うんどかい (undoukai) = sports day

Sports Day in J-land falls around at the end of September. It’s a pretty big thing where students, teachers and in some parts of the country, even parents take part on the festivities. With the JHS, students will practice night and day just to get everything right and perfect their throwing, running, cheering. and other performances like taiko drumming, etc. The teachers have to practice too after their teaching hours just to master the passing of the baton for that big day.

On the day, which probably falls on a Saturday but a 2-day weekday event is considered very common too especially if the school is large, students will race to the field and fill the ground with their coloured headbands thus representing their class teams. Then all will eagerly wait for the start of the first event after their headmaster/mistress finishes his/her long and winding speech.

In general, the events vary from the 50m dash to the relay race. Other events are old Japanese favourites like group double Dutch and a three-legged relay race.

After the day is over, awards and some kinda ceremony takes place. Teachers and students then have to tidy up and clear the ground.

All in all, it's fairly exciting especially if you root for your favourite class. However, it is advisable to wear a hat and a long sleeve top and put some suntan protection if you don't want to suffer from heat stroke or sunburnt.

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