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

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  • Опубліковано 4 тра 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
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 3,3 тис.

  • @terrancekayton007
    @terrancekayton007 2 роки тому +6542

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

    • @eatcarpet
      @eatcarpet 2 роки тому +193

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

    • @user-ee2fw1bs9x
      @user-ee2fw1bs9x 2 роки тому +57

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

    • @Centre14
      @Centre14 2 роки тому +48

      this isn't taught in local schools.

    • @mk17173n
      @mk17173n 2 роки тому +149

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

    • @eatcarpet
      @eatcarpet 2 роки тому +71

      @@mk17173n People don't have shared values.

  • @shubhambhardwaj6952
    @shubhambhardwaj6952 2 роки тому +6680

    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 2 роки тому +24

      not in india

    • @aryamore6343
      @aryamore6343 2 роки тому +6

      @@worldusa6853 why?

    • @aaradhanah5059
      @aaradhanah5059 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +118

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

    • @M1551NGN0
      @M1551NGN0 2 роки тому +37

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

  • @Daily_Llama
    @Daily_Llama 7 місяців тому +421

    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 3 місяці тому +15

      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 2 місяці тому

      ​@@Thewhiteandorange🦥

    • @wisdomencouraged9326
      @wisdomencouraged9326 2 місяці тому +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 Рік тому +277

    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 6 місяців тому +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.

    • @piinkpai
      @piinkpai Місяць тому

      @@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 Місяць тому +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 Місяць тому

      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.

  • @ashura_7777
    @ashura_7777 2 роки тому +2613

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

    • @wacharaboy
      @wacharaboy 2 роки тому +32

      The more you think about it, the deeper it gets

    • @WT.....
      @WT..... 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +13

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

    • @TheSeeking2know
      @TheSeeking2know 2 роки тому +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.

  • @TheAdizone
    @TheAdizone 2 роки тому +1354

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

    • @i_hate_google_
      @i_hate_google_ 2 роки тому +116

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

    • @franciscocz8384
      @franciscocz8384 2 роки тому +11

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

    • @anna1417
      @anna1417 2 роки тому +90

      Mine was like: Did you catch any number? 🐌

    • @MinutePlant
      @MinutePlant 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +23

      That was absolutely artful.

  • @kir4n
    @kir4n Рік тому +660

    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 Рік тому +2

      I seek the real truth too.

    • @bracketclose
      @bracketclose Рік тому +8

      Where can I learn it now? Guide me

    • @-whackd
      @-whackd Рік тому +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 Рік тому

      Very cool!

    • @doyaeducation1744
      @doyaeducation1744 Рік тому +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.

  • @kajihararin3717
    @kajihararin3717 Рік тому +1308

    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 Рік тому +18

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

    • @peterlee6148
      @peterlee6148 Рік тому

      7u70pjnkñm

    • @bracketclose
      @bracketclose Рік тому +13

      Where can I learn it now? Guide me

    • @barbaratells1285
      @barbaratells1285 Рік тому +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 Рік тому +7

      @@BSRawat-pv8dv Many years of practice

  • @RohitPant04
    @RohitPant04 2 роки тому +3873

    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 Рік тому +69

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

    • @reemaw4003
      @reemaw4003 Рік тому +17

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

    • @J.C-L73
      @J.C-L73 Рік тому +56

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

    • @migeru2015
      @migeru2015 Рік тому +4

      @Rohit Pant Absolutely! 💯

    • @theencryptedpartition4633
      @theencryptedpartition4633 Рік тому +1

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

  • @Briguy1027
    @Briguy1027 2 роки тому +5846

    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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +77

      Never too late to learn though.

  • @jannickharambe8550
    @jannickharambe8550 4 місяці тому +17

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

  • @mrinmoybanik5598
    @mrinmoybanik5598 2 роки тому +3651

    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 2 роки тому +33

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

    • @franny5295
      @franny5295 2 роки тому +196

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

    • @factshistory3193
      @factshistory3193 2 роки тому +5

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

    • @angelinastar5169
      @angelinastar5169 2 роки тому +2

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

    • @franny5295
      @franny5295 2 роки тому +6

      @@frozenflame1445 There's a class online?

  • @koleyw932
    @koleyw932 2 роки тому +2134

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

    • @sonnynguyen1006
      @sonnynguyen1006 Рік тому +4

      Culture is amazing

    • @sonnynguyen1006
      @sonnynguyen1006 Рік тому +4

      Culture is amazing

    • @jodyguilbeaux8225
      @jodyguilbeaux8225 Рік тому

      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 Рік тому +3

      Thank you!

    • @chocho563
      @chocho563 Рік тому +30

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

  • @LiLGouda.
    @LiLGouda. Рік тому +374

    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 Рік тому +29

      More importantly their families are very invested in their children.

    • @Thecdnsurvivor
      @Thecdnsurvivor 4 місяці тому +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 3 місяці тому +3

      other countries: haha calculators goes brrrrrr

    • @exelrode
      @exelrode 3 місяці тому +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 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @wynez1
    @wynez1 Рік тому +88

    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 2 роки тому +979

    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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +1

      @@cpfink1242 they show an amazing example of sitzfleisch

  • @manjusaka92
    @manjusaka92 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +7

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

    • @nsaffini1975
      @nsaffini1975 2 роки тому

      True

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones Рік тому +1

      Its never too late to learn

  • @TheGrenadier97
    @TheGrenadier97 Рік тому +30

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

  • @jeremiahsmith916
    @jeremiahsmith916 6 місяців тому +16

    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.

  • @rukathehamsteratwork8896
    @rukathehamsteratwork8896 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +29

      She has a tongue that got the cat

    • @tanishkanagar5756
      @tanishkanagar5756 2 роки тому +6

      Yeah bruhh I can't even-

    • @talithapatrick1188
      @talithapatrick1188 2 роки тому +10

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

    • @suakeli
      @suakeli 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому

      tongue....yeah

  • @michaelleboulluec3654
    @michaelleboulluec3654 2 роки тому +188

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

  • @pranjalchauhan237
    @pranjalchauhan237 Рік тому +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

  • @stuff5652
    @stuff5652 11 місяців тому +7

    This is beyond amazing.

  • @tara2769
    @tara2769 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +4

      @@skyward7903 yaa

    • @Immortal-Daiki
      @Immortal-Daiki 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +3

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

  • @rezkalif
    @rezkalif 2 роки тому +386

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

    • @grind1968
      @grind1968 2 роки тому +3

      wow how does she do that?

    • @MinutePlant
      @MinutePlant 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +40

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

    • @ramenomirice2767
      @ramenomirice2767 2 роки тому +25

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

    • @mellowblueu
      @mellowblueu 2 роки тому +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.

  • @josevelez7539
    @josevelez7539 Рік тому +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 Рік тому +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 10 місяців тому +1

      @@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 7 місяців тому +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 7 місяців тому

      @@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 4 місяці тому

      ​@@benznesspasta originates from China, but sure

  • @nami4823
    @nami4823 Рік тому +1

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

  • @NZKiwi87
    @NZKiwi87 2 роки тому +471

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

    • @stariadreamtea
      @stariadreamtea 2 роки тому +9

      Me too! Kinesthetic learning!

    • @mtlicq
      @mtlicq 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +2

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

    • @reenakumari249
      @reenakumari249 2 роки тому

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

  • @joliejolie8547
    @joliejolie8547 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +11

      lol who knows your imams will tag it as haram

    • @joliejolie8547
      @joliejolie8547 2 роки тому +6

      @@deadmanlive6961 what is imam?

    • @blitzorn8417
      @blitzorn8417 2 роки тому

      @@deadmanlive6961 simpleton

    • @techhal4161
      @techhal4161 2 роки тому +13

      @@deadmanlive6961 everything is not haram 🤦‍♀️

    • @gold_friday
      @gold_friday 2 роки тому +21

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

  • @InSterquiliniisInvenitur
    @InSterquiliniisInvenitur Рік тому +6

    This is amazing

  • @abhinavyadav6073
    @abhinavyadav6073 10 місяців тому

    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.

  • @user-po8no1xp6e
    @user-po8no1xp6e 2 роки тому +132

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

    • @Thewhiteandorange
      @Thewhiteandorange 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @pinklady7184
    @pinklady7184 2 роки тому +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.

  • @RestlessSpin
    @RestlessSpin 9 місяців тому +6

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

  • @tortilyaaaa
    @tortilyaaaa Рік тому +2

    respect. I love this focus

  • @anjafink8996
    @anjafink8996 2 роки тому +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!

  • @shreyasmungad
    @shreyasmungad 2 роки тому +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 😇

  • @Ronald-Butler
    @Ronald-Butler 3 місяці тому +1

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

  • @DoriSo-wj3so
    @DoriSo-wj3so 3 місяці тому +2

    It's amazing to see this side of learning.

  • @jasminabid5984
    @jasminabid5984 2 роки тому +62

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

    • @zinjanthropus322
      @zinjanthropus322 2 роки тому +1

      How about adults?

    • @publishingstudioanuraga4667
      @publishingstudioanuraga4667 2 роки тому +1

      Namaste, from which city?

    • @tonyzerrer3227
      @tonyzerrer3227 2 роки тому

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

    • @jasminabid5984
      @jasminabid5984 2 роки тому

      @@publishingstudioanuraga4667 kerala

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 3 місяці тому

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

  • @mohamedbailorjalloh6999
    @mohamedbailorjalloh6999 2 роки тому +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 Рік тому +3

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

    • @anupamtiwari5587
      @anupamtiwari5587 Рік тому +3

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

    • @hananokuni2580
      @hananokuni2580 Рік тому

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

  • @karannegi27
    @karannegi27 Рік тому +1

    Brilliant Way Of Learning & Memorising Things Super Quickly 💫

  • @sam4457
    @sam4457 3 місяці тому +3

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

  • @SG-kd2gi
    @SG-kd2gi 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому

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

  • @ht1ps555
    @ht1ps555 2 роки тому +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.

  • @orpheusbarvalo3042
    @orpheusbarvalo3042 2 роки тому +3

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

  • @handelnehemia7378
    @handelnehemia7378 Рік тому +4

    My god I can't even remember my own phone number

  • @quinto190
    @quinto190 2 роки тому +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.

  • @gbharan265
    @gbharan265 2 роки тому +5

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

  • @swatimukhopadhyay7534
    @swatimukhopadhyay7534 Рік тому +8

    This should be introduced throughout the world.

    • @zmara5230
      @zmara5230 4 місяці тому +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. 😂

  • @MoTee1
    @MoTee1 4 місяці тому

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

  • @spareld
    @spareld 2 роки тому +9

    This was awesome. Thank you for sharing ❤

  • @Ranvinay-vp7qq
    @Ranvinay-vp7qq 2 місяці тому +1

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

  • @victorsteve3272
    @victorsteve3272 4 місяці тому +1

    This is so cool!

  • @wendyl5078
    @wendyl5078 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +4

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

    • @MrCmon113
      @MrCmon113 3 місяці тому

      @@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.

  • @danielwhyatt3278
    @danielwhyatt3278 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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.

  • @cricketcricket-iy1uf
    @cricketcricket-iy1uf 5 місяців тому +1

    Mind blowing! Their speed , their accuracy

  • @lifeofown
    @lifeofown 5 місяців тому

    This is really helpfull

  • @muppet1011
    @muppet1011 2 роки тому +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!

  • @46_tahiatasneem97
    @46_tahiatasneem97 2 роки тому +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.

  • @peterkephart7955
    @peterkephart7955 Рік тому +1

    Astounding calculating skills!

  • @ElGranCuckolder
    @ElGranCuckolder Рік тому +2

    Thank you 💪🧠

  • @breznevolaso4090
    @breznevolaso4090 2 роки тому +20

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

  • @mistybehaviours
    @mistybehaviours 2 роки тому +18

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

  • @sentientturnip9046
    @sentientturnip9046 3 місяці тому +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.

  • @jessamaem.aringo3558
    @jessamaem.aringo3558 Рік тому +2

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

  • @deeznuts8624
    @deeznuts8624 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +1

      From where you learnt abacus

    • @cheryl5994
      @cheryl5994 2 роки тому +4

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

    • @2highbruh
      @2highbruh Рік тому +3

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

  • @tigress63
    @tigress63 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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..... 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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.

  • @nancysmith9487
    @nancysmith9487 Місяць тому +1

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

  • @xv_2046
    @xv_2046 4 місяці тому

    That is just amazing.

  • @padmabati7273
    @padmabati7273 2 роки тому +3

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

  • @erikcox8749
    @erikcox8749 2 роки тому +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✌️💙

  • @fefaith7986
    @fefaith7986 Рік тому +2

    Wow, I would love to learn this! Especially as I'm hands on!

  • @sarrahadjtayeb8164
    @sarrahadjtayeb8164 Рік тому

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

  • @rachelwilliams9563
    @rachelwilliams9563 2 роки тому +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.

  • @saumyateresajacob9815
    @saumyateresajacob9815 2 роки тому +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

  • @manishavaid227
    @manishavaid227 Рік тому +3

    Why is abacus not taught in all countries and schools ?

  • @rajchoudhary4349
    @rajchoudhary4349 Рік тому +3

    Just amazing..!! The display of numbers gives me jitters.. lol. Great way indeed to improve concentration as kids..!! Well done

  • @anonimuse6553
    @anonimuse6553 2 роки тому +6

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

  • @sierra3866
    @sierra3866 2 роки тому +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.

  • @thedude4594
    @thedude4594 2 місяці тому

    Absolutely fabulous

  • @Alex-wc9ql
    @Alex-wc9ql Рік тому

    Outstanding!

  • @MH-oc4de
    @MH-oc4de 2 роки тому +11

    Watching those kids react like pavlov's dog to the next problem was ... kind of terrifying. As a physiscist who uses a lot of mathematics, I don't see the usefulness of taxing one's brain with long digit arithmetic. It seems similar to the disconnect between spelling bee success and understanding the meaning of words.

    •  2 роки тому +3

      Totally agree. It's so admirable, beautiful and skillfull. But they are so young, they are learning to do everything too fast with their hands and reacting to the screens in less than 1 second. It looks like conditioning them to work more, type faster and create higher volume, which for a human body looks too tiring, stressful and depressing to the long run (maybe at their 20's - 25's they will be too tired and stressed out competing to work faster and more)

    • @carlnilssonyoung8961
      @carlnilssonyoung8961 2 роки тому +1

      Well it helps to work more efficiently, especially in those jobs requiring this skill. So u know why Honda, Toyota, bullet train engineers n many more Japanese work force are remarkable and respected by their efficiency.

    •  2 роки тому

      @@carlnilssonyoung8961 100% yes. Absolutely. But I think in the human life quality too. Not just been the best engineer fulfills your life. You need friends, family and people to share your happiness. Otherwise is too lonely and sad as a human, we aren't machines, and even machines needs lots of humans...

    • @carlnilssonyoung8961
      @carlnilssonyoung8961 2 роки тому +3

      @ being efficient, being engineers, being good at abacus do not mean they have to be a robot , to be no life at all.
      They smile, they laugh too.
      Yes, Work life balance is important indeed.
      Whether know how to balance is an art. And it is definitely not relevant to good at abacus or not.

    •  2 роки тому +1

      @@carlnilssonyoung8961 I love your point! Super clear 😊👌🏻

  • @Sandman330
    @Sandman330 2 роки тому +7

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

  • @qtxrs-st7xe
    @qtxrs-st7xe Рік тому +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.

  • @john-doe
    @john-doe 2 роки тому +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.

  • @delromanc3
    @delromanc3 2 роки тому +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.

  • @fraudcatk
    @fraudcatk 2 роки тому +24

    i started learning abacus as early as 2nd grade, before i decided to leave it in 6th grade. i can recall how classes would never start directly with random multiplication or division questions, we were made to write the numbers that the teacher spoke which could be as long as 2 to 4 digits. it actually helps u keeping up with the numbers when u r calculating on abacus or in ur mind. i can only calculate 5x5 digit addition - subtraction , 4x3 or 3x2 digits multiplication - division in my mind but like 30% of the time its wrong lmaoo .

  • @gracetsensiewlynn5140
    @gracetsensiewlynn5140 11 місяців тому

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

  • @sechabaramphele1383
    @sechabaramphele1383 Рік тому +1

    Incredible!

  • @I_Am_AI_007
    @I_Am_AI_007 2 роки тому +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.

  • @everythingisfine9988
    @everythingisfine9988 2 роки тому +5

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

  • @lisaliao7662
    @lisaliao7662 Рік тому +7

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

  • @SoonGone
    @SoonGone Місяць тому

    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.

  • @dac545j
    @dac545j 2 роки тому +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.

  • @Shamuto7
    @Shamuto7 2 роки тому +20

    I remember when it was first introduced to us in our Math class and we learned it back in elementary. This was being thought at school in the Philippines as well.

    • @greycircularity
      @greycircularity 2 роки тому +3

      Philippines? Where? I took nursery up until undergraduate education in De La Salle Araneta University and I've never seen a singe abacus

    • @Shamuto7
      @Shamuto7 2 роки тому +2

      @@greycircularity hmm, you guys have the latest stuff probably but I am from a De La Salle supervised school in Palawan and this is part of our curriculum as well as the 2 hands method where you can devide and multiply with even greater value (forgot what it's called).

    • @Shamuto7
      @Shamuto7 2 роки тому +1

      @@greycircularity Hmm, unless you take every grade in different schools of course you wouldn't have encountered it. It's not like everyone have the same faculty members and learning system in our nation's private schools.
      But you guys might have the latest stuff so the faculty don't have to push the abacus method whereas I am from a De La Salle supervised school in Palawan and this is part of our curriculum as well as the 2 hands method to add, subtract, divide and multiply with even greater value (forgot what it's called).

  • @birsensuuu
    @birsensuuu 2 місяці тому

    what have I just watched? literally the way they concentrate and calculate are beyond my imagination.

  • @Rk-uj4nj
    @Rk-uj4nj Рік тому +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.

  • @queenbeeaimie
    @queenbeeaimie 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому +1

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

    • @mynahlu977
      @mynahlu977 2 роки тому +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 2 роки тому

      @@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 2 роки тому +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.

  • @jennbi1627
    @jennbi1627 2 роки тому +5

    Oh my!!!! This kids are on another level!!