Shimyoshida Jr High and Fujiyoshida Tour

We began our day at Shimyoshida Jr High School. It was an interesting visit as it was very different to Oshino Jr High. One highlight for the kids was watching them prepare for the upcoming schools festival which will include song dance and physical events.

There is a huge emphasis placed on collective and social responsibility, and that your function is to serve 'the team'. No child ever sits out, in fact we watched one kid get drilled by the PE teacher because he 'chose' to attend the PE class wearing different uniform and therefore was letting the team down.

Watching the physical activities was amazing, students take part in a mass coreographed dance and huge skipping groups, with up to 30 kids jumping a single rope at the same time. But the one that really caught the kids eye was 'centipede'. Two rows of students are tied by short ropes to each other at the feet, place arms on the shoulders in front, and complete lap after lap around a track at a quick pace. It is deemed so important that the event is engraved into the wall at the front entrance.

After the visit, we walked to a set of 414 pretty steep stairs (Keegan counted every one!), and then went up them. I can't say the stairs were attacked by the students with the same gusto the Japanese students showed during 'centipede', but eventually, everyone arrived at the top in one piece. The humidity, caused by the typhoon the day before certainly didn't make it easy! So when the Japanese guides had a drink waiting for the kids at the top, I've never seen so many grateful faces. At the top of the stairs was a shrine and pagoda, and a stunning view of Fuji and the Fujiyoshida area.

We then walked around Fujiyoshida, visiting Shinto temples dating back to the 13th century and several of the local shops. Our guide Yuka took us to her family tea shop where the kids were treated to Roasted Tea ice cream. This ice cream may be an untapped market in NZ, the kids thought it was awesome.

Wednesday is our last day in Fujiyoshida, on Thursday morning we leave for Disneyland.