On the weekend of the 15th and 16th of September I went with my host family to my host nephew’s Sports Day and a Taiko drum competition. My host nephew, Yuta, is a kindergartener in Miyoshi where I am living. Commonly, Japanese schools will host sports days for different grades at different times of the year. These sports days are referred to as undōkai (運動会) meaning essentially athletic meet in English. Races, dances, and various other activities are held at the local athletic fields along with plenty of music and food. The Japanese families brought lunch packed in obentos (おべんとう) and picnicked in the shade next to the race track where the Sports Day was held. My hostmother’s son and wife with their son, age 4, came up from Tokyo along with my hostmother’s younger sister and her husband. The whole family that lives in Miyoshi minus my hostfather, who was umpiring a baseball game, also attended.
One of the various group dances performed by the kindergarteners. The sports day was held at the local track field in the sandy area open in the middle of the track.
A praying mantis that Yuta and Mayu found during our lunch break. Yuta’s head can be seen in the background.
The start of the relay race. All primary school students in elementary and middle school at the sports day were allowed to compete. They were divided into five different teams and ran in order from youngest to oldest half a lap around the track. The red and orange teams got off to a fast start and stayed ahead most of the race.
Mayu running for the blue team.
Action photo! Look at them go!
Coming into the finish line.
One of Yuta’s activities at the sports day was saving the day from the Green Goblin. His spiderman skills are excellent, especially when he has a hundred other superhero allies to help him out.
Yuta is in the center of the picture on the far side, in front of the blue umbrella with his mother next to him in the purple shirt.
Yuta. After saving the day, he still wants to practice his web slinging skills.
As one of the later activities, all of the fathers of the kindergarteners competed in a race for flags. I thought that the involvement of parents in the sports day was excellent. Not only did it fill their kids with pride and excitement for the day, but it also helped demonstrate how the education system is a community affair. Though there was competition, defeat, and victory, in the end no one really paid any attention to who reached the flag first, finished the race, or danced the routine the best. Both parents and children were too busy watching their counterparts having fun and enjoying life. Most importantly, they found value in supporting each other throughout. I suspect that this day reflects in some way how Japanese parents treat their children in their schooling, at least at a young age.
Prior to the start
Whistle, and they push up to their feet
And they are off…
The fathers ran in about ten waves of runners across the field to jump and grab the flags on the far end.
Yuta with his father, Takeshi (the middle one of the pink shirts)
Shortly before the end of the sports day, my okaasan (お母さん), Taeko, her daughter-in-law, and myself climbed the hill behind the track field to look and Miyoshi Lake (三好池). The hill also provided a great view of the concluding activities of the day.
Miyoshi Lake (三好池). Technically Miyoshi-ike (三好池) translates to Miyoshi Pond, but I think due to its size it deserves lake status.
Another view of the lake
The finale from afar!
They concluded with a return of all the kindergarteners in their Spiderman outfits.
Following the sports day, the family minus my hostmother’s daughter’s family went to a Taiko drum concert (太鼓コンサート) in nearby Toyata City (豊田市). The competitors were divided into adult and junior divisions and eight groups competed in each division. The junior division competitors were primarily middle school age with some high school students. Even at that young age they were excellent performers. I was surprised to find as the groups performed, that playing the taiko drum requires athleticism as much as excellent musicianship. Each performer typically stands while playing and every motion of their body is integrated into the performance. Often they raise their arms high above their heads prior to striking the drum and in several groups they rotated drums, or played two drums at once, or played in closely coordinated patterns with their fellow musicians. The adult division typically featured larger groups and more difficult pieces including the integration of flutes and cymbals.
Following the competition segment came a short break during which the audience members were able to vote for the winners in the lobby. After that a professional Taiko group played before the results were announced. My favorite group in the junior division placed second and my favorite group in the adult division placed first in their respective divisions. Overall it was one of the best concerts I have ever witnessed. It was loud, raucous, and most of all entertaining, all the while these young and old musicians showed off their precision, coordination, and musicianship.
Next up… some pictures from Nagoya Castle and my trip to Kanazawa!
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