Sports Festival in Japanese
Do you have sports festival for elementary school students ?
All elementary schools take place sports festival once a year in Japan.
Usually , It is May or October.
We call the festival “Undou kai”.
“Undou” means sports.
“Kai” means kind of gathering.
We can use “Kai” for any kind of gathering.
“Syuu Kai” means big meeting.
“OFF Kai” means online group like SNS meet at offline(OFF) as real.
Kids practice dance , parade , procedure for events.
Parents , usually mothers , wake up earlier and make lunch box.
Parents , usually fathers , wake up earlier and reserve place for watching festival.
At first , I have not known that so I went to school to reserve place before beginning 2 hours (7 am).
Good places were reserved already so I could not reserve good one.
Good places mean places which locate front row or under the shadow or good angle for taking pictures.
Next year , I went to school to reserve place 6 am and I saw parents made big line .
I was surprised.
Another next year , I went to school to reserve the place at 5 am.
I saw parents made line already but I could get the place which locate under the shadow.
Front group of line brought folding chair and coffee.
They have willing to wait long time.
Great !
After that year , I went to school 5 am to reserve the place every year during my kids are elementary school students.
By the way , there are many events for sports festival.
Ball-toss game is usually for younger grade like first grade.
All grades are separated to 2 group usually.
Red team and White group.
Each group can get score by results of events.
There are red balls and white balls for Ball-toss game.
Team which toss in more balls to box can win the game.
There are Cheer Groups for festival.
They ware headband.
And They shout and sing to cheer their group with loud voice.
There is cheering fight event.
Cheer Groups stand center of field and all students cheer their group.
Sometimes, They cheer enemy.
Gymnastic Formation Performances is one of big events at school festival.
5th and 6th grade students play the event.
They express something like Pyramid , Flower , Cactus , Tower , Bridge.
Sometimes it is very impressed.
Relay games are took place last event of festival usually.
Younger grade (1st , 2nd , 3rd ) compete last of First half.
Older grade (4,5,6th) compete last of festival.
4 fastest members are selected from each class.
So the match is a little bit long but they are very exciting !
Let’s learn words related to Sports Festival !
Sports Festival
運動会
うんどうかい
Undoukai
Red Group
紅組
あかぐみ
Akagumi
White Group
白組
しろぐみ
Shirogumi
Cheer Group
応援団
おうえんだん
Ouendan
Ball-Toss Game
玉入れ
たまいれ
Tamaire
Gymnastic Formation Performances
組体操
くみたいそう
Kumitaisou
Headband
鉢巻
はちまき
Hachimaki
