Japanese Schools -学習塾-

Ah, school, one of the many things we all have in common no matter where we are in the world. So for this post I am going to discuss some interesting things I have learned about Japanese schools.

First of all, in Japan, all schools require uniforms. These uniforms change slightly depending on the season. A nickname for the girls uniform is "Sailor Suit." These "Sailor Suits" are very popular and are often depicted in many Japanese cartoons. I have to say that I personally think they are much cuter then American uniforms. Also, in Japan, in Junior and High school teachers are the one who switch classrooms, not students. This means that each student is with his or her classmates all day. Teachers take their job very seriously and wear business attire to school.

Lunch time in a Japanese school is also very different then American schools. Students prepare, serve, and eat lunch right in their classrooms. Many students carry an Obentou(Japanese lunchbox おべんとう ) to school. Obentou's can be big or small and many come in fancy designs or with popular cartoon characters on them. Some people even get creative with how they decorate the food on the inside.

After lunch, teachers and students help to clean their classrooms. Students take pride in their rooms and always work hard to make sure they look nice. Once school is over many students participate in clubs. Clubs are a big part of Japanese school life. Schools offer many different types of clubs such as Kendo(traditional Japanese sword fighting けんど), home economics, handicraft, and various sports clubs. It would be hard to find a student who was not involved in at least one club.

Most High school students in Japan are college bound. Starting in High school, students will attend Juku(学習塾 Cram School). Juku is a college preparatory school held after school and on weekends. Students attend Juku to prepare for difficult college entrance exams. These exams are held once a year and if a student fails they must wait an entire year to take the exam again. This is why it is very important to pass the exam the first time.

The Japanese Cultural Festival(Bunkasai文化祭) is an event held by most schools in Japan from Junior high to Universities. Students use this day to display their everyday achievements. People who are looking to enter the school, families, and people wanting to know what is going on in the school come to see the atmosphere or school work their child has been doing. Also, many people come just for fun. Classrooms and gymnasiums are often transformed into temporary resturants and cafes. Some classrooms host dances, concerts and even plays. Volunteers, students, and various clubs work together to ensure that the festival is working properly. Another festival held by Japanese schools is the Sports festival which is held in the Autumn. This festival gives students a chance to show off their athletic abilities. Students will run relays, do tug-of-war, have an egg drop and preform dances they have been practicing all year.

たのしそ～

(If you have trouble viewing a picture try clicking on it, sometimes doing this makes them larger.Photos courtesy of my friends Tomomi and Azumi.)