So, today was Undokai, sports day at Kawanishi Middle School. The festivities began at 8:30 in the morning. The students, bright eyed and bushy tailed, were ready to seize the day and ensure that their team, either red or white were the winning team.

They've worked so hard for the past month, preparing their races, their cheers, their sighns, etc... The Red team's motto was, "shori" which means something like clean up - but more in a fighting spirit. The White team's motto was "rlibengi" or revenge. Apparently they lost last year and wanted to restore what was lost last year.

The day opened with the raising of the Japanese flag and a pronouncement of the determination of each team. Each pledged to try their best and win. I think this day was a good lesson in sportsmanship.

There were so many different types of races. The water moving race, where the students raced to move water via a ladle to a location about 50m from the bucket, the flag race, where two students held a gigantic flag and ran 100m, the big ball race, where the students had to hold a big ball and race against each other, and when I say big, I mean huge, the catapiller race, where 5 students had to run together in unison with their legs tied together by a rope. The final competition was the tug of war. By then the red team was sure to loose, and the girls team, which competed after the boys team, where the red had lost, were streaming tears down their cheeks. The crying red team won that competition.

It was hard to watch the red team cry due to their loss - but as states before, it was a good lesson in sportsmanship - you learn to both loose and win. I was red - we lost, I lost my voice, but, through the process I got closer to the students, and I feel that I am a part of Kawanishi Middle School now. Sports day is a good exercise school and team pride. Perhaps it is a tradition I shall bring home with me - whenever and wherever that will be.

The red team's tug of war team.

The white team's tug of war team.

The white team's cheer leaders.

The red team's cheer leaders.