Ganbatte!

Ganbatte vaguely means "cheers" or "way to go" in Japanese. On Sports Day this past friday it was shouted so frequently and encouraged over the loudspeaker at high enough volume that even i remembered it. Japanese schools, at every level, devote not just one day but at least a week to the preparations for and execution of Sports Day, a school-wide track meet. The event is taken seriously, as the weeks leading up to it have seen many students absent from class to practice for their races and all day Thursday was spend rehersing Sports Day. Sports Day began much as rehersed. Members of the school board, neighboring schools, and city officials were there to make speeches and cheer on the first few events. The track had been drawn in perfectly, the students orderly attired in their purple jogging suits, white trainers, and sashes around their head signifying class colors. It was time for the games to begin.

Most of the events were pretty typical - high jump, assorted running and relay races, long jump, etc. However, a few of my favorites were the more unique ones. The Centipede race, shown here, involves tying the legs of 6 students together for a 50 Meter run. To make it more difficult its actually a 200M relay, so the ties have to be switched to 3 other groups of 6, all students from the same class. Its a site to see, especially when one false step brings down the entire team. The best part is that they run around the track shouting "ich, ni" to keep their steps in sync. There is also an all class jump rope competition, where the 30 + students from each homeroom class jump together with a 15 Meter rope. For the class ball throwing competition, each class stood in a circle trying to toss brightly colored bean bags into a 3-meter high basket. The best part was the fun music they played during the event.

As a final dash of fun the day ended with relays, some by class (and a relay of teachers which i was lucky enough to take part in for a whole 20 Meters) and others by club. Students ran off to change, returning to run relays in their sport uniforms. Soccer players dribbled soccer balls, judo members kicked, basketball players bounced basketballs, volleyball girls bumped to pass the ball, and the very best - the kendo (japanese fencing) members ran in their long pants, helmets, vests of armor, and passed the sword instead of baton. The dangerousness was second only to humor. Luckily the fun didn't end with the finale and awarding of trophies. After the events teachers and students together tore down the tents and scaffolding and cleaned up the whole field. And finally the teachers celebrated the day in true japanese form: by getting wildly drunk at that evening's enkai (in the pic from L to R: one PE teacher, the nurse, and the art teacher). Ganbatte to that!