For a price as low as Rs 17,000 (30,000 yen), foreign tourists in Japan can experience local school culture under a “one-day student program,” according to a report in the South China Morning Mail (SCMP). The company called Undokaiya has launched a unique program that allows foreign tourists to experience a day as a high school student, with a plethora of activities ranging from calligraphy, katana fighting and physical education, among others. A decommissioned high school in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, has been converted for the new experience.
It aims to give tourists a taste of Japanese schools while boosting tourism in the region. There is no age limit and everyone can immerse themselves in the experience. However, only 30 participants are allowed per day.
The Asian country's school culture in particular is very popular due to its iconic sailor uniforms, lively club activities and strong team spirit, as depicted in various manga and anime shows. Visitors may wear the sailor uniform or suit during the opening ceremony. They are then assigned to their classrooms and practice calligraphy in Japanese language class.
In addition, visitors can wear traditional kimonos, learn to use a katana and also participate in traditional Japanese dance. In between these activities, the school conducts disaster drills, teaching visitors essential emergency response skills, just as the children learn them. Since Japan is an earthquake-prone country, visitors are taught how to quickly duck under their desks.
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Japan's soft power
During gym class, the “naughty students” with dyed hair and baseball hats, often depicted in the shows, can disrupt the proceedings and playfully intimidate the tourists, disguised as students. The rebellious nature of students is part of Japan's Yanki culture – a subculture that challenges school and social norms.
As the experience draws to a close, visitors must participate in classroom clean-ups, an integral part of Japan's education system that instills a sense of responsibility in children and develops civic responsibility. After all activities, visitors receive a graduation certificate as a souvenir of the unique experience.
The entire program is a direct result of Japan's growing soft power: manga and anime culture. The country's schools have captured the attention of fans who want to experience what it feels like to be immersed in the setting where most of their favorite characters develop and get heroic arcs.
