1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade... (High School tour)

Friendship, Enhancement, and Discipline. These are the words written on the rock outside of Takezono High School in Tsukuba which houses 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. In Lincoln, NE this would translate to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. Everything rang true about those words during our tour. The school is 28 years old, with 592 students who can choose between two tracks of study, the International Track and the Regular Track. Since Tsukuba is nicknamed “Science City”, there are numerous students who come from very educated parents, and prefer the International Track, which allows them to take courses in English. Many parents feel having their child learn English will be an advantage to have them be able to choose the best University.
Takezono was recently designated a “Super Science High School” – one of only a handful of schools nationwide to receive this distinction. All SSH high schools have a rigorous science curriculum and several special activities and excursions thorough out the year.

After observing classes of physics, chemistry, math, physical education, music, we were invited to meet with two of the International Classes. During this time, we were able to ask questions of small groups of students. This was extremely informational. Students were frank and open with their answers. What I found out is most students spend a large amount of time studying, and go to bed around 1:30 –2:00 a.m. This is after a full day of school, some spending two hours by train to get to school, club activities following school, and some attending cram school at a site away from school with a tutor. The day of our tour was a Friday, and I asked them what they were doing for the weekend. Some said they had an English test on Saturday, or club activities. Others stated they would spend the weekend studying for the three tests coming up next week. Most said they would do whatever it took to get into the university. Although this school is made up of 60 girls to 40 boys, the girls answered they mostly wanted to stay home, whereas some girls answered they wanted to pursue teaching, becoming a pediatrician, translator, etc. I think this must be a very difficult decision based on their culture.

At lunch, our group of American teachers could purchase drinks from the vending machines, and select ala cart from the menu. I had a great pork sandwich, and Diet Coke! I was excited about the vending machines, they were a lot cheaper than anywhere in Japan I had seen.


During lunch, it was interesting to chat with a teacher from Australia who also answered my questions openly. He has been in Japan for three years, and at this school since August. He said it is definitely challenging to figure out the unwritten code of behavior of this culture. He used the Japanese proverb, “the nail that sticks up will be hammered” to explain why most people in this culture do not want to stand out.

I found interesting that parents must pay over $70 for books a year, and $96 a month for tuition, even though this is a public school. Private schools cost much more. When asked where the money goes, the answer was the District.




After school we were invited to watch the kyudo club. This activity is completely silent, except for the time students hit the bulls eye, then they shout “shot”. There is no talking in between. It is truly a performance.

The bow and arrow began to be used more than 10,000 years ago for hunting and in war. In the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods they were utilized in rituals dedicated to the gods; it was around this time that archery made its appearance in events held at the Imperial court.
In 1543 firearms were introduced to Japan by a shipwrecked Portuguese who landed on Tanegashima, an island off Kyushu that's part of present-day Kagoshima Prefecture. After this, the role of the bow and arrow in battle declined, but as members of the ruling class, warriors continued to train themselves in archery--called kyudo in Japanese, meaning "the way of the bow"--because they considered it important as a mark of their refinement.
The bow and arrow began to be used more than 10,000 years ago for hunting and in war. In the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods they were utilized in rituals dedicated to the gods; it was around this time that archery made its appearance in events held at the Imperial court.
In 1543 firearms were introduced to Japan by a shipwrecked Portuguese who landed on Tanegashima, an island off Kyushu that's part of present-day Kagoshima Prefecture. After this, the role of the bow and arrow in battle declined, but as members of the ruling class, warriors continued to train themselves in archery--called kyudo in Japanese, meaning "the way of the bow"--because they considered it important as a mark of their refinement.
An event called toshiya was held during the Edo period (1603-1868) at Sanjusangendo (the main hall of the temple Rengeoin in Kyoto) in which warriors would compete in archery to see who had the greatest physical and mental strength. They would try to shoot arrows through the length of the long, narrow hall--2.2 meters (2.4 yards) wide, 5 meters (5.5 yards) high, and 120 meters (131 yards) long--without hitting the walls, floor, or ceiling. What's more, each contestant would have to spend an entire day and night shooting arrows in sitting position.
Warriors who were confident of their archery skills would enter the contest and compete to see who could make the best shots. The best archer in toshiya was Wasa Daihachiro of the Kishu clan, who took 13,053 shots in a single contest, out of which 8,133 were successful.
In the Meiji era (1868-1912) kyudo was brought into the school curriculum, and today many universities, high schools, and middle schools offer archery instruction either in class or as an extracurricular activity. Since archers can adjust the tension of the bow according to their own strength, kyudo is popular as a sport that men and women of all ages can enjoy.
It was an extremely informational tour and worth every minute, especially spending time with the small group of students.