Japan's ancient secret to better cognitive memory - BBC REEL

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  • čas přidán 4. 05. 2021
  • The centuries-old abacus, once a common tool in many countries, has now been abandoned around the world. But in Japan, thousands of students are still taught proficiency on the abacus.
    Advocates argue that sliding the beads up and down with your fingers and then thinking with your brain creates a mind-body connection that helps with calculation skills and cognitive memory.
    Video by Terushi Sho
    Executive Producer: Camelia Sadeghzadeh
    #bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 3,3K

  • @terrancekayton007
    @terrancekayton007 Před 2 lety +6588

    Wow. Must be nice to have a nation of leaders devoted whole heartedly to the early childhood education.

    • @eatcarpet
      @eatcarpet Před 2 lety +193

      It's just the private tutors teaching this, it's not taught at school.

    • @user-ee2fw1bs9x
      @user-ee2fw1bs9x Před 2 lety +57

      Really? I learned that in school.
      Of course, I skipped it.

    • @Centre14
      @Centre14 Před 2 lety +48

      this isn't taught in local schools.

    • @mk17173n
      @mk17173n Před 2 lety +149

      Japan is a homogeneous where people have shared values. Educators dont have to deal with the same crap as other countries.

    • @eatcarpet
      @eatcarpet Před 2 lety +71

      @@mk17173n People don't have shared values.

  • @TheAdizone
    @TheAdizone Před 2 lety +1376

    15 numbers in 1.5 sec..... 8377!
    My brain: wth just happened

    • @i_hate_google_
      @i_hate_google_ Před 2 lety +116

      My brain went: when do we start? Was this it?

    • @franciscocz8384
      @franciscocz8384 Před 2 lety +12

      Your brain will explode when you discover the calculators! :P

    • @anna1417
      @anna1417 Před 2 lety +90

      Mine was like: Did you catch any number? 🐌

    • @MinutePlant
      @MinutePlant Před 2 lety +101

      Even with an electric calculator i don't think most of us can remember all the number that flashed within 1.5 seconds and type it down

    • @carmellacandy509
      @carmellacandy509 Před 2 lety +24

      That was absolutely artful.

  • @Daily_Llama
    @Daily_Llama Před 8 měsíci +443

    4:30 “The hands are the visual part of the brain” is an absolute truth as far as I'm concerned. I used to trace the letters of words into my palm during spelling bees. That action greatly increased my ability to construct large words in my brain. I had a childhood disability that made my hands unable to hold a pencil yet I beat most that used repetition to compete

    • @Thewhiteandorange
      @Thewhiteandorange Před 3 měsíci +16

      and not only as far as you are concerned, but as far as some neuroscientists are concerned as well! the reason why people who read paper copy retain information better than those who rely on e-readers ties directly to the analogue experience of the page. we have been analogue for thousands of years. by comparison, our digital experience is a blink of an eye.

    • @user_bilal
      @user_bilal Před 3 měsíci

      ​@@Thewhiteandorange🦥

    • @wisdomencouraged9326
      @wisdomencouraged9326 Před 3 měsíci +4

      This is why learning sign language is incredibly valuable for hearing children as well! You can spell with your hands using the signed alphabet

  • @rineng4127
    @rineng4127 Před rokem +285

    Wow this is the first time I've learned the true potential of an abacus. Our math teacher just took us to the math lab and showed the colorful beaded abacus and said it was invented by someone and that was it.
    I wish i had learned it as a kid. Japan truly never fails to amaze me🇯🇵

    • @soggyfroggy22
      @soggyfroggy22 Před 6 měsíci +7

      Yup exactly that same. Our teacher just had it on display in our classroom. Showed us how it worked and that’s it. Never used again, just showed off the pretty beads.

    • @cherrypai44
      @cherrypai44 Před 2 měsíci

      @@soggyfroggy22omg seriously same😭 like as a child i thought an abacus was a toy because it was just colorful and sat on display in the classroom😭

    • @rijanbahadurpradhan3017
      @rijanbahadurpradhan3017 Před 2 měsíci +1

      hey at least you had someone to show someone practically. mine was just a paragraph in the chapter and that was it.

    • @iamhereblossom1588
      @iamhereblossom1588 Před 2 měsíci

      I think you were not curious enough as a kid. The job of a teacher is to introduce you to things and make you curious enough about them that you go and learn about it on your own or have the desire to learn them. Especially at that age with something so uncommonly used in the western world.

  • @shubhambhardwaj6952
    @shubhambhardwaj6952 Před 2 lety +6699

    I couldn't even see the numbers correctly and these children calculated the whole numbers. It's marvellous. We need this type of training for our brain.

    • @worldusa6853
      @worldusa6853 Před 2 lety +24

      not in india

    • @aryamore6343
      @aryamore6343 Před 2 lety +6

      @@worldusa6853 why?

    • @aaradhanah5059
      @aaradhanah5059 Před 2 lety +198

      @@worldusa6853 I am an Indian 23 years old I was taught abacus in my first grade to fifth grade, though I couldn't calculate lightning fast like this kids I am better than average, don't spread hatred against India, Indians are better in math than world average

    • @aaradhanah5059
      @aaradhanah5059 Před 2 lety +119

      @Sivasankaran sumathi than "world average" I havent said better than japanese

    • @M1551NGN0
      @M1551NGN0 Před 2 lety +37

      No because Indian education system is the best. (Sarcasm)

  • @ashura_7777
    @ashura_7777 Před 2 lety +2625

    " The hands is the visible part of our brain ". Love that quote! ❤

    • @wacharaboy
      @wacharaboy Před 2 lety +32

      The more you think about it, the deeper it gets

    • @WT.....
      @WT..... Před 2 lety +20

      100% agree. It's like how for most people, their reliance on keyboard typing & autofill/autocorrect has made them lazier when it comes to handwriting, spelling, manual editing, & grammar punctuation.

    • @detour6486
      @detour6486 Před 2 lety +12

      It's not just a Quote it's a Reality about whole Body...Every CELL has memory, A lot of memory...DNA is an easier example to understand.

    • @johntravena119
      @johntravena119 Před 2 lety +13

      So true! When I forget something, if I gesture with my hands it comes back to me.

    • @TheSeeking2know
      @TheSeeking2know Před 2 lety +8

      @@WT..... I totally agree with this. The human mind is capable of so much that outsourcing it to tech companies and algorithms without any cognitive replacement dulls the mind, while we get addicted to passive entertainment online.

  • @kajihararin3717
    @kajihararin3717 Před rokem +1324

    I enjoyed Japanese abacus from 10 to 13 years old. I know people can’t believe this, but abacus is really fun! I liked concentrating on calculating numbers without any distractions and felt “I achieved!” when my answers were correct. We can calculate even √route with it. I always imagine “abacus” in my mind and calculate everything without real one. This is normal for people who learned Japanese abacus. Please try it!!

    • @BSRawat-pv8dv
      @BSRawat-pv8dv Před rokem +18

      Can u please tell how could you calculate the sums so fast even without the abacus ???🤔

    • @peterlee6148
      @peterlee6148 Před rokem

      7u70pjnkñm

    • @bracketclose
      @bracketclose Před rokem +13

      Where can I learn it now? Guide me

    • @barbaratells1285
      @barbaratells1285 Před rokem +22

      Conichiwa 😊I took abacus as a 1-4th grader because I attended a predominantly Japanese school with majority student and teacher population so was fortunate enough to be taught for 4 years on the abacus . . . It’s my biggest accomplishment and unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control 😢was I disappointment when my parents moved us kids far away from that school in Torrance. I’ve suffered missing on this educational opportunity in life. Truly, a shame but today I’m in control of whats next and is a new day. Thus, now we have it all easily at our fingertips 😊 now, with the internet it’s time to find a teaching video ! Thanks, this video brought me back to a much happier, fun, productive and simpler time ! Arigato, gozaimas thank you so much😊

    • @ponnnnnc
      @ponnnnnc Před rokem +7

      @@BSRawat-pv8dv Many years of practice

  • @kir4n
    @kir4n Před 2 lety +664

    I learnt abacus from the age 10 to 13. I am 19 now and this video makes so much sense. I still use abacus in my "head" to do a lot of calculations and also, I think it has a huge role on the way my brain works. I find myself thinking deeply; I seek the truth. My actions seem radical. The best gift you could give to your kid would be to let them join the abacus classes(only if they want to) when they're super young!

    • @anacletwilliams8315
      @anacletwilliams8315 Před rokem +2

      I seek the real truth too.

    • @bracketclose
      @bracketclose Před rokem +8

      Where can I learn it now? Guide me

    • @-whackd
      @-whackd Před rokem +25

      I didn't learn an abacus but I also seek the truth. Maybe you can't credit abacus use to cause your desire for truth. Desire for truth is a universal human thing as long as you remain curious about the world.

    • @bmoviebloodbath
      @bmoviebloodbath Před rokem

      Very cool!

    • @doyaeducation1744
      @doyaeducation1744 Před rokem +12

      If you seek the truth, may you know that Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
      Math is a true element of our world, but it was all created by and for Christ! And God has provided for us a Savior, that we can repent of our sins and believe on Him and have everlasting life.

  • @RohitPant04
    @RohitPant04 Před 2 lety +3887

    I think the important lesson to take from this video is that it's never too late to learn fundamentals of Mathematics and Science. It's better to exercise our will to learn solving complex problems starting today than to feel bad about what we couldn't learn as a child.
    Keep learning!

    • @mjkay8660
      @mjkay8660 Před 2 lety +70

      too bad so many americans dont believe in science but quote old bible myths

    • @reemaw4003
      @reemaw4003 Před rokem +19

      @@mjkay8660 and these guys become rich in America. This is your country's future right there

    • @J.C-L73
      @J.C-L73 Před rokem +56

      Why drag Bible here .....Bible is Jesus Christ living words ....you must not address it as myths

    • @migeru2015
      @migeru2015 Před rokem +4

      @Rohit Pant Absolutely! 💯

    • @theencryptedpartition4633
      @theencryptedpartition4633 Před rokem +1

      @@mjkay8660 because access to technology from young age is kinda broad

  • @koleyw932
    @koleyw932 Před 2 lety +2138

    I have deep respect for the many positive aspects of the Japanese culture.

    • @sonnynguyen1006
      @sonnynguyen1006 Před 2 lety +4

      Culture is amazing

    • @sonnynguyen1006
      @sonnynguyen1006 Před 2 lety +4

      Culture is amazing

    • @jodyguilbeaux8225
      @jodyguilbeaux8225 Před rokem

      right, most kids in america wont look up from their phones. we have a nation of brain dead zombies. not all, but most do not have a clue about history, geography , science or mathematics. america was conquered by the modern technology . and the only way to get them back, is to see our communication satellites, come crashing earth bound.

    • @anacletwilliams8315
      @anacletwilliams8315 Před rokem +3

      Thank you!

    • @chocho563
      @chocho563 Před rokem +31

      They are smart, dedicated, and driven but this also lead to their demise since some literally work themselves to death.

  • @jannickharambe8550
    @jannickharambe8550 Před 5 měsíci +19

    I didnt even see the numbers in those almost 2 seconds. And that girl had the answer almost instantaneously.
    I cannot compete.

  • @LiLGouda.
    @LiLGouda. Před rokem +379

    Now, here's a country that actually cares about the minds of the next generation.
    These children are absolutely impressive. ❤

    • @guy_with_a_car
      @guy_with_a_car Před rokem +29

      More importantly their families are very invested in their children.

    • @Thecdnsurvivor
      @Thecdnsurvivor Před 4 měsíci +13

      Unfortunately this only shows one aspect of elementary schooling, yet when they grow up and realize they are being taught how to be good workers, anyone who wants to venture into something other than what they are being modeled for, they leave the country and get a higher education elsewhere where they have the freedom of choice

    • @amazingone915
      @amazingone915 Před 4 měsíci +4

      other countries: haha calculators goes brrrrrr

    • @exelrode
      @exelrode Před 4 měsíci +7

      Actually that's a rather useless skill, you can use a calculator to do most of these complex calculations. Instead of this what we need to teach kid is to think creatively and how to solve problems. Whether its a career in Sciences or Tech or Business. Problem solving is one the most important skills to have rather than having super fast calculations

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 Před 4 měsíci +3

      A calculator can do that a million times faster than you, but it can't write a line of code.

  • @Briguy1027
    @Briguy1027 Před 2 lety +5844

    Doh, I wish I had learned this as a young lad. Like any language it probably is easier to learn as a child. The finger movements and how they add is somewhat akin to reading music but different. I'm thoroughly impressed and definitely jealous of these type of skills.

    • @SonofStLouis
      @SonofStLouis Před 2 lety +120

      I respectfully disagree
      it’s more like a sport. But fine motor. Language and Music are adaptive, improvisational, creative, evolving.
      This is simply a reflexive technique.

    • @Briguy1027
      @Briguy1027 Před 2 lety +165

      @@SonofStLouis I see that you've never memorized a song before on a musical instrument. The notes and chords used to create music are more mathematical than you might suspect.

    • @SonofStLouis
      @SonofStLouis Před 2 lety +20

      @@Briguy1027
      I’m actually a music teacher
      I studied music performance and jazz studies
      Have a masters from the Frost School
      And teach for DODEA
      I’ve been playing since fourth grade
      I’m 39
      And have probably memorized more tunes and harmony then the farts that come out of your ass
      Unless you can play or are can detail how doing an abbi us is remotely anything like what I do
      Than you must be either a very bad musician or a genius at the abbicus

    • @brianwong2430
      @brianwong2430 Před 2 lety +111

      @@SonofStLouis I actually took classical piano not jazz. I also took a class about the physics of music and there is a lot of math regarding frequencies in music. That's why you have to tune instruments. Anyway, when I memorize classical songs it's not about feelings it's muscle memory. In fact I close my eyes to play songs sometimes. I believe when kids are hitting the table with their fingers while doing the math they are exercising muscle memory. That's why I disagree with you.

    • @danielwhyatt3278
      @danielwhyatt3278 Před 2 lety +77

      Never too late to learn though.

  • @mrinmoybanik5598
    @mrinmoybanik5598 Před 2 lety +3652

    I learned abacus in school in my 3rd and 4th grade.It's actually not that difficult as it seems.But i could only calculate fast with an abacus, as i had difficulty visualizing it in my head(I could only do around 6 significant digits in my head).It's an art that you will never forget once it goes into your muscle memory like solving a rubics cube.

    • @kumarsantosh7376
      @kumarsantosh7376 Před 2 lety +33

      How did you learn it?
      Is there any students from other parts learn this skill .

    • @franny5295
      @franny5295 Před 2 lety +196

      "I could only do around six significant digits in my head..."
      ...ok smarty pants...

    • @factshistory3193
      @factshistory3193 Před 2 lety +5

      @@frozenflame1445 I had enrolled but my school didn't teach it well.

    • @angelinastar5169
      @angelinastar5169 Před 2 lety +2

      Yea....even i had just learned abacus for like 2 years....

    • @franny5295
      @franny5295 Před 2 lety +6

      @@frozenflame1445 There's a class online?

  • @wynez1
    @wynez1 Před rokem +91

    I learnt abacus when I was kid. I had a lot of fun and because of that my math was always better than most of the student in primary school, that set my confidence and passion about math! Will def let my kids learn this in the future!

  • @GierlangBhaktiPutra
    @GierlangBhaktiPutra Před 2 lety +980

    Learned this as a kid. While calculation is what the abacus is about, but the core teaching is about discipline. It's about the mindset and attitude to perform such calculation. Impressed with the kids who take the calculation to the next level!

    • @cpfink1242
      @cpfink1242 Před 2 lety +3

      You can judge a population’s ability to do mathematics by their ability to sit and complete long mundane processes. Essentially their conscientiousness. This seems like an amazing extension of that.

    • @GierlangBhaktiPutra
      @GierlangBhaktiPutra Před 2 lety +1

      @@cpfink1242 they show an amazing example of sitzfleisch

  • @rukathehamsteratwork8896
    @rukathehamsteratwork8896 Před 2 lety +707

    What I found impressive is the lady’s ability (at 3:46) to read out a 12 digit number in a clear voice within 3 seconds without biting her tongue.

    • @TheMercifulAndJust
      @TheMercifulAndJust Před 2 lety +29

      She has a tongue that got the cat

    • @tanishkanagar5756
      @tanishkanagar5756 Před 2 lety +6

      Yeah bruhh I can't even-

    • @talithapatrick1188
      @talithapatrick1188 Před 2 lety +10

      Me it was the kid at 2:23 calculating without it and still managing to write something!

    • @suakeli
      @suakeli Před 2 lety +29

      It probably helps that Japanese words are so short compared to what I'm used to. For example, 987 in Finnish is "yhdeksänsataakahdeksankymmentäseitsemän", 14 syllables.

    • @joshyalexander5893
      @joshyalexander5893 Před 2 lety

      tongue....yeah

  • @jeremiahsmith916
    @jeremiahsmith916 Před 6 měsíci +17

    This is very eye-opening and motivational. Every person's brain is capable of so much more than we assume, all it needs is a bit of good training and discipline. I'm glad I watched this video.

  • @josevelez7539
    @josevelez7539 Před 2 lety +181

    Amazing! I learned to use the abacus in elementary school, but we didn’t get challenged like these Japanese students are. What an amazing way of learning. Love so many aspects of Japanese culture. :-)

    • @benzness
      @benzness Před rokem +2

      The abacus has been around China, Europe and the Middle East for thousands of years. It’s only got to Japan relatively recently, so I question how you can call it Japanese culture. 100+ likes as well. What?

    • @MM-zs7vd
      @MM-zs7vd Před 11 měsíci +2

      @@benzness 500年前から計算機普及後も算盤を子供に習わせる文化が長く続いていたのが日本だけだったって事ですかね?

    • @somebodyelse9130
      @somebodyelse9130 Před 8 měsíci +3

      ​@@benzness Hundreds of years is enough time for something to become part of a culture. Tomatoes have only been available to Italy since the 15th or 16th century, yet today, they're known for dishes with tomato sauce, like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, other types of pasta, etc.

    • @benzness
      @benzness Před 8 měsíci

      @@somebodyelse9130 Not equivalent. The abacus has been widely used in the old world long before Japan to start with. The pasta as we know it actually came from Italy.

    • @lolislayer1643
      @lolislayer1643 Před 5 měsíci

      ​@@benznesspasta originates from China, but sure

  • @manjusaka92
    @manjusaka92 Před 2 lety +418

    I am so grateful that my mum sent me to an abacus learning centre and now that i am able to visualise an abacus and count faster and more easily than most ppl who didn't learn it. Back thn in the 90s and early y2k, it was a fad to learn this in Malaysia and you could see centres blooming every neighbourhood. I only regret that I gave up on it when I was moving up to the level of division

    • @p6h14
      @p6h14 Před 2 lety +7

      Same.. i stopped learning.. I'm from Singapore

    • @nsaffini1975
      @nsaffini1975 Před 2 lety

      True

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones Před rokem +1

      Its never too late to learn

  • @michaelleboulluec3654
    @michaelleboulluec3654 Před 2 lety +189

    I enjoy when a video on CZcams allows the speakers to speak in their native language with English subtitles.

  • @TheGrenadier97
    @TheGrenadier97 Před rokem +31

    Absolutely lovely to see the children using the abacus. It's always good to learn the old ways.

  • @Ranvinay-vp7qq
    @Ranvinay-vp7qq Před 2 měsíci +2

    Japan has such a science based education system no doubt why they are ahead in many fields

  • @rezkalif
    @rezkalif Před 2 lety +387

    My wife can do calculation using abacus mentally (without the abacus present). I'm jealous of that skill.

    • @grind1968
      @grind1968 Před 2 lety +3

      wow how does she do that?

    • @MinutePlant
      @MinutePlant Před 2 lety +47

      Like the girl in the video using the invisible abacus on the table, and then finally they won't even need to do that. Got one friend with that skill because her mother is an abacus teacher and taught her the skill. I only studied it in grade 2 so rn I have no clue how to use it

    • @BestMods168
      @BestMods168 Před 2 lety +40

      No need to be jealous of things people aquire through hard work.

    • @ramenomirice2767
      @ramenomirice2767 Před 2 lety +25

      @@BestMods168 still you gotta admire hard work I'm pretty lazy so even that is hard for me

    • @mellowblueu
      @mellowblueu Před 2 lety +5

      @@BestMods168 No, we meant that we were given that education as a young lad. I could learn it right now but it'll take more time and is alone in this journey since not much people around me knows how to calculate with an abacus or is qualified to teach it here. But definitely if my elementary to middle school had such a thing, would definitely loved to join it after-school classes and compete competitively with others. Really impressive and amazed by these student's skill. Wish it is was more open and known where I am to bring it to education.

  • @tara2769
    @tara2769 Před 2 lety +1512

    in India too, there are local tuition classes for abacus and Vedic Math. My friend and cousins took abacus and they are very good with large numbers. my father would encourage me to learn all the tables till 40. he did it in his childhood and he is very good with calculations even without using calculator. Vedic maths ( math derived from ancient indian formulas and practice)is also taught in I would elite schools of my town.

    • @skyward7903
      @skyward7903 Před 2 lety +70

      yeah my cousin took them and he can calculate really fast. You have to practice it a lot though, otherwise it'll be useless. Also, it doesn't make your maths "better" (a common misconception among parents) But my cousin works as a bank manager so it was incredibly helpful for him. But you can also do without it too, I could solve literally anything in my head without ever knowing these (although I was one of the only few students)

    • @user-lehsun-le-garib
      @user-lehsun-le-garib Před 2 lety +4

      @@skyward7903 yaa

    • @Immortal-Daiki
      @Immortal-Daiki Před 2 lety +42

      My high school didn't have a lot of Asian students but I actually come from a mixed Japanese family. Maths and the use of the soroban was deemed to be important for learning. Haha that's basically Asian families right there mate lol

    • @Shaily639
      @Shaily639 Před 2 lety +37

      Yes absolutely, Vedic Ganit has the same kind of tool but it is square shaped. Even there’s counting in decimal system.

    • @snaik9141
      @snaik9141 Před 2 lety +3

      Yh but abacus no it's only at private tutions we weren't taught in detail at school

  • @stuff5652
    @stuff5652 Před rokem +8

    This is beyond amazing.

  • @karannegi27
    @karannegi27 Před 2 lety +1

    Brilliant Way Of Learning & Memorising Things Super Quickly 💫

  • @joliejolie8547
    @joliejolie8547 Před 2 lety +792

    This video shocked me! I didn't knew it's very normalized to learn abacus in Japan. I'm from Indonesia, I study at a middle to low class standard school, and from grade 1 to grade 6 we learn abacus, but not as difficult as in Japan of course. At that time I was confused what was the function to study abacus and why did I need to learn it because no other schools learn it except mine, even on grade 7 we still learn it. But after watching this video I feel so grateful & also this answers my friends' questions why I can count in my head so fast, now I realized it's because I learned abacus. Before watching this video I also don't know why I can count fast in my head, thanks abacus, oh and my school too 🤣

    • @deadmanlive6961
      @deadmanlive6961 Před 2 lety +11

      lol who knows your imams will tag it as haram

    • @joliejolie8547
      @joliejolie8547 Před 2 lety +6

      @@deadmanlive6961 what is imam?

    • @blitzorn8417
      @blitzorn8417 Před 2 lety

      @@deadmanlive6961 simpleton

    • @techhal4161
      @techhal4161 Před 2 lety +13

      @@deadmanlive6961 everything is not haram 🤦‍♀️

    • @gold_friday
      @gold_friday Před 2 lety +21

      @@deadmanlive6961 Why is everything should be haram? Oh wrong question.. what's wrong with your mind?

  • @user-po8no1xp6e
    @user-po8no1xp6e Před 2 lety +132

    People of Japan seem to have very strong discipline just about in everything including education

    • @Thewhiteandorange
      @Thewhiteandorange Před 3 měsíci +6

      if you are encouraged early in life to care how you do things, you will carry it forward into adulthood. it's a wonderful tradition to pass on. it's also a good measure of dignity; to do things you do well.

  • @nami4823
    @nami4823 Před 2 lety +1

    5:31 bro this was the sweetest part of this video, im glad they're having fun as well

  • @DoriSo-wj3so
    @DoriSo-wj3so Před 4 měsíci +2

    It's amazing to see this side of learning.

  • @NZKiwi87
    @NZKiwi87 Před 2 lety +472

    I really struggled with maths at school and I think I would have found this incredibly helpful 👍

    • @stariadreamtea
      @stariadreamtea Před 2 lety +9

      Me too! Kinesthetic learning!

    • @mtlicq
      @mtlicq Před 2 lety +13

      I was in the top 2 students in the class in maths and the next year they made sure to give me arts & crafts teachers as my math teachers, then sank below, phenomenally low. That was criminal of the public education system here.

    • @reenakumari249
      @reenakumari249 Před 2 lety +6

      Maths is problem solving techniques. U can make ur calculation better with practice..being an abacus student ...its nothing to do with maths...

    • @NZKiwi87
      @NZKiwi87 Před 2 lety +2

      @@reenakumari249 ok well I really struggled with problem solving then 🤷‍♀️

    • @reenakumari249
      @reenakumari249 Před 2 lety

      @@NZKiwi87then practice...u need to practice questions in order to get perfect in maths..

  • @anjafink8996
    @anjafink8996 Před 2 lety +34

    This video showed up randomly in my timeline. It introduced me to the soroban and now I'm hooked. I bought two sorobans and downloaded an exercise generator. I use it every day. Away from home I calculate with my virtual soroban on my phone. I'm not trying to reach a certain speed or even a degree. I do it just for fun and my everyday calculations. Thank you very much!

  • @Ronald-Butler
    @Ronald-Butler Před 4 měsíci +1

    I learned this since I was 4 years old. And it's seriously useful. I actually still used it from time to time.

  • @abhinavyadav6073
    @abhinavyadav6073 Před 11 měsíci

    my memory is so strong that i have watched this video many times over a period of time and this video still feels new every single time.

  • @jasminabid5984
    @jasminabid5984 Před 2 lety +62

    I am abacus teacher from India.
    It helps children to increase their speed ,concentration,accuracy,confidents etc..,

    • @zinjanthropus322
      @zinjanthropus322 Před 2 lety +1

      How about adults?

    • @publishingstudioanuraga4667
      @publishingstudioanuraga4667 Před 2 lety +1

      Namaste, from which city?

    • @tonyzerrer3227
      @tonyzerrer3227 Před 2 lety

      I'm a math teacher. Where can I find curriculum that I can use in my classroom?

    • @jasminabid5984
      @jasminabid5984 Před 2 lety

      @@publishingstudioanuraga4667 kerala

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 Před 4 měsíci

      That's all horseshit.
      Why does learning stuff that's actually useful not increase people's "confidence"?

  • @mohamedbailorjalloh6999
    @mohamedbailorjalloh6999 Před 2 lety +163

    I had the opportunity to teach abacus in Sierra Leone, West Africa some years ago.
    It was fun and exciting
    That was where I learned that the best time and learn is during childhood
    The children can easily grasp these calculations which can be a bottleneck to adult
    We need to invest in this form of education too.

    • @zunikhan7318
      @zunikhan7318 Před rokem +3

      I also want to learn this abacus. From where I can learn this. I live in India

    • @anupamtiwari5587
      @anupamtiwari5587 Před rokem +3

      @@zunikhan7318 There are lots of institutions & private tutors teaching abacus in India. You can probably find them online.

    • @hananokuni2580
      @hananokuni2580 Před rokem

      _Oware_ (known in the Mende language as _ti_ ) is a game that promotes strong mathematical calculation skills when played frequently.

  • @pranjalchauhan237
    @pranjalchauhan237 Před rokem +11

    I remember using a abacus back when I was in 3rd or 4th grade, we have a chapter in maths which included the use of the abacus and honestly it was fun and really interesting. It really helped me to improve my mental maths and helped me concentrate more and also I can memorise small small explanations easily

  • @sam4457
    @sam4457 Před 3 měsíci +3

    I just love Japan❤❤from Kenya ,their culture , they dedication.. just alot guys

  • @shreyasmungad
    @shreyasmungad Před 2 lety +118

    I remember as a child in primary our school had introduced abacus as an extra curricular wherein an instructor from a certain SIP Academy used to teach us daily and we also had the option to enroll for those exams. I vividly remember my love for abacus and it's what made me good at mental math and loving the subject in general. I had done like 5 of those levels before dropping it altogether after 4th grade. Once you get good with the abacus they tell you to do moving uour fingers in the air without the abacus, we used to call it visualization technique ans it was really cool! I still have 2 of with me, one small and one big! It's been over 12 years now, I have graduated recently and I still remember my instructors name, good old days! Now that this random recommendation has reminded me of it I am gonna go and play with it soon! Schools should really take initiatives like these, I was really lucky 😇

  • @pinklady7184
    @pinklady7184 Před 2 lety +69

    I am from Ireland. I bought myself a soroban and sudopan few years ago. I had fun using them. Now, I want to buy another abacus with 9 beads, 5 in one colour and 4 in another colour. I can use that abacus as either soroban or sudopan.

  • @tortilyaaaa
    @tortilyaaaa Před rokem +2

    respect. I love this focus

  • @InSterquiliniisInvenitur

    This is amazing

  • @danielwhyatt3278
    @danielwhyatt3278 Před 2 lety +131

    This is just incredible. I know we all learn differently and there’s no guarantee you would’ve helped me completely, but I still would’ve loved to have been taught how to use an abacus at school. Sometimes numbers come naturally to me but I believe if I had done this then perhaps I would’ve had a higher chance of going on to do full maths GCSEs. I’m 25 now in my last year of possibly higher education but I would still perhaps like to try this out, even if I am a bit late to the game. It’s crazy what the abacus seems to do to your brain, but it could really be something that will last a lifetime.

    • @ChristAliveForevermore
      @ChristAliveForevermore Před 2 lety +6

      I'm 26 and in the exact same boat. I'm considering purchasing one and practicing it when I'm doing Calculus problems or just for fun (since I'm a huge math nerd anyways). I won't likely be as skilled as these Japanese kids, but perhaps my mental arithmetic will greatly improve in accuracy and precision, if not speed.

  • @SG-kd2gi
    @SG-kd2gi Před 2 lety +34

    My 6 years old daughter just started learning abacus, she is doing very good for a beginner and I'm learning along side with her. Its very interesting how we can train our brain to do amazing things. I think we don't take enough advantage of our brain.

    • @SG-kd2gi
      @SG-kd2gi Před 2 lety

      @Dave Smith from your question you seem like you've no idea what's abacus lol

  • @MoTee1
    @MoTee1 Před 4 měsíci

    Wow... I wish all of us had the opportunity to learn this way. Truly fascinating.

  • @swatimukhopadhyay7534
    @swatimukhopadhyay7534 Před 2 lety +8

    This should be introduced throughout the world.

    • @zmara5230
      @zmara5230 Před 5 měsíci +1

      This is not Japanese to start with. The rest of the world was using it for thousands of years. It only passed on from China to Japan 500 years ago, and we have used it since. 😂

  • @tigress63
    @tigress63 Před 2 lety +772

    It is interesting how culturally we put importance on different things. I admire the Japanese for the respect, conduct and abilities that they have. I believe Western schools could learn a lot from more disciplined classrooms. I think also the Western things could also have good influences on the Eastern students. No child, no matter where in the world should feel so pressured to have to take after school classes in academic to compete later on in life. Other skills are important as well, socialization with others, arts (music, literature, languages, etc.). The way I see it, and I could be very wrong is no one (East or West) has a proper balance.

    • @Dani_1012
      @Dani_1012 Před 2 lety +48

      I wholeheartedly agree with your comment. Every culture has its share of good and bad qualities, we can always learn from them

    • @WT.....
      @WT..... Před 2 lety +29

      I agree though I'd say that the issue tends to lie more in the country's culture & politics than in the educational system itself. From what I know, Japanese students don't feel pressured to perform well academically until Late middle school (yrs 8-9) through into Tertiary education. Until then, (unlike in Western culture) the students actually take after school classes because they enjoy it, with the collective competitive atmosphere serving as some sort of performance-enhancing drug. The downside is that at a young age this atmosphere is good for you, but as you grow older and accumulate more responsibilities, eventually it will become toxic.

    • @dietrevich
      @dietrevich Před 2 lety +27

      I would take socializing with others from that list. We have an excess of oversocializing everything in our lives. It's almost a sickness with all these socializing apps. Instead I would think cultivating introspection and enjoying time alone as a very important skill in life.

    • @tigress63
      @tigress63 Před 2 lety +47

      @@dietrevich there needs to be a balance of everything in life. I don't mean socialization in terms of phones and apps. I meant socialization in terms of learning how to socialize in groups of large and small people and one on one without social media applications. This is lost on many people nowadays. I grew up before social media and most people under 30 have a difficult time with social graces as well as emotional and social intelligence.

    • @dietrevich
      @dietrevich Před 2 lety +8

      @@tigress63 humans are social animals by nature and so there is not much to balance there as it is hard to escape interacting with others. What you are referring to is the norm of how humans should interact and that's something that has has to do with the generation not with lack of sociliazing. Just the same way our grandparents miss their norm and think the way we are is not right, so too we think the same about these younger generations that seem to have no manners, but that's only in comparison to our own experience and generation, and the cycle goes on and on.
      Sociliazing is always there as it is part of our nature. Introspection on the other hand isn't always there and is much needed to balance that aspect of our nature and have a deeper meaning and understanding about ourselves , others and life in general.

  • @AbDeRRaHiMX
    @AbDeRRaHiMX Před 2 lety +19

    5:25 what the hell

  • @qtxrs-st7xe
    @qtxrs-st7xe Před rokem +3

    2:35 This process is called Functional Specilization In Neurology (Still a theory, not proven yet). Brains are better Specilizated in Sensory or Movement stimuli so combining it with another work makes it more efficient.

  • @orpheusbarvalo3042
    @orpheusbarvalo3042 Před 2 lety +3

    I love this power, discipline, respect! Bravo! 👍🏽

  • @deeznuts8624
    @deeznuts8624 Před 2 lety +98

    I can relate ...
    This is one of the academic videos where I can relate to it.
    I'm 16 , Indian , started Abacus when I was 6 and completed (GrandMaster Level UCMAS) at age 10 .
    It did got rusty since lockdown because of online classes , and not offline classes . But I would revisit that state of brain where I was able to do these :')

    • @Aah292
      @Aah292 Před 2 lety +1

      From where you learnt abacus

    • @cheryl5994
      @cheryl5994 Před 2 lety +4

      THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
      YOU HAVE A CLEVER BRAIN THAT MAINTAINS KNOWLEDGE WELL.
      IT REALLY IS IMPRESSIVE, WELL DONE FOR YR ACHIEVEMENT.

    • @2highbruh
      @2highbruh Před rokem +3

      @@cheryl5994 THIS TOTALLY SOUNDS LIKE NOT SARCASM AND TRULY GENUNINE COMPLIMENT

  • @quinto190
    @quinto190 Před 2 lety +18

    That's amazing!! I wish, I would have learned abacus in school. The teachers touched on it a little bit, but more to show, that there is such a tool as to really use it.

  • @RestlessSpin
    @RestlessSpin Před 10 měsíci +6

    Seeing how they are able to Calulate so fast fills me with determination, now I need to Abacus or something like it.

  • @shinobi781
    @shinobi781 Před rokem +5

    This is the reason My dream place is Japan 💚

  • @ht1ps555
    @ht1ps555 Před 2 lety +53

    when I was younger I lived in japan and had an abacus but never learned how to use it. So glad I found this video, will definitely try learning it since I still have it.

  • @sierra3866
    @sierra3866 Před 2 lety +109

    I too learned abacus as a kid, although i did quit early on (i regret to this day), it has helped me my whole life... I can do calculations faster and better than my peers and the surrounding people... I wouldn't say it's extremely difficult but it's definitely requires some effort. Like usual it gets tougher as you move past the levels but you definitely get better too and it sure stays for a lifetime. I wouldn't be lying if i say i retain information much better than many and pretty quickly too. It's an art definitely worth learning.

  • @lisaliao7662
    @lisaliao7662 Před 2 lety +7

    In Taiwan too, in my childhood we learnt to use it as part of our curriculum

  • @victorsteve3272
    @victorsteve3272 Před 4 měsíci +1

    This is so cool!

  • @wendyl5078
    @wendyl5078 Před 2 lety +25

    The type of Abacus most commonly used today was invented in China around the 2nd century B.C. However, Abacus-like devices are first attested from ancient Mesopotamia around 2700 B.C. Well, it has a long history. people are sooo smart to develop it, I had the abacus classes in the primary school but totally forgot how to use it, but my mum still can, amazing tool. I hope the school are still teaching it.

    • @sundaesodaart
      @sundaesodaart Před 2 lety +4

      Maybe thats why ancient Mesopotamia have complex maths like Pythagorean theorem and calculus. Must have been very smart people

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 Před 4 měsíci

      @@sundaesodaart
      They didn't.
      I don't know what gave you that impression.
      The Pythagorean Theorem is Greek and Calculus was really only developed much later by Newton and Leibniz.
      They might have had triples, but no general understanding of how they relate.

  • @supplegrey3613
    @supplegrey3613 Před 2 lety +165

    One day, I want my kids to learn this

  • @sentientturnip9046
    @sentientturnip9046 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Moved to Japan when I was in 3rd grade and remember having to learn this, though was never as good as the kids in this video lol. Had no idea what I was doing at first but remember how fun it was once I got the hang of it. Would be cool to see this integrated in more classrooms as a side activity for math/history lessons.

  • @gracetsensiewlynn5140

    Superb!!!... this should be taught in all schools...

  • @mistybehaviours
    @mistybehaviours Před 2 lety +18

    They are just on a different level to all others in the world. I’m not even that fast in a calculator.

  • @SoonGone
    @SoonGone Před 2 měsíci

    That's amazing! You can see how beneficial it would be to a childs forming brain. I wish there was a way to get classes like that in the UK, I'd send my kids.
    Maybe there's a way to do it online but a tutor in a classroom would be much more beneficial.

  • @lifeofown
    @lifeofown Před 5 měsíci

    This is really helpfull

  • @mateoreed3716
    @mateoreed3716 Před 2 lety +23

    Very insightful. No wonder all their engineering and almost everything else they make is of the highest quality and extremely reliable!

  • @user-kq6ki5bn2k
    @user-kq6ki5bn2k Před 2 lety +67

    For me, a person with dyscalculia, this looks like an ultimate superpower.

  • @peterkephart7955
    @peterkephart7955 Před rokem +1

    Astounding calculating skills!

  • @sarrahadjtayeb8164
    @sarrahadjtayeb8164 Před rokem

    I think this should be something everyone learn it is really important

  • @spareld
    @spareld Před 2 lety +9

    This was awesome. Thank you for sharing ❤

  • @erikcox8749
    @erikcox8749 Před 2 lety +58

    What discipline and respect in the classroom. I love the calmness and patience the teachers have that get passed on to their students.Cool video✌️💙

  • @Rk-uj4nj
    @Rk-uj4nj Před rokem +6

    I’m Vietnamese American. Growing up in the nineties and 2000’s math was hard and still hard for me. I barely remember elementary school division. But seeing this and how it can help with cognitive memory, well hell I want to give it a go. If those kids could do it why not an adult in his thirties.

  • @nassimabk3714
    @nassimabk3714 Před 5 měsíci +4

    2:39 scared the hell outa me

  • @breznevolaso4090
    @breznevolaso4090 Před 2 lety +20

    i almost cried on how great they are.. Truly amazing..

  • @I_Am_AI_007
    @I_Am_AI_007 Před 2 lety +87

    I learned abacus when I was 7. It was pretty tough for me at they age but honestly it was one of the best experience of my life.

  • @john-doe
    @john-doe Před 2 lety +4

    Same as with music, calculating on abacus require both halfs of your brain to be involved in whole process. In other words, at the same time you need to calculate ( digital abilities) and visualise/ imagine ( analog abilities). That's why it's so effective.

  • @cricketcricket-iy1uf
    @cricketcricket-iy1uf Před 5 měsíci +1

    Mind blowing! Their speed , their accuracy

  • @rachelwilliams9563
    @rachelwilliams9563 Před 2 lety +23

    They have abacus 🧮 learning in Ghana 🇬🇭 too, I learned it in my primary school stages. We even have National Abacus competitions,and this girl in my school succeeded at national level. She travelled to I think Malaysia 🇲🇾 for the UCMAS challenge.

  • @46_tahiatasneem97
    @46_tahiatasneem97 Před 2 lety +11

    This video brings me back to childhood. I've learned abacus in my childhood. There is a nationwide competition of mental arithmetic held in our country every year. We had to solve 100 calculations in 5 minutes in that competition.

  • @noway9081
    @noway9081 Před rokem +16

    The beauty of the abacus and learning how to do math problems in the old ways is that they take away the fear of math that a lot of people have.
    People came up with these methods not to understand abstract mathematical principles but to calculate actual values quickly and correctly.
    So these methods are learnable, reliable and intuitive.
    Basically they are easy to learn and work every time.
    So they are great a building confidence and dispelling the fear around math.

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 Před 4 měsíci

      That's like saying that standing on the ground reduces the fear of heights.
      If you actually want to become competent at maths, you need to challenge yourself to think creatively. If you want to become a climber, you need to leave the ground and accept uncertainty.

  • @nancysmith9487
    @nancysmith9487 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Makes sense and mind development, focus, pretty sure abacus students faster than calculator...
    Thank yous for sharing

  • @everythingisfine9988
    @everythingisfine9988 Před 2 lety +5

    Man, I love the sound of abacus's. It's soothing like popping bubble wrap 🎶

  • @gbharan265
    @gbharan265 Před 2 lety +5

    2:36 - Holy crap the wall clock in the class room is also an abacus clock !

  • @thedude4594
    @thedude4594 Před 3 měsíci

    Absolutely fabulous

  • @Veryangry_kitten9882
    @Veryangry_kitten9882 Před rokem +1

    wow 😍 they are so young and learning Arithmetic, that's amazing😍😍😍😍

  • @saumyateresajacob9815
    @saumyateresajacob9815 Před 2 lety +40

    Yeah I had the fortune to learn abacus when I was in 3rd class. I don't remember much now but it still helped me get a grip on basic arithmetics. I think it came through practicing a lot of problems which my Abacus teacher gave in class and as homework

  • @muppet1011
    @muppet1011 Před 2 lety +4

    Good god, this is simultaneously impressive and intimidating. I like the idea of replacing numbers with images but did you see how fast those numbers appeared on the screen. Wow!

  • @jessamaem.aringo3558
    @jessamaem.aringo3558 Před 2 lety +2

    Wow!..Im truelly speechless by truelly amazing .. i wish i know and learn this early when i was still a kid

  • @barbiebarbie1813
    @barbiebarbie1813 Před 11 měsíci +9

    At least 2000 years ago, a group of ancient Chinese brought abacus (including a large number of Chinese products and classical Chinese books) to ancient Japan. It was used to use it to the local ancient Chinese.
    In ancient Japan, it was called "東瀛/倭" (the name of the region named by the Chinese emperor). "東瀛/倭" was one of the regimes in ancniet China (especially before the 13th century). Only a large ship made by Chinese people can come and go " 東瀛/倭 ".
    At that time, other areas were people in the indigenous tribe (the ancestors of the Japanese today).
    Ancient Japanese 東瀛/倭 history (including ancient Korea 朝鮮 and North Vietnam 交趾) were classical Chinese character . They were written by local Chinese . Chinese personnel who wrote history were literary elites (sent by Chinese officials). Writing history is also the official regulations of China.
    Historical records in various regions of China need to review the Chinese emperor. These historical history mainly records the stories of ancient Chinese in ancient Japanese倭/Korea朝鮮/North Vietnam交趾(about local Chinese and Chinese palaces). And a small number of local indigenous customs.
    * ancient japan 東瀛/倭 (before the 13th century)
    * today japan 日本
    ------------------------------
    The earliest known written documentation of the Chinese abacus dates to the 2nd century BC (Chinese Han Dynasty). In this way, the beads have been knocking for over two thousand years.

    The abacus, a unique counting tool invented by ancient Chinese people, has faded out in most areas of China, as calculators and computers are widely used in modern times. But in the long history until only twenty years ago, the abacus has long been an important calculation tool for every household, not to mention accountants and dealers.
    Having gone through a long history, the Chinese abacus family includes a great number of interesting and rare members. Without a doubt, every treasure of a particular color, material and shape is a gem of the craftsman’s wisdom. The materials used for producing abaci include ivory, elephant bone, rosewood, Brazilian rosewood, ox horn, bronze, iron, bamboo and so on. Made from various materials, the abaci are designed into different forms to meet all kinds of needs of the operators. Below are some remarkable pieces of abacus work.

    • @chiochio3471
      @chiochio3471 Před 5 měsíci

      This is the basic truth. BBC is disseminating misinformation.

  • @queenbeeaimie
    @queenbeeaimie Před 2 lety +22

    i swear i ve never seen this kinda learning happening anywhere else in the world. Japan always works harder on human abilities.

    • @rimitagoni6023
      @rimitagoni6023 Před 2 lety +5

      I am pretty sure there are other countries who do this practice as I have read from another comment of the Indian person. During the 2018~ or even before that for some time the paid extracullicular activites were very popular and one of them was called mental arithmetics. It was populazr back then in post-soviet territory, but now not so much. Anyways, they taught young children how to calculate with abacus. I admit that since it is fairly new here, and was just a passing trend, but nevertheless it can be all aroung the globe too

    • @amanekaze
      @amanekaze Před 2 lety +1

      Me: *laughs in used to be in chinese primary school and chinese kids and teens were smartass like Japan*

    • @mynahlu977
      @mynahlu977 Před 2 lety +1

      Not sure about other places but there are enrichment classes in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan teaching abacus to school children for many many years.

    • @amanekaze
      @amanekaze Před 2 lety

      @@mynahlu977 and I'm from Malaysia :D I used to do abacus but I forgot it when times passed when I move school around late 2015. Damn calculating about 2015 feels like 6 years ago (and for 2022 it'd be 7 years)

    • @captainmcduckyYT
      @captainmcduckyYT Před 2 lety +2

      These are pretty common in India. We took UCMAS classes back in the day. I think it helped somewhere. But hey, they teach gender studies in America so I guess everyone has their specialties.

  • @delromanc3
    @delromanc3 Před 2 lety +21

    I remember how popular soroban was back in elementary school, in my country. When we had math exam, if uve spent enough time with the soroban, u can imagine it was there on your desk and calculated in your mind.

  • @xv_2046
    @xv_2046 Před 5 měsíci

    That is just amazing.

  • @ElGranCuckolder
    @ElGranCuckolder Před rokem +2

    Thank you 💪🧠

  • @anonimuse6553
    @anonimuse6553 Před 2 lety +6

    Lovely and fun. Thanks to everyone involved in this video.

  • @dac545j
    @dac545j Před 2 lety +17

    In smaller shops in Japan, they use a calculator to show you the price and they turn it to you so you can see how much to pay. At first I thought it was for foreigners like myself, but no, it is for locals too. I expect that this practice comes from a time when the same type of shop would use a soroban. By the way, my Japanese mother-in-law uses the soroban to add up receipts for the "household ledger" (a book in which you keep note of your spending habits), which is still a thing in Japan.

  • @paulminh3525
    @paulminh3525 Před rokem +1

    I have study how to calculate number from my mind since I follow some of Japanese techniques of learning math and number that help me improve my skill as learner. I appreciate their techniques and knowledges!

  • @Alex-wc9ql
    @Alex-wc9ql Před rokem

    Outstanding!

  • @Sandman330
    @Sandman330 Před 2 lety +7

    That's just mind blowing 🤯the dedication 🇬🇧👍🏻

  • @padmabati7273
    @padmabati7273 Před 2 lety +3

    😭😭😭 literally am crying. How good this teaching system 👏 is.