The Watermelon Game: “Confession” The Japanese Way
February 19, 2013 2 Comments
In many Japanese pre-schools, children play an outdoors game called the watermelon game. A small table with a watermelon is set up on the grass. Each child is then blindfolded and spun around. Sound familiar? The child is given a long stick or pole to strike the watermelon. If the child is in danger of striking another child, s/he is pointed in the proper direction and given encouragement by the other children. If the child is able to split the watermelon, well and good. However, if the child misses, a “confession” is in order. The child must state which member of the opposite sex s/he has a special liking for. Needless to say, the children try to split the watermelon with all their might. The game prepares them for “confession” at a later and more meaningful stage. The Japanese custom of “confession” follows them through adulthood, when “confessing” one’s secret love for a member of the opposite sex can have serious repercussions, such as marriage. To “confess” is taken seriously by both sexes as a way of expressing what is truly in one’s heart.
About Robert M. Weiss
Site of Discovery and Wonder 
Kind of awful to put pressure on the kids to reveal sensitive information. Although, that’s a really good learning curve. I learned the hard way to speak up and be honest when you have a problem other than just keeping all things in just for yourself.
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I think you hit the nail on the head, when you said it’s “a really good learning curve.” It does prepare Japanese children for frank conversation later on.
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