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

[@terrancekayton007]

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

[@eatcarpet]

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

[@エビ-j8b]

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

[@Centre14]

this isn't taught in local schools.

[@mk17173n]

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

[@eatcarpet]

@@mk17173n People don't have shared values.

[@RohitPant04]

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]

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

[@reema_W]

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

[@J.C-L73]

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

[@migeru2015]

@Rohit Pant Absolutely! 💯

[@theencryptedpartition4633]

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

[@OGDailylama]

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]

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]

​@@Thewhiteandorange🦥

[@wisdomencouraged9326]

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

[@l.w.paradis2108]

BRAVO!!

[@shubhambhardwaj6952]

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]

not in india

[@aryamore6343]

@@worldusa6853 why?

[@aaradhanah5059]

@@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]

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

[@M1551NGN0]

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

[@ashura_7777]

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

[@wacharaboy]

The more you think about it, the deeper it gets

[@WT.....]

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]

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]

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

[@TheSeeking2know]

@@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.

[@rineng4127]

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]

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]

@@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]

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

[@iamhereblossom1588]

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.

[@GierlangBhaktiPutra]

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]

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]

@@cpfink1242 they show an amazing example of sitzfleisch

[@Briguy1027]

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.

[@Briguy1027]

@Anthony Anthony 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.

[@brianwong2430]

@Anthony Anthony 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]

Never too late to learn though.

[@kamranrowshandel6395]

The more obvious "theory" is that we are stupid because our moms didn't have thick vaginas and our brains were squeezed too much during birth. This is a conspiracy video

[@v.kalyaneswar9696]

No, all you need is practice age may influence a little bit but that's not a problem

[@kir4n]

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]

I seek the real truth too.

[@bracketclose]

Where can I learn it now? Guide me

[@-whackd]

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]

Very cool!

[@doyaeducation1744]

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.

[@mrinmoybanik5598]

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]

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

[@franny5295]

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

[@factshistory3193]

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

[@angelinastar5169]

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

[@franny5295]

@@frozenflame1445 There's a class online?

[@koleyw932]

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

[@sonnynguyen1006]

Culture is amazing

[@sonnynguyen1006]

Culture is amazing

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

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]

Thank you!

[@chocho563]

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

[@kajihararin3717]

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]

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

[@peterlee6148]

7u70pjnkñm

[@bracketclose]

Where can I learn it now? Guide me

[@barbaratells1285]

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]

@@BSRawat-pv8dv Many years of practice

[@manjusaka92]

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]

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

[@nsaffini1975]

True

[@oz_jones]

Its never too late to learn

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Why can't we have cool fads like this?

[@TheAdizone]

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

[@i_hate_google_]

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

[@franciscocz8384]

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

[@anna1417]

Mine was like: Did you catch any number? 🐌

[@MinutePlant]

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]

That was absolutely artful.

[@jannickharambe8550]

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

[@rukathehamsteratwork8896]

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]

She has a tongue that got the cat

[@tanishkanagar5756]

Yeah bruhh I can't even-

[@talithapatrick1188]

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

[@suakeli]

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]

tongue....yeah

[@michaelleboulluec3654]

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

[@wynez1]

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!

[@chillfrequency2374]

Thats the way go go, lets have some kids together

[@anjafink8996]

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!

[@tara2769]

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]

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]

@@skyward7903 yaa

[@Immortal-Daiki]

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

[@Shaily.kapadia]

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

[@snaik9141]

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

[@Ranvinay-vp7qq]

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

[@victoza9232]

@Ranyinay-yp7qq What fields? And if what you claim is true, why isn’t Japan a superpower like the US is? The Japanese have been good at copying and improving tech, but not really known to be innovators.

[@renren5491]

@@victoza9232 You just don't know.

[@victoza9232]

@ Don’t know what?

[@onelifeoneloveonedream1658]

@@victoza9232Japan has a size smaller than the state of California yet one of most powerful country in Asia. I believe a Japanese kid is more intelligent than you and your whole family.

[@onelifeoneloveonedream1658]

@@victoza9232One Japanese person is more disciplined than your grandmother.

[@shreyasmungad]

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 😇

[@joliejolie8547]

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]

lol who knows your imams will tag it as haram

[@joliejolie8547]

@@deadmanlive6961 what is imam?

[@blitzorn8417]

@@deadmanlive6961 simpleton

[@techhal4161]

@@deadmanlive6961 everything is not haram 🤦‍♀️

[@gold_friday]

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

[@jeremiahsmith916]

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.

[@SG-kd2gi]

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]

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

[@danielwhyatt3278]

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]

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.

[@LiLGouda.]

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

[@guy_with_a_car]

More importantly their families are very invested in their children.

[@Thecdnsurvivor]

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]

other countries: haha calculators goes brrrrrr

[@exelrode]

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]

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

[@pinklady7184]

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.

[@just1desi]

Did you use a website

[@greenknitter]

I'm in Ireland too, did you buy them here?

[@nguyenngocminh7504]

Wow 😯 😮 I want one

[@rezkalif]

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

[@grind1968]

wow how does she do that?

[@MinutePlant]

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]

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

[@ramenomirice2767]

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

[@mellowblueu]

@@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.

[@TheGrenadier97]

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

[@NZKiwi87]

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

[@stariadreamtea]

Me too! Kinesthetic learning!

[@mtlicq]

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]

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

[@NZKiwi87]

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

[@reenakumari249]

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

[@mohamedbailorjalloh6999]

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]

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

[@anupamtiwari5587]

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

[@hananokuni2580]

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

[@sam4457]

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

[@ht1ps555]

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]

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.

[@Wqghfxz]

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

[@Thewhiteandorange]

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.

[@DTreatz]

It's good but they're overly disciplined to the point of being militaristic, which in a military works great, but in other industries seems to stunt their development of creative and critical thinking. No doubt it's what hinders their ingenuity, and that culture drives suicide rates.

[@quinto190]

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.

[@ask4144]

at 5:27. It is unbelievable. I had to set the speed at 0.25 and also pause the video and then use a calculator. If she has had the time to see the numbers and added them up in this short time, then this is crazy.

[@wendyl5078]

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.

[@aurorachords]

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

[@MrCmon113]

@@aurorachords 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.

[@josevelez7539]

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]

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]

@@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]

​@@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]

@@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.

[@blackniga420]

​@@benznesspasta originates from China, but sure

[@qtxrs-st7xe]

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.

[@Kobe29261]

You should publish the definitive paper on it🤔. Its certainly demonstrable. Its frustrating how little of obvious insights from science not to mention cutting edge discoveries in academia, percolate into the common mans everyday practice of life. Was one of the kids who wouldn't - now we know, couldn't sit still - nobody in my culture thought - hey, lets hand that class of kids an abacus so they have something to do with their hands!

[@jasminabid5984]

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

[@zinjanthropus322]

How about adults?

[@publishingstudioanuraga4667]

Namaste, from which city?

[@tonyzerrer3227]

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

[@jasminabid5984]

@@publishingstudioanuraga4667 kerala

[@MrCmon113]

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

[@Iris_890]

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.

[@manishavaid227]

Why is abacus not taught in all countries and schools ?

[@azabujuban-hito-dake]

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

[@dac545j]

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.

[@InSterquiliniisInvenitur]

This is amazing

[@spareld]

This was awesome. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@delromanc3]

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.

[@RestlessSpin]

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

[@saumyateresajacob9815]

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

[@mateoreed3716]

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

[@shinobi781]

This is the reason My dream place is Japan 💚

[@erikcox8749]

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✌️💙

[@mistybehaviours]

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

[@rajchoudhary4349]

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

[@I_Am_AI_007]

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.

[@Shamuto7]

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]

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

[@Shamuto7]

@@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]

@@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).

[@Rk-uj4nj]

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.

[@46_tahiatasneem97]

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.

[@anonimuse6553]

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

[@xINSAN1TYx]

The part at 5:25 and 3:23 is insane. The numbers are going so fast!!

[@breznevolaso4090]

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

[@fraudcatk]

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 .

[@AVOWIRENEWS]

The exploration of Japan's ancient methods for cognitive memory enhancement is truly fascinating! It's amazing how traditional practices and knowledge can offer insights into improving memory and cognitive function. Japan's rich cultural heritage and focus on mindfulness and discipline might provide valuable techniques for enhancing mental agility and memory retention. It's always enlightening to learn how different cultures approach such important aspects of human health and wellbeing. What a great topic to delve into! 🌸🧠✨

[@AbDeRRaHiMX]

5:25 what the hell

[@Sandman330]

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

[@barbiebarbie1813]

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]

This is the basic truth. BBC is disseminating misinformation.

[@tufsoft1]

I used to use an abacus 40 years ago to do accounts, addition and subtraction are easy, but multiplication and division are an order of magnitude harder and take months to learn, I believe.

[@supplegrey3613]

One day, I want my kids to learn this

[@yt.personal.identification]

Searching for abacus (x3...one for me) and a YT starter tutorial now. Why wait?

[@BestMods168]

@@yt.personal.identification its just a comment to make himself feel good about himself.

[@yt.personal.identification]

@@BestMods168 The tutorials are easier to find to start with 😉

[@BlissParadigm]

Sure you will

[@Johnhasa1]

Samme

[@RUNOV.A]

This is stunning! Happiness to you students🌺, happiness to you teachers🌺🌍💫

[@lidette711]

I wish my school was just a tad more serious about the abacus. I actually remember it being fun. I wish I studied it more. We only got a few days' worth of lessons, but that was it.

[@heavenlysadist]

*Come to Chinese school*

[@jennbi1627]

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

[@queenbeeaimie]

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

[@rimitagoni6023]

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

[@heavenlysadist]

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

[@mynahlu977]

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

[@heavenlysadist]

@@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]

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.

[@everythingisfine9988]

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

[@pranjalchauhan237]

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

[@vavaiva4080]

Woah, i joined abacus academy when i was in elementary school.. seeing them need to calculate fast specially 'shadow abacus' that's how our teacher said, really help me until today 😄

[@gbharan265]

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

[@nguyenngocminh7504]

😂😅

[@RichardGolD-wz3is]

Yoo America go back to your disuni lando

[@DoriSo-wj3so]

It's amazing to see this side of learning.

[@MH-oc4de]

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.

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]

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.

@@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]

@ 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.

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

[@swatimukhopadhyay7534]

This should be introduced throughout the world.

[@zmara5230]

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. 😂

[@Kobe29261]

1:35 is why I'm buying an abacus - that girl essentially boot-strapped her fingers into a micro-sub* processor WHILE her brain held the question/instructions in mind awaiting the asynchronous call to return from her fingers. I never learned the abacus and always have to look off into the distance when trying to do mental calculations; it never occured to anyone that the fingers would be perfect as an adjunct in my culture! Thank you - this was pure insight!

[@TehmeenaZeeshanRJ]

I really want to learn this to this level. I wish 🙏

[@sophiakato5726]

I started the abacus when I was 5 years old. And it was when I was 7 years old that I became able to calculate 8 x 8 digits on the abacus and 5 x 5 digits by mental abacus. Even now, 30 years later, I can calculate up to 8-digit numbers mentally.

[@nancysmith9487]

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

[@Panacea4you]

Wowww,!!! I wish this technique get taught by all country's school

[@ЧёяКтоя]

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

[@cyclesofstrength]

I have it too, this all looks like pain haha

[@futuristica1710]

Same.

[@PoojaSharma015]

2:40 The way that kid switch paper ❤️😂🎉❤️

[@hemira_stay1841]

its poor how my country didn't even have abacus lesson....i was so jelous how skillful this youngster are..

[@avi2125]

Boy, that STOP command (approx 1:05) was electrifying - all of them hard-stopped. At the end of school exams Ive taken, there wud always be some of us who wud keep scribbling..."5 more minutes, please, ma'am... " 🙄🙄😀😀

[@jessamaem.aringo3558]

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

[@queenott699]

I just started learning Soroban for 2 days and its quite challenging for me but those kids are so fast!

[@hithere-cw6bd]

🤐Mind blowing how fast these kids can calculate 👏👏

[@WheelgunsOnWheels]

Quite literally amazing.

[@piyushpatil4679]

Here in India we have ucmas, tuition centres which teach abacus and it's the one single thing I wish that I had attended from when I was 5 years old, its definitely worth it.

[@sanjayargade5802]

I am an Indian and I am in level 4 of abacus, I am really amazed how fast they do, they add 15 numbers in 1.5 seconds! Marvelous

[@noway9081]

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]

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.

[@blueshoes915]

Wish I had learned this. America is so far behind in education it’s ridiculous. This would have been amazingly helpful for me growing up and I’m sure a lot of other students as well. Maybe I’ll try and learn it now as an adult.

[@sleepyearth]

In America, the GOP will erect laws to ban this because it's CRT.

[@annainspain5176]

In the 1960s in the Iowa elementary school l attended, there was 1 abacus per classroom, made with large colourful beads, but the teachers only gave a general demonstration once or twice. Mostly we played with it as a toy when we couldn't go outside for recess, pushing the beads back and forth. No one took it seriously as a learning tool.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

well, let's be frank, united states (and don't say america, america is two continents ) is full of gridzillas you know, and facts from grades, not opinions, show fair and square that white and asians are excellents at mathematics.. the rest i cannot write but you know.

[@anosikeagbanyim1573]

I can train you

[@gwarlow]

@blueshoes915 But America is so far ahead in the things that really matter, like homelessness, theme parks, military spending, Starbucks Cafés and an unaffordable healthcare “system”. ;-)

[@FreedomForKashmir]

5:31 WTF just happened there ??

[@lisaliao7662]

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