is August 7 Banana Day?

    A Because bananas are yellow.B Because summer starts on August 7.C Because 8 and 7 can be read as ba and nana.D Because monkeys were born on that day.

  3. When did Japanese dentists choose June 4 as a day to protect teeth?

    A In 1987.B In 1999.C In 1956.D In 1928.

  4. In paragraph 4, why does a company pick a date that sounds like its product?

    A To close its stores.B To use the date in ads.C To make a national holiday.D To change its name.

  5. In the dialogue, what example from English does Lucas give?

    A Cat Day.B Banana Day.C May the Fourth.D Pi Day.

True or False? 正しければ T、ちがえば F に○

  1. Cat Day in Japan is on February 22.T   /   F
  2. All goroawase days are national holidays.T   /   F
  3. June 4 is a day to protect teeth.T   /   F
  4. August 7 is Apple Day in Japan.T   /   F
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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 3

Word Work

Words & phrases. 単語のれんしゅう。

ClassNo.Name

① Match the pictures and the words. 絵と単語を線で結ぼう。

🐱cat
🍌nose
🦷tooth
👂banana
👃ninja
🥷ear

② Fill in the blanks. 語群から選んで（　）に入れよう。

cafecatsdogricepunsummerphoto22lapnyan

A Day for Cats
Today is February (1) . Riku's sister loves (2) . She says, "In Japanese, two can sound like (3) !" So today is Cat Day. They visit a cat (4) after school. A small white cat sits on Riku's (5) . His sister takes a (6) . On the way home, Riku says, "Let's make our own (7) day!"

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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 4

Crossword Puzzle

Read the clues and fill in the puzzle. ヒントを読んで、クロスワードを完成させよう。

ClassNo.Name
12345678

Across →

  1. 1 Chinese characters used in Japanese writing. (5)
  2. 3 A funny use of words that sound the same. (3)
  3. 6 A long yellow fruit. (6)
  4. 7 You brush this to keep it white and strong. (5)
  5. 8 One, two, and three are examples. (6)

Down ↓

  1. 2 A secret fighter and spy in old Japan. (5)
  2. 4 February 22 is one. It is on the calendar. (4)
  3. 5 A pet that says meow. (3)
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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 5

Word Search

Find the hidden words. かくれた単語を探そう（→ ↓ ↘ ↗）。

ClassNo.Name
ITYMFHIBCJNGGHYOMGYFWTSNMVSWIOFEBANANABDNCKTYDAJHAUDSIWRTHJTDATEWLRORKNMMSLFDWBBRLIHMHOLRFINTDNNKFYUVELKKUGLRLBUNSNAHAWMAEYWCDUUHVNBVBGDBFPWKUSJWGLESWLGCATRIHCDWRKMBUPTM

Find these words! 10

  • ☐ BANANA
  • ☐ CAT
  • ☐ DATE
  • ☐ KANJI
  • ☐ NINJA
  • ☐ NUMBER
  • ☐ PUN
  • ☐ SOUND
  • ☐ TOOTH
  • ☐ WORD
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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 6

Maze & Sentences

ClassNo.Name

Help the cat find the number 2!

Collect the letters on the right path. What is the secret word? 正しい道の文字を集めると、ひみつの言葉になるよ。

NYANURUOTBOH🐱🔢STARTGOAL

Secret word:

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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 7

Class Activity & Writing

ClassNo.Name

Let's Write! 英語で書いてみよう。

If I made a pun day, it would be on ______ because the numbers sound like ______.

My favorite pun day is ______ because ______.

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Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries) · Worksheet 8

Trace & Color

Trace the words. Then color the picture! なぞって書こう。絵に色を塗ろう。

ClassNo.Name
🐱
cat
🍌
banana
🦷
tooth
👂
ear
👃
nose

Draw your Japan's Pun Days (Goroawase Anniversaries)! 語呂合わせ記念日ずかん（日本の変わった記念日）の絵を描こう。

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