School Life– category –
Explore everyday life in Japanese schools, from school lunches and classroom cleaning to uniforms, sports days, and unique school traditions.
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Japanese Sports Day: Why Undokai Is More Than Just Winning
I was a fast runner when I was in school, and sports day was one of the events I genuinely looked forward to. I loved sprint races and relays. Even now, I remember the excitement of winning a relay with my teammates. But I didn't enjoy e... -
Japan’s Randoseru: More Than Just a School Backpack
Walk past an elementary school in Japan in the morning and you will probably see the same familiar shape again and again: a boxy backpack with a large flap over the back. It is the randoseru, the school bag most closely associated with J... -
Why Do Japanese Students Change Shoes at School? Uwabaki Explained
If you've watched a Japanese school anime or seen photos of schools in Japan, you may have noticed something unusual near the entrance: rows of shoe lockers, students taking off their outdoor shoes, and simple white shoes worn inside the... -
Japanese School Lunch: What Lunchtime Is Really Like in Japan
The lunch bell rings at a Japanese elementary school, but instead of heading to a cafeteria, most students stay right where they are. A handful of classmates return wearing white coats, caps, and masks. Desks are rearranged. Large contai... -
Why Japanese Kids Clean Their Own Schools?
In many Japanese schools, the people sweeping classrooms, wiping floors, and cleaning toilets are the students themselves. For many visitors and readers outside Japan, that single detail is enough to stop them in their tracks. I grew up ...
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