[Special Feature: Marine Sustainability / Mini-Feature: 150th Anniversary of the Founding of Yochisha] Soji Kanki: Yochisha and Sports

2024/06/24

Photo: Ceremony for the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of Keio Yochisha Elementary School (May 30, Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall)

Yukichi Fukuzawa believed that one should "first build a beast-like body and then cultivate the human mind." He introduced Western-style physical education concepts into the education at Keio University, saying things like "one must strive to exercise the body," "the body is a person's primary treasure," and "physical education comes first." I feel the foresight of Yukichi Fukuzawa, who incorporated the idea of athletic sports into education rather than the traditional training of martial arts or discipline where one endures pain to acquire skills. It is not just about building physical strength, but also training one's sensibilities—playing well and learning well. By creating a strong body free of illness, the spirit also becomes active and refreshed. If one is healthy in both mind and body, they will be able to overcome various difficulties in the future and contribute to society. Yukichi Fukuzawa's heart was in the idea that if the body is weak, one cannot lead an independent life, and that above all else, one must pay attention to health.

Yukichi Fukuzawa entrusted young students to Yoshiro Wada, who was from Kishu. The Wada Juku, which took in several boys at his home on the Mita Hilltop Square, was the beginning of Yochisha. Mr. Wada had a magnificent physique, was a master of judo, and was a man of both wisdom and courage.

At Yochisha, there are truly various sporting scenes throughout the year. The concept of "Beast-like Body, Human Mind" can be described as the school spirit that has been passed down continuously at Yochisha since the time of Yukichi Fukuzawa and Mr. Wada.

At the Yochisha Sports Day, "Beast-like Body" is written on the entrance gate and "Human Mind" on the exit gate. At the entrance gate, where students challenge the battle believing in victory, they are filled with a beast-like fighting spirit. After the race ends, they praise each other's efforts, enriching their human hearts as they pass through the exit gate. Through class-based competitions among the four classes of each grade and the KEIO Relay where the baton is passed from 1st to 6th graders, they learn the harshness of competition, the joy of winning, and the frustration of losing. They acquire a strong heart and the kindness to care for others through as many tears as they shed in defeat. It is just a sports day, yet it is a significant sports day. There are the tears of many Yochisha students and as many dramas as there are classes. The tradition of the homeroom teacher treating the students to taiyaki as a reward for winning also continues.

From the 3rd grade, there are intramural tournaments between classes in each grade. Dodgeball (3rd grade), footbase (4th grade), and as they reach the upper grades, boys play softball and soccer while girls play basketball and volleyball. Because Yochisha does not shuffle classes, these intramural tournaments become more heated every year.

In the fall, physical fitness tests are conducted, and the same events are measured for six years, serving as encouragement for individual athletic progress and as a guideline for goals.

There is an outdoor pool on a detached site across the Metropolitan Expressway. 1st and 2nd graders only play in the water at this pool, but swimming lessons begin in the summer from the 3rd grade. In accordance with the "All Keio Students Must Swim" principle advocated by Shinzo Koizumi, all Yochisha students complete a 1,000-meter swim by the time they graduate. After completing the swim, target times for the four competitive strokes were previously set, but from the Reiwa era, this has shifted to a swimming certification aimed at "Safety Swimming" to protect one's own life. Students master treading water, back floating, underwater swimming, head-up crawl, and head-up breaststroke, while upper-grade students learn clothed swimming and water rescue methods. Additionally, at the sea in Tateyama, voluntary long-distance swimming camps and day-trip safety swimming practicals are held, where students learn much from the great nature of the ocean. Yochisha swimming ends with the 6th-grade swimming meet in which everyone participates, but through swimming, Yochisha students learn the sanctity of practice and the great sense of accomplishment that arises from it.

As a goal for the physical education department, there are jump rope assignments consisting of 13 types for 3rd graders and 5 types for 4th graders. To clear these quite difficult tasks, students continue to challenge themselves with jump rope every morning during the third term. Other grades freely challenge all 31 types of tasks. Yochisha's "Jump Rope Record Making" reached its 50th year in fiscal 2023. There is an ideal environment for growth where students compete in an atmosphere where they are not being forced, aiming for the so-called "Hallway Records," where the records of those who achieve them are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway in front of the teachers' room. Among the records of Yochisha students who challenge themselves to the limits of advanced techniques and mental/physical strength, there are many unbelievable all-time high records, such as over 2 hours of forward jumps, over 400 double unders, and over 4,000 backward cross jumps. The fact that some kind of new Yochisha record is born every year speaks to the power of Yochisha students. The conscious experience of "I can do it if I try" and the successful experience that can definitely be obtained through practice are among the great charms of jump rope.

During the third term, the entire school goes for a run every morning. Courses are set for 1st through 6th graders starting from the inside of the ground track, and everyone works up a pleasant sweat together, undeterred by the cold.

In this way, Yochisha has truly many sporting scenes and opportunities for practice. Experiences that can only be gained through sports can be called the most powerful tool for human education. The strong heart that continues to strive without running away from or giving up on difficulties, the friendship nurtured by working together with friends, and being able to know gratitude and be kind to people—these are the qualities of character in children that become possible through much practice.

"Beast-like Body, Human Mind" is an educational policy that has been consistently emphasized for 150 years since the founding of Yochisha. I hope that Yochisha students will be healthy and that their hearts will grow strong, resilient, and beautiful.