Japanese Elementary School Sports Game

When talking about the sports game, you may think those sports stars or at least those people who are good at sports represent your class, grade or school to join the game and win the medal, score or honor. And you, who are not so good at sports, can only be an audience. But the sports game which held once a year and almost in every Japanese elementary school is a totally
different one.
Usually, the entire school, from first grade to six grade, is evenly divided into two teams: red team and white team. The interesting thing is that the teams are distinguished only by one reversible red-white colored cap. If you are in red team, you wear red side. If you are in white team, you wear white side.

It is an everyone’s game. No one is left. Even handicapped person joins too. Look at this boy, he sat on the wheel chair, even he is the last one, but still tried very hard to get to the end.

All the games are team oriented. No individual games.
Here are some of the most popular games.

Throwing bean bags up into a high basket.
In this game, two teams compete against each other to see who can get the most beanbags in their basket.




Giant ball race.
Each team stands in a long line. The giant ball is passed from line head to the end. The team which ball is faster passed to the end of line wins.

Team running race.
This is also a everybody’s game, but will be divided into small groups which combines the same number of students (usually 5-6) from each team for each run. When first group starts, then next starts, and then next starts. The team which has total more winners wins.

Knight fighting
This one is the most highlight and excited one. Before this game starts, the cheer leaders will cheer for quite a while to inspire every joiner’s fighting spirit. Usually there will be several groups in the game. In each group, three members serve as base support. The fourth one stands on their back or shoulders as a knight to fight again the other team’s knight until one falls. The team which has last one stand wins.

From those games, you would strongly tell the team spirit. And each team’s cheer leaders would bring you to the top of the feeling. Hearing the rhythm of drum, watching the cheerleaders as they pull their bodies back to begin a cheer and urge their team members to join in and root hard for the competing athletes, everybody feels energetic and ready to fight for their team.













Not only the students, but the family members will join some of the games too. Like this tug-of-war and some others entertainment games like dancing.









Also, the family members, even relatives and friends will come, watch and cheer for this whole day game to show their support. And you would have very delicious Japanese food in the lunch. Just like American’s foot ball game. Sounds like a holiday.











In a nutshell, Japanese elementary school sports game fully embodies team work and cooperative spirit. It does not care who wins. As long as you joined, you did your best, you cooperated and you expressed your support, you would be the winner.