Undokai - Sports Festival

Last Sunday, I was invited out by my host mother to attend her school’s annual sports festival. Little did I know, I was in for a pleasant surprise.

The sports festival, undokai , is an annual event held in autumn . Preparations for this event are made far in advance, the students practice for these events about a month or so in advance. This special day is usually held for the students to show off their athletic abilities for their family and friends. Everyone in the community joined together to watch including parents, friends, and alumni.

Though I was only able to attend the afternoon portion of the day, the sports festival was filled with exuberance and excitement.

The entire elementary school was divided into three team colors of red, blue, and white. School competitions in the States are based upon individual success, yet all of these games were group activities. These included a baton relay race, a game where four people must balance a large ball between them, and more. Even the cheerleading was unified and organized as they cheer for their teammates.

This sense of community was further exemplified in the execution of the events. Often times, “(Color) Ganbatte! (Good luck (Color))” was spoken through a microphone as a word of encouragement for the team in currently in last place. There was no one who was left behind in these events, and the activity did not conclude until the last child crossed the finish line.

The last event was a display for the audience. All of the sixth graders participated in a dance and a performance for the audience. These included a few acrobatic-like displays and human pyramids. One could not help but admire the work and preparation that these students to put in in order to show their family and friends.

Still curious?

Check out SoftyPapa’s Blog for more information about Sports Festivals: