"Spring" at the Affiliated Schools
Keio University's Integrated Education <Diversity in Unity>
"Spring" at the Affiliated Schools
(Posted June 2025)
Chutobu Junior High School —Courtyard Volleyball—
The Chutobu Junior High School 75th anniversary song, created by alumni (74th graduating class), begins like this:
"Let's open a new door with our own hands With the teachings of our seniors in our hearts The path we create for ourselves The sound of volleyball in the courtyard Overflowing smiles..."
As these lyrics suggest, when you think of break time (mid-morning and lunch breaks) at Chutobu Junior High School, the classic activity is "courtyard volleyball" using the class ball in the courtyard. New first-year students are allowed to use their class ball starting in late April, and until then, they gaze enviously from their classroom terraces as the older students enjoy playing courtyard volleyball together.
On the long-awaited day when the use of the class ball is permitted, the first-year students rush out to the courtyard and become absorbed in playing volleyball. This is a typical scene in the daily life of Chutobu Junior High School. It is often said that many Chutobu students are, for some reason, very good at volleyball, and this is likely a gift of all that courtyard volleyball.