2015.05.11
American school kids compete in abacus contest
All Japan Abacus Association Okinawa branch held the 16th American Soroban Contest for children of U.S. military and civilian personnel on Okinawa at Culture Resort Festone in Mashiki, Ginowan City, on April 29th. 160 children from 1st through 5th grade from eight Department of Defense elementary schools took part in the contest.
Some DoD elementary schools on have introduced abacus classes as a part of the Japanese traditional culture education. The children had had a lot of practice in the mornings and after school to prepare for the contest. The contest included many kinds of calculations including mental calculation.