A Promotion of Wellness: September 29th

Words by Jiho, Koyuki, Emilio, Yusuke, Haruka, and Minaho; Photos by the '23-'24 HIS Publications Team

September 29, a day that seems like any other day, happened to be a memorable moment for both HIS and Sagara High School (SHS). While HIS was busy exploring the outdoors of Niseko, SHS had a school-run sports day otherwise known as taikusai (体育祭). Though these events took place in different places, wellness and physical activity were promoted in both events.

HIS Overnight Trip

On September 29th, HIS students packed their clothes in preparation for an overnight trip to Niseko, where they would enjoy the scenic nature. On the first night, students split into different groups in order to cook appetizing dinners. Among these different dishes were hamburgers, tacos, fried rice, smores for dessert, and much more. After dinner, many students grabbed their bath towels and bottles as they walked to Goshiki Onsen (五色温泉), a hot spring famous for its water containing sulfur and minerals. Feeling relaxed after a hot bath, students spent the rest of their night playing card games, talking, and exploring the buildings located near the campsite.

A new day, a new adventure. Students grabbed their hiking gear and set off on an exciting trek on Mt. Iwaonupuri (イワオヌプリ). Even though there were two groups being made, easy and intermediate, some students decided to challenge themselves and go on the harder hike. Students hiked through a creek that led to an old sulfur mine, afterward finding a grand lake that seemed to be the home of many tiny fish. Through this experience, students learned to collaborate and persevere through difficult times while also experiencing the various sceneries that Niseko has to offer. This short but challenging hike left students with new memories of bonding with their friends. However, you could say that the most important part was that students learned to appreciate the outdoors and the physical activities that come with it.

Sagara Sports Day

Down south in Makinohara, Shizuoka, Japan, there was a sports day happening at SHS at the same time as the HIS trip. Students participated in various sports and activities from Japanese traditional games to running. One of these many games was Taketori (竹取物語) in which players try to collect the most bamboo poles and bring them to their team's side. Other activities included Naganawa (長縄) in which each class jumped rope as a huge group with the goal being to try and get the most jumps without anybody being caught on the rope. And yet, it could be said that the biggest event of the day was the tug of war or the relay race which were similar to the ones done at HIS. It was reported that throughout the day, SHS students shared school enthusiasm and enjoyed the competitions with peers.

Similar to our Niseko trip, SHS students also promoted people's wellness through physical activities on September 29th. While wellness is encouraged in HIS through exploring and exercising in nature, wellness in SHS is encouraged through sports and collaboration. Despite the differences, both events on September 29th aimed to create a community of healthy students who can appreciate life outside of the classroom. It is amazing to witness how an international school and a Japanese school can speak different languages and have different curriculums but be so alike in their goal to improve student's well-being. It is hoped that in the future, the Sagara exchange club between HIS and SHS will continue in their goals of exchanging school spirit and events.