Sports Day, School Festival, and Choir Festival: A Cultural Insight into Japanese School Events

Are you familiar with Japanese school events?
Some of you may have encountered them through anime or manga.

For most Japanese people, including myself, events such as Sports Day (undōkai) and School Festivals (bunkasai) are a natural part of school life. However, many of these events are quite unique to Japan and may not be found in schools elsewhere. In fact, they often surprise those unfamiliar with Japanese culture.

In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most distinctive school events in Japan.

There are various events held in schools across Japan. Depending on the season or grade level, some events can even be unique to each school.

In April, the academic year in Japan begins with the entrance ceremony (nyūgakushiki), held at all levels of education—from elementary school to university. Around the same time, there is also a ceremony called shigyōshiki, which marks the beginning of a new school year for students who are already enrolled. This ceremony usually includes speeches from teachers and announcements about new homeroom assignments.

Some schools organize one-day field trips with your homeroom classmates, often traveling by train or bus. These trips may involve experiencing nature or visiting places like museums.

In Japan, summer vacation typically spans from late July to the end of August. On the day before it begins, a ceremony called shūgyōshiki (school closing ceremony) is held, during which students receive their report cards.
Summer break is the longest vacation of the year, and naturally, most children look forward to it with great excitement. However, I personally had mixed feelings — I was both delighted and a bit anxious. Why? Because we were assigned a huge amount of homework, including book reports, independent research projects, arts and crafts, workbooks, and daily journals.
Nowadays, many children also attend cram schools and take extracurricular lessons, so I imagine they barely have any free time left for themselves.

Students who participate in athletic clubs at the junior high or high school level often strive to compete in prestigious national tournaments, such as the Inter-High School Championships or the Kōshien baseball tournament. In order to qualify, they must first advance through regional competitions. As a result, these students dedicate significant time to daily training and often attend intensive training camps, known as gasshuku, particularly during school holidays.

This can vary depending on the school—some schools offer overnight programs that focus on nature experiences. At the high school I attended, we had a unique training trip where all students in the same grade went to an island and rowed together in a large boat called a cutter, with about 12 to 24 people on board. It was quite challenging for me at the time, but looking back now, I realize it was a truly valuable experience.

始業式：Shigyōshiki (the opening ceremony for the new term) is held again in September. Around this time of year, we also have events such as the school festival, school trip, and art appreciation programs. Activities during field trips or school excursions often include experiencing nature or visiting historical sites. These trips offer opportunities to gain real-life knowledge that cannot be learned in a classroom. Another valuable aspect of these events is learning how to act responsibly, follow rules, and take care of shared spaces and items—all while spending time with classmates outside the usual school setting.
Another major event is the sports festival. In recent years, some schools have started holding it in the spring to avoid the intense summer heat. Students get excited over various events such as relays, ball toss games (tamaire), and tug-of-war competitions.

Winter break lasts from the end of December to the first week of January. Then in March, we have 終業式：Shūgyōshiki (the end-of-year closing ceremony) and the graduation ceremony, which mark the conclusion of the school year.

As mentioned earlier, Japanese schools hold an event called undōkai (Sports Day), referred to as 体育祭（Taiikusai） in higher levels of education such as junior high and high school. It is one of the most significant annual events, typically taking place in the spring or fall. The purpose is to strengthen the bonds among classmates by working together as a class or grade to participate in various athletic activities.

A wide variety of events take place. For example, there are sprint races like short-distance runs and straight-line dashes, baton-passing relays, tug-of-war that requires both strength and teamwork, and tamaire, where teams try to throw as many balls as possible into a basket. There’s also kibasen, where teams of three form a horse and the rider tries to grab the hat or headband of the opposing team, and ōdama korogashi, where a giant ball is rolled in a relay format. In addition, students may perform dances set to music, or participate in group gymnastics like human pyramids. Students are divided into teams—such as the red team and the white team—and compete against each other.

Undōkai is a significant and memorable event for students, offering an opportunity to appreciate the value of physical activity and the importance of collaboration with peers. By striving toward a shared goal and working together with classmates, students cultivate a spirit of dedication and teamwork. These experiences, whether resulting in victory or defeat, often leave a lasting impression and become cherished memories that remain with them for years to come.

In the fall, another significant event called bunkasai (school festival) takes place. In elementary schools, it is sometimes held in the form of a gakushū happyōkai (learning presentation event). Bunkasai is a school-wide festival where students showcase the results of their daily studies and extracurricular activities, as well as their personal interests and talents.

Bunkasai provides an ideal opportunity for students to express their creativity in ways that are not typically possible in regular classes. They can create and present various forms of art—such as theater performances, music, visual art, exhibitions, and food stalls—drawing on their individual strengths and interests. It is also a great chance to discover new sides of your classmates or friends that you might not usually see in the classroom. For example, a quiet student might take on a leading role in a play, or teachers may surprise everyone by performing in a band. It’s a time when hidden talents and unexpected charms come to light.

Even the preparation period can become a lasting memory, as students work together with their classmates to create something meaningful. Through this process, they develop communication skills and the ability to solve problems while taking on roles and sharing ideas. From planning and preparation to managing the event and promoting it, they handle everything themselves—fostering creativity, organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership, all of which are valuable in real-life situations.

In addition to the events introduced above, there are many other school events throughout the year. One such example is gasshōsai (the choir festival), which helps students cultivate a rich emotional sensitivity through music. In this event, students perform choral pieces as a class or grade. Often held as part of music education, the choir festival is especially common in junior high and high schools.

Each homeroom class practices two songs: a required piece assigned by the school and a free-choice piece selected by the class. On the day of the festival, they perform on stage in front of fellow students, teachers, and parents. A panel of judges—usually composed of music teachers or professionals—evaluates the performances and selects the winners, including awards such as Best Performance, Best Conductor, and Best Accompanist.
Students often experience a great deal of nervousness, having devoted significant time and effort they have invested through daily practice. However, by the end of the event, they are rewarded with a deep sense of accomplishment and shared joy. Singing together—an act that cannot be done alone—fosters strong bonds, cooperation, and a powerful feeling of unity.

In addition to the choir festival, 修学旅行：shūgaku ryokō (school trips) are also major events for junior high and high school students. These trips take students outside the classroom to places that are often far from home and not easily accessible in everyday life. Popular destinations include tourist-friendly areas such as Kyoto, Nara, Okinawa, and Hokkaido.
Students have the opportunity to explore famous landmarks and learn about the unique history and culture of each region. Spending time with classmates in a hotel or ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) can also be a memorable experience. Throughout the trip, students strengthen their bonds and learn valuable lessons about cooperation, following rules, and acting as part of a group.

Although the events introduced above are fairly common across schools and regions, some schools host unique events such as ekiden taikai (relay road races) and marathon taikai. In ekiden, several students are selected to represent their class and compete in a class-versus-class relay. Since everyone aims to win, both the runners and their cheering classmates are fully dedicated and give it their all.

As for the marathon taikai, all students typically participate. It can be quite challenging, as it requires weeks of daily training. There are times when you feel like skipping practice, but the sense of accomplishment you feel after crossing the finish line is indescribable—and it’s a feeling that can stay with you for years to come.

Today, we explored various school events held in Japan. How did you like it?
Perhaps you’ve even come across junior high or high school students on a school trip during your own visit to Japan.

To be honest, I didn’t particularly enjoy events such as undōkai (Sports Day) or the choir festival when I was a student. This was largely because preparations would begin months in advance. We often had to arrive at school early or stay late after classes for practice—on top of managing club activities and academic responsibilities.

However, looking back, the moments of collaboration and shared effort with classmates have become treasured memories.
Through those experiences, I came to realize that what matters most is not the outcome, but the process of working together toward a common goal.

What kind of events did you experience as a child?

At TCJ, we host seasonal events throughout the year. We encourage you to participate —these are wonderful opportunities to use and practice your Japanese in a fun and relaxed setting. We look forward to seeing you in class at TCJ!