Sports Day in Japan 運動会

It is Fall in Japan as well as most other countries in the Northern Hemisphere and that means it is Sports Day or Undokai 運動会 season. Some school have recently begun having Sports Day in the spring, but for the most part, most still have them in Fall.

Undokai is a rite of passage for all Japanese students. It begins in kindergarten or daycare and ends with  he completion of high school. It’s all about being part of a team and working hard as a group to complete a common task. When your child is in kindergarten it is VERY important. When your child is in elementary school it is important. As they get older, maybe not so important to families.

Last Sunday was my son’s first Sports Day. It was a very big deal in my family as it is with most families in Japan.

I myself am a kindergarten teacher, but have never seen or dealt with a Sports Day on this grand scale. Also, due to the fact that I am a teacher, I have never been able to hare pictures or details of the experience. Due to privacy and professional and privacy reasons I can never share information about the place I work and help put together Sports Day, but this weekend past it was my son’s big day. I’m so proud of my awesome little guy who often appears in my YouTube videos that I wanted to share some pictures with you.

I also recently picked up a new camera. I now have a Nikon D3200 and took some of the nicest pictures I have ever captured.

Check out my son’s kindergarten Undokai here in Japan!

osakana hat!
Osakana hat!
We can't figure out the hat. even my japanese family doesn't get it. It's like a swimming hat even though he isn't swimming.
We can’t figure out the hat. Even my Japanese family doesn’t get it. It’s like a swimming hat even though he isn’t swimming.
Fun with Friends
Fun with Friends

IMG_6457

Just before his big dance number.
Just before his big dance number.
My wife's amazing undokai  bento box creation.
My wife’s amazing undokai bento box creation.
My superman!
My superman!
My 4 year old awesome boy during his school7s Sports Day closing ceremony.
My 4 year old awesome boy during his school7s Sports Day closing ceremony.
Awesome 3rd year kindergarten marching band!
Awesome 3rd year kindergarten marching band!
My happy boy as the anchor runner of his event. He is the tallest in his class so he is always the anchor
My happy boy as the anchor runner of his event. He is the tallest in his class so he is always the anchor
Run, Run, Run
Run, Run, Run

 

Team work is key in this race!
Team work is key in this race!
Dancing the "osakana mambo"....fish mambo!
Dancing the “osakana mambo”….fish mambo!
Dancing!
Dancing!
My boy!
My boy!
Tug of War (older grades)
Tug of War (older grades)

 

Contact me on Twitter: @jlandkev

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2 comments

  1. Cute onigiri. I hope you had a blast.
    My friend, who lived in Wakayama, always dreaded sports day. As a the local gaijin, and being over six feet tall, he was often put in the “celebrity” tug of war contest. He enjoyed watching his son, but didn’t really like the attention.

    Like

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