Field Day

One of my small elementary schools had their annual field day this morning. Because there is a total of eight students, the parents, teachers and community participate in the activities just as much (if not more) as the students. I showed up just expecting to watch, and ended up in most of the competitions.

The thing about Japanese field days, at least at the elementary school level, is that all the races are for fun. There are hula-hoop races. There are popping-balloon races. There are catching-basket-balls-in-a-basket-strapped-to-your-back races. And then, there's the PTA and their hi-jinks. (Take a good look at the "sumo" pictures that follow.)

It was a good Sunday morning. It was even better than sleeping late. Here are some photos.


Here's the principal of the school being teased by some of Madara's men. After riding a tricycle and walking across a balance beam, she had to crawl under the netting that these men were holding down. They made her try about three times before they actually let her pass. Before crossing the finish line, she had to stand on a podium and announce something embarrassing about herself.

Here are some members of Madara's PTA prepping for the hula hoop and balloon relay.

Here's Youichi, Kaori and Yuka before the first race of the day.

In the audience, I found these kindergartners. They little guy in the middle was way more concerned about getting the candy out of his sister's hand than he was with the photo being taken.

Here, the PTA moms put on a sumo show for the entertainment of everyone in the crowd.

A PTA dad got in on the act too.

Here, the students and staff preform the Soranbushi -- a traditional fishing song of Japan. It's also a traditional song of any field day.

This is the bridge connecting Madara island (where I took the photo from) to Ojika island. It's kind of an iconic place of the island. The sea under the bridge is some of the clearest, most beautiful green water I've ever seen. It takes me about 45 minutes to ride my bike from my house to Madara, circle it, and return.