The systemic fear of H1N1, known more colloquially as “swine flu,” has seized the world by the haunches, prompting the United Nations to create “World Hand Washing Day” in an attempt to convey the importance of proper hygiene to prevent the virus’s spread.

Set in Tokyo, Japan, a group of kindergartners mimed hand washing instructions in the form of song and dance, focusing on all aspects of the hands including the nails and wrists. This was just one of five schools across the country and one of the eighty countries to celebrate the World Hand-Washing Day in their own creative and festive way.

The event served as a reminder that the swine flu, declared a pandemic in June of this year by the World Health Organization and responsible for over 4,000 deaths, is easily preventable.

Ayako Uragami of the Japan Committe for UNICEF discussed the importance of washing your hands and how doing it in a fun and creative way makes the seemingly annoying process more enjoyable for young children. “In general, we need at least 20 seconds to wash our hands thoroughly, which sounds like a long time for little children. We came up with this universal hand-washing dance so that children can have fun and be motivated to wash their hands instead of thinking it’s boring and tiresome.”

Proper hygiene among young children is incredibly important, says Hidemi Kimura, the principal of Takanawa Kindergarten. “Many people have been infected with the swine flu in Tokyo so every kindergarten is being careful, making sure that the children wash hands and gargle on a daily basis. We also ask children to get enough sleep, wake up early and eat well to maintain a healthy life.”