Japanese birthday?

Question

We are hosting a Japanese exchange student, and today is her birthday. (We just found out this morning). We are planning a party, but not sure about traditions or what she would like. Any ideas?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_...

Answer 2

try asking her?

or take her out shopping,

im not sure if she really wants to eat more japanese stuff since she's came all the way here :D

Answer 3

Decorations: Of course, japanese laterns, fish kites, regular kites, I made a cherry blossom tree cut out with foam and a sharp knife and decorated the entrance.  

Activities: During the night in, we made "kimonos" in which I bought different cheap fabric at the fabric store and the girls got to pick and "sew" them together (we used seam fabric glue).  We made hair combs from cheap wooden chopsticks, ribbon, glue and feathers, gems etc.  We also let each of the girls put their "make-up" on each other and do each other's hair. We also made fabric fans with large popscicle sticks, I drilled small holes in the bottom of them and we tied them with ribbon and glued material on the sticks.   I bought a book on traditional Japanese tea service, and we practiced that until we had it perfect. We also made up a dance with traditional japanese music and the fans. We learned Japanese words, ate california rolls, spring rolls, lo mein, and of course, fortune cookies.  The invitiations were paper fans with date, time, and directions info on them.  We watched the movie Memoires of a Geisha.

TAKE HOME: I bought bags and put pearls in them (party store necklaces), lipstick, make-up brushes, finger nail polish, chopsticks, fans, and CD on learning Japanese.

Answer 4

If you can buy some decent sushi, buy a tray of it.  Here are some easy things you can make:

Chicken Skewers

bamboo skewers

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs

2 TBS soy sauce

2 TBS mirin (sweet cooking rice seasoning)

tsp grated ginger root

1 TBS sugar

Cut chicken into bite size pieces.  Combine rest of the ingredients.  Add chicken and marinate 10 minutes.  

Thread the chicken on skewers, then broil, basting and turning skwers every minute.  Cooks in about 5 minutes.

Japanese Meatballs

1 pound ground pork or beef

2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp grated ginger root

2 green oni0ons, chopped

1 tsp salt

2 TBS corn statch

oil, for deep frying

Combine all ingredients, except oil.  Form into 1 inch balls.  Heat oil in deep saucepan.  Fry meatballs until well browned, 2-3 minutes.  Remove with slotted sppon.  Drain on paper towels.

Answer 5

take her to a fun spot for a American birthday party like Chuck E Cheese (fun pizza place with games) or something! give her an American birthday-she has Japanese ones at home and it will be very memorable for her!