I went to primary school in Japan for one month, every year.
Tags: School, Japan, Australia, Memories, Childhood

Japanese primary students. Source of image: Motte Japan

So, before I begin this, I think it’s important to give some context.

I’m an Australian, born and raised. My mum is Japanese and my dad is Greek, although he moved to Australia when he was 4. My dad’s side all live in Australia but my mum’s side all live in Japan, so my family go to Japan once a year to visit them.

Every time I went to Japan, I would attend my local primary school for a while and I was fortunate enough to go back to the same class for one month every year. In grade 1, I spent 9 months in that school because my family decided to live at my grandparent’s house to save money. In those 9 months, I was able to become very close with my classmates which is why I went back every year for a while to join them in class :)

School provided lunches, clean-up time, *uwabaki* (indoor school shoes), I honestly don’t know where to start when it comes to school in Japan. There are just so many differences between the school in Japan I went to, and my Australian school life.

My favourite part about going to school in Japan would have to be the school provided lunches. It wasn’t just a sandwich or an apple, something that I would eat often in Australia, but it was divided into 3 courses. There was always some sort of vegetable dish (usually miso soup), always some sort of carbs, whether it was rice, bread or pasta, and there was also some sort of meat. Sometimes we’d have a main dish like curry and then there would be a little side dish with it. What i’m trying to say is, there was always a lot of variety. With these dishes always came a little pack of milk. Every student had a pack of milk with every lunch and they had to drink it. And lastly, there was always a little bit of dessert. Sometimes it would just be fruit but other times it would be icecream. You may think, this must be such a pain for the teachers to deal with and distribute. But the teachers have nothing to do with the preparation or the distribution. There was huge kitchen where there would be cooks who prepare all the food from the morning. Then two students from every class (the two students are decided by a roster every day) would go to collect their classes’ food. I remember going down with my classmate to the kitchen to get our classes’ trolley full of pots and pans of food, and wheeling it back to out class.

Once the trolley was in the classroom, about 4 or 5 of us would put aprons, gloves, hair nets and masks on to serve all the students. The students would line up with their trays and get served all the food. Once everyone had their food we’d say “itadakimasu” (thank you for the food) and we’d eat. This was always my favourite part of school growing up. Not just the amazing array of food, but just the atmosphere too. It was so organised and streamlined.

4 students serve the rest of the class their meals for the day. © Mitsue Omori © Kodaira Sixth Elementary School, Kodaira, Tokyo

Another aspect of schools in Japan that I really loved was the fact that we had to clean ourselves. Obviously, as a student back there I didn’t enjoy cleaning, but now when I think about it, I think it’s a really great system to have in place. After lunch students would have to clean. I don’t mean just their tables, but the entire school. There were roster for which groups had to clean which area. Students would clean the toilets, hallways, entrance, classrooms everything. Every student had a “zookin” which is a piece of cloth used to wipe floors and we’d all put the cloth against the floor and run along the floor. It’s a little hard to explain but we were all bent down running along the classroom floor in a zigzag motion.

The actually cleaning part wasn’t fun, but it made me realise that students were a lot more cautious about making a mess because they knew they had to clean it in the end. In Australia we have cleaners who come after school to clean up for us. I have thought that maybe if Aussie students had to clean, our schools would be cleaner. But to be honest, I don’t know if every student would comply with the cleaning. I know I can’t speak objectively about the difference between Australian and Japanese schools, but I do think Japanese students have a little more discipline and more respect for the teachers. Though, differences like this stem way back and have many factors impacting it.

Now, I’m not in any way saying that Japanese schools are better. They have their shortcomings to. Students don’t learn how to use computers in school. There is no ICT, programming or coding, which I think are vital skills to be learnt, especially in our increasingly technological world. Schools in Japan, also use black boards. So teachers aren’t able to use their own computers to teach either. I personally think Japan should adapt to using technology as it would likely benefit the students as well. But again, I can only speak from the limited experience I have had there.

ultimately, I really treasure the time that I spent there as well as the friendships I was lucky enough to make. I still remember their shocked faces when I said my Santa wore a t-shirt and shorts because I had Christmas in summer. My teacher laughed when I told him that Santa spent time at the beach and surfed during Christmas. I also fondly remember all the students in my class making a “see you again Sarah” party for every time I left. For the last period I spent there each year, we’d all make posters and decorations and play games together. Moments like these that I experienced at this school in Japan, I will never forget and always keep close to my heart :)