Kokugaku

Kokugaku is a very hard word to say, but it means studying and appreciating Japanese culture and history. It's like when you want to learn about your own family's history or customs.

Imagine that you are a little boy living in Japan many, many years ago. Back then, people believed that the best way to learn was by studying old books written in Chinese. But there were some smart people who thought that it was important to learn about their own country's history and culture too. They thought that learning about their own traditions and stories would help them understand what it meant to be Japanese.

So they started to study Japanese books and poetry that were written long ago. They looked at old paintings and even visited old temples and shrines. They wanted to learn everything they could about Japan's past. They believed that by doing this, they could help to preserve Japan's unique culture and traditions.

And that's what kokugaku is all about - exploring and appreciating Japan's rich cultural heritage. It's like being a detective who is on a mission to uncover all of the stories and customs that make Japan so special. And like a good detective, the scholars who practice kokugaku are careful to make sure that they understand all of the clues, so that they can teach others what they have discovered.