Ohanashi (Japanese for "stories") is a program designed to increase awareness and enhance understanding of Japanese culture among K-12 students and community members in the SW Ohio and East Central Indiana area.

With the expertise and talents of Japanese and Japanese-Americans living in our community, we will provide an innovative venue for participants of Ohanashi to share Japanese children’s stories in English, in Japanese, or both languages, using techniques such as dramatic interpretation, oratorical performance, graphics/pictures, multimedia, music accompaniment and oral reading.

The program consists of two parts: (1) a one-day festival event featuring storytelling presentations and cultural discovery booths, and (2) a web-facilitated classroom program that provides lesson plans and activities for ongoing cultural learning at your own pace.  Ideally, a class would participate in both parts, but the flexible design of the program allows teachers to customize the program for their own classrooms.

• Learn more about the one-day festival
• Learn more about the web-facilitated program
• How to participate in Ohanashi
• View photos from Ohanashi 2006