SCHOOL FESTIVALS

My first sports day was at Yashiro Junior High School in Fukui City. After more than 3 weeks of preparation, the four teams (red, yellow, green, and blue) descended upon the field, fighting furiously for the victory trophy. They danced, they cheered, they ran relay races, and they jumped rope...they played tug of war and chicken... they jumped over sticks, dove under nets, fought over heavy tires, and ran over the backs of their teammates. All in all, they made a valient attempt at beating the living day lights out of each other. It was a day of endless fun and amusement...not only for me, but for the kids as well who laughed endlessly at my cartwheels and high fives. Fear not, though, the day began and ended as all days must: with an opening and closing ceremony. Here in Japan, even fun must be cloaked in ceremony and formality. At day's end the victors shed tears of joy. They sobbed through their victory speeches. For me, it was a real display of the pressure and responsiblity these kids feel as a result of the "group mentality" that rules Japan. That is to say that I've never before seen 12 year-olds sob with joy because they led their team to win the "best cheering" award...then again, I've also never seen 100 kids all jump over the same rope 30 times in a row!

Opening Ceremony at Yashiro JHS	All Lined Up	The "Universal" PE Teacher Look	Drums	Racing Over Backs
Jump the Stick Relay	Jump the Stick Relay	Cheering	Tug of War	Cheerleaders
Jumping Rope	Cheering on Red	Opening Ceremony at Koshino JHS	Run Forrest!	Old Folks Game
Munchkins Cheering	Preschool Relay	Preschool Relay	Jumping Rope	Preschoolers Drum
Preschoolers Drum	Preschoolers Drum	Marching to the beat of Her Own Drummer	Elementarys' Strike a Pose	Elementarys' Dance
The Japanese Elvis	The "Universal" Cross-dressed Boy*	Another "Universal" Cross-dressed Boy*

My second sports day was at Koshino Junior High School. On this frigid and windswept day all 300 villagers in Koshino Village came out to celebrate "Sports Day"...even the firefighters' marching band made a guest appearance. Whereas the students at Yashiro spent the day in stiff competition and brutish play, the villagers of Koshino approached their festival with a bit more mirth and naivety. There was an event for everyone...the toddlers...the old folks...and everyone in between. IT was a great day!

*Note: Japan has only provided further evidence for my theory that men secretly desire to dress as women. Whenever the circumstances allow it, there they are - clad in skirts and dresses.