Experience Seasons In Japan At Canadian Children's Museum

Japan and Nature is designed around universal aspects of childhood – family, school, play and holiday celebrations – and is divided into four fun-filled interactive zones. Each zone is representative of a different season and a specific geographical region, allowing children to experience year round living in Japan. Kids can enjoy the spring time cherry blossom festival in Fukuoka; summer vacation fishing in Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa; visit a sacred Shinto shrine on a beautiful fall day in Kyoto; then finish the year abroad with winter in Sapporo, celebrating New Year's inside a cozy Japanese winter home by playing a traditional New Year's game and trying special winter foods.

This exhibition was developed by the Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM) for the Freeman Foundation Asian Exhibit Initiative; an initiative aimed at giving children and families the opportunity to explore the cultures of Asia. Creators of the exhibition traveled to Japan in order to collect stories, video and sound recordings of real children's lives and experiences.

Special programming activities planned in conjunction with the exhibition will include food and craft workshops, martial arts demonstrations, musical performances and several special festive events during the six months the exhibition is presented. Japan and Nature: Spirits of the Seasons is on display at the Canadian Children's Museum from October 4, 2008 until March 29, 2009. -- www.civilization.ca