Play: Sarukani Gassen

This play, based on a Japanese folktale, comes from a collection of plays and skits created by the ACT Japanese teachers’ group for use in their primary and junior secondary classrooms. Students work cooperatively in groups or as a class to prepare and perform the play for their classmates or at a school event.

Cast

ナレーター　Narrator×2
かに　Father Crab (Kani-san)
さる　Monkey (Saru-san)
かにのこども　Crab Children (Kodomo) – any number
くり　Chestnut (Kuri-san)
はち　Bees (Hachi-san) – any number
とり　Birds (Tori-san) – any number
コーラス　Chorus

Script

Script Sarukani Gassen (Word 34KB) Script Sarukani Gassen (PDF 239KB)

Cultural Notes

Onigiri (Omusubi)

are made from rice, moulded into a triangular or circular shape, and often wrapped with nori (seaweed) and containing a filling of umeboshi (pickled plum), tuna or pickles. They are very popular picnic foods, and can be made at home or bought in supermarkets and convenience stores. (See おむすびころりん)

Kaki

are Japanese persimmons, an autumn fruit about the size and shape of a large mandarine, with orange skin, sweet orange flesh and several small, brown seeds. Kaki can be eaten raw (peeled), or is often dried. Kaki is available in Australia and often sold as Fuji Fruit.

Saru

The monkey often appears in Japanese mythology. Saru have a reputation for being naughty, but this is not always so.

Language Concepts

  • onomatopoeia (paku-paku, pero-pero)
  • ～mashoo (ka)
  • ～te kudasai
  • ～tai desu

Resource created by ACT Japanese teachers’ group (July 2003).

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