Kawaii Japan: Draw a Travel Girl in a Japanese Kimono

During this class, students will discover the beauty of Japan through traditional clothing. Students will draw a Travel Girl character wearing a “kimono,” the traditional Japanese dress.  Students of all drawing abilities are able to enjoy this class as the Travel Girl is drawn using shapes and lines. 

 I taught English in Japan for two years and fell in love with the culture. This year the Summer Olympics are in Tokyo, Japan. Many people are curious and want to learn about this Asian country.

The class will begin with an introduction to the basic facts about Japan (location, flag, language, food, and pop culture) to get students familiar with this Asian country.

Next, students will look more closely at sakura (cherry blossom) and “kimono”; they will decide a color and design of a kimono to draw. Students will also decide what other Japanese cultural aspect to include in the drawing, for example, a red umbrella,  sakura flowers or a traditional lantern. By the end of the hour, students will have a beautiful Travel Girl drawing and know more about Japanese culture in comparison to the student’s own culture. As the teacher, I will guide students to create a unique drawing that reflects their personalities and curiosity about Japan.
 
There is a pre-class activity that includes watching a video on a kimono. After class, students will receive a "Travel Girl Journal" worksheet for creating a story (optional homework).