In Japan, elementary school kids usually have summer vacation from July 20 to August 31. But it’s not just fun and games—they actually get quite a bit of homework!
The main assignments are:
1. Jiyuu Kenkyuu (Independent Project) – Kids can build something, draw pictures, or research anything they like.
2. Book Report – Fun for book lovers, torture for those who don’t enjoy reading.
3. Morning Glory Diary – Grow and observe a flower every day… unless you forget to water it and it dies!
4. Math and Japanese Workbooks – Review drills, usually done little by little… or crammed at the very end.
When it comes to summer homework, kids usually fall into two groups: those who finish everything early, and those who wait until the last minute and end up crying while trying to finish it all in just a few days. 😂
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My Story vs. My Daughter’s
As for me, I was definitely in the “last-minute” group. I don’t think I ever finished my homework early, and of course… I also let my plants die. (Oops!)
But my daughter is the complete opposite. She usually finishes most of her homework within the first week of summer vacation. Like me, she loves history, so this year she researched Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site in Hyogo Prefecture, for her Jiyuu Kenkyuu.
Last year, she studied dinosaurs, and we even visited Japan’s number one dinosaur museum in Fukui Prefecture（the detail is blow）Every year, I really look forward to helping her with her Jiyuu Kenkyuu project—it’s become a special summer tradition for us.
Moments like these—studying together during summer—will only last for a few more years, so I truly want to treasure them.
⭐︎Fukui is famous for dinosaurs because many important fossils have been discovered there. That’s why it is home to the world-class Fukui Dinosaur Museum, one of the leading dinosaur museums in the world. We made the most of dinosaurs‼️
My Thoughts on Summer Homework
I think summer homework has both good and bad sides. On the positive side, it helps children keep up their study habits, which is one reason Japanese people are often seen as hardworking. But at the same time, making kids study even during vacation shows the slightly suffocating side of Japanese society. After all, there are so many fun things you can only experience during summer break.