Sports Day!

Late September and early October is the Sports Day season in Japan. Usually, the heat of the summer is subsiding and the sun shines frequently. This year, however, has seen an excessive number of rainy days forcing the delay, and in the case of some schools, cancellation of the event.

A week ago I was able to attend Innai Chubu Elementary School's Sports Day while yesterday I involved myself in KamiInnai Elementary School's Fureai Taikai (ふれあい大会）. Unlike the other schools in my area which have student enrollment of 50 to 120 students, KamiInnai possesses only six students, and perhaps more amazing, four staff. Last year, the student to staff ratio was 1:1, with the seven students being matched by three teachers, a principal, a vice-principal, a health teacher, and the ubiquitous tea lady who always ensured my tea cup was brimming with hot green tea. Needless to say, the school is unique and the atmosphere could be described as magical.

Obviously, a sports day involving six students, their parents and the teachers would prove to be a little lonely. So, members of the local community are invited to attend as well. As you can imagine, with only six kids at the school, the local area's average age probably approaches 70 years. Therefore, the elderly of the area come out in force and make it a joy to watch. Where else can you see a 80 year old lady putting on a firefly costume and running around a track?

Events exclusively for the students are interspersed with numerous events involving the adults. The children help officiate and watch the adults make fools of themselves as they pop balloons with their asses, make themselves dizzy by spinning around a baseball bat, and cover themselves with a strong foundation of flour and water in the search for an elusive candy.

The event brings the community together and allows for interaction between the youth and elderly something that I feel is extremely important especially given the aging population.

Other fellow bloggers have commented on the overt militarism that pervades these Sports Days as if the Imperial Army could be ressurected at a moments notice by simply blowing a whistle at a school. Certainly, the marching and coordinated cheering can be construed as miliaristic but so can most sports events throughout the world. American football is a case in point. The entire game is infused with militarism and overt aggression is not only permitted, it is applauded. The language of the military and football are so entwined that it came become difficult to discern which was the original source. Furthermore, marching bands, a staple of high school and college football events , are certainly of military origin.

Regardless of the military overtones, the dedication that both the students and the teachers demonstrate is unseen in my North American experiences. The teachers have the day's events planned to the minute while the students spend countless hours perfecting their cheers and practicing for events. If you have a chance, I highly recommend attending an event. This is where the importance and effectiveness of teamwork begins.