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It is Julia's first day of Kindergarten in Japan.  

Her classmates are all Japanese. Julia does not 

know any Japanese, but they speak English to 

Julia.  

Teacher said "Don't worry, Julia.   We will help 

you" in English.   Julia smiled.

"Julia, do you want to color with me?" Akiko 

asked.   Julia said "Yes".   They sat together, and 

started coloring.

Julia did not like her coloring, so she crumpled 

her paper.

"Mottai nai! もったいない！” Akiko said.

Julia was not sure what Akiko said.

"Snack time!" Teacher said.  

"Let's wash hands." Satomi showed Julia where 

the sink was.  

Julia washed her hands but did not find any 

paper towel, so she asked Satomi "Where is 

paper towel?"

Satomi said "Paper towel?   No, that's Mottai 

nai.   Here, you can use my handkerchief."

"Mottai nai?" Julia wondered.

After snack time, it was time to go outside.  

Julia could not wait 

to try the big slide.  

Teacher said "Let's check the bathroom.   Good, all the lights are 

off.   How about the art room?   Good, all the lights are off.   Let's 

turn off the light here. Are you ready?"

All children replied with their whispering voice "yes!"

Julia asked Ken "Why are we turning off all the lights? Are we 

going to watch a movie?"

"No", Ken said. "It's Mottai nai, because we are going to go 

outside.   No one will be inside."  

Julia wondered "What is Mottai nai?"

On the playground, Julia tried the slide.  

It was really fun.  

She made some new friends.  

She played in the sandbox.   She played tag.  

She found beautiful flowers in the garden.

RING RING RING!　

The bell rang, and all friends stopped playing.

"It's lunch time, let's go inside!"   Akiko said to Julia.

"Finally!   Yes, lunch time!"   Julia said excitedly.

All children sat at the table, and 

waited until everyone was ready.   And 

then they started singing a song.   Julia 

wondered when she could start eating.  

She just watched other friends while 

they were singing.  

"Itadakimasu!" everyone shouted, and 

then they started eating.   Julia asked 

Akiko "Now can I eat?" "Yes, yes, 

let's eat!" 

Julia opened her lunch box.   She hoped 

to find her favorite ham and cheese 

sandwich, but instead there was some 

riceballs, and other things she did not 

like much.

Julia was so hungry, so she tried to 

eat her lunch as much as she could.  

She really wished that she had 

sandwich.   She felt a little sad, and 

she did not want her lunch anymore.  

She threw her food in the trash can.

Akiko, Ken, and Satomi all shouted, 

"Nooooooo!!! Mottai nai! もったいな

い！"

Julia was not sure what they were 

saying.   She was really confused.  

"What? What is mottai nai?   Why are 

you all shouting like that?"

Akiko said to Julia "Mottai nai obake 

is going to come get you tonight."

"What is Mottai nai obake?" 

"Obake means a ghost.   When you 

throw food in the trash, Mottai nai 

Ghosts come out at night, and they 

dance the Mottai nai dance."

"What? Ghosts?"

Ken continued, "Yeah, my mom and dad always tell 

me that Mottai nai Obake will come get me and 

take me to the Mottai nai mountain if I do not eat 

all vegetables and rice and everything."

"Why?"

"Because they do not like kids who waste things."

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