Sports Day
To commemorate the 1964 Olympics Japan made October 10th a national holiday called "Taiiku no Hi" or Sports and Health Day. It's purpose is to "familiarize [people] with sports and nurture physical and mental health." Although I'd say "sports" is a poor translation, since I wouldn't call any of the activities done sports... Some examples: tug-a-war, 5-legged race, 15-person jump rope- family picnic type events. All schools and some businesses dedicate an entire day usually on the weekend competing against each other's teams in a series of organized events. Most junior high schools hold their Sports Day in early September and spend most of August prepping for it.
My junior high celebrated sports day last Saturday.
They began with open ceremonies, in which the three teams marched in with their respective flags to the school band playing "YMCA." After some speeches and morning stretches the students lined up under their teams banners to begin the first event.
blue, white and red team.
Teams were awarded points for every event won. They were also judged on their banner designs, team cheer, and "genki" level.
In this game all the girls from the opposing teams had to fight over a bunch of tires in the middle of the field and drag them back to their side. Half of em ended up falling over and being dragged through the dirt.
I was assigned to the White Team and participated in an event in which you have to transfer water from a bucket to a bottle across the field using only a teacup, all the while holding hands with a partner from your team. We won, naturally ;)
Afterwards all the teachers celebrated the end of a successful sports day by going to the local hot springs for our first enkai. We had a massive feast followed by a series of games reinacting some of the events from sports day.
one of my favorites- each team member had to hold on to two ends of a piece of sting and untangle themselves without letting go. Most of my coworkers were pretty drunk by this point which made it all the more difficult/entertaining.
After the enkai a few of us continued on to karaoke where I got my principal and vice principal to sing and dance to Spice Girls "Wannabe" :D
fun times.
My junior high celebrated sports day last Saturday.
They began with open ceremonies, in which the three teams marched in with their respective flags to the school band playing "YMCA." After some speeches and morning stretches the students lined up under their teams banners to begin the first event.
blue, white and red team.
Teams were awarded points for every event won. They were also judged on their banner designs, team cheer, and "genki" level.
In this game all the girls from the opposing teams had to fight over a bunch of tires in the middle of the field and drag them back to their side. Half of em ended up falling over and being dragged through the dirt.
I was assigned to the White Team and participated in an event in which you have to transfer water from a bucket to a bottle across the field using only a teacup, all the while holding hands with a partner from your team. We won, naturally ;)
Afterwards all the teachers celebrated the end of a successful sports day by going to the local hot springs for our first enkai. We had a massive feast followed by a series of games reinacting some of the events from sports day.
one of my favorites- each team member had to hold on to two ends of a piece of sting and untangle themselves without letting go. Most of my coworkers were pretty drunk by this point which made it all the more difficult/entertaining.
After the enkai a few of us continued on to karaoke where I got my principal and vice principal to sing and dance to Spice Girls "Wannabe" :D
fun times.
Comments
Can you imagine if American teachers got dookey-faced after a school function in the US?