An ASIJ Early Learning Center student wrestling with a recent visitor to the school. ASIJ
Wrestling in school is usually frowned upon, and teachers do everything they can to prevent it. But the American School in Japan’s (ASIJ’s) Early Learning Center has been promoting wrestling recently — sumo wrestling that is! The PTA treated the students to a visit by two young sumo wrestlers, Takamiryu-san and Takamisato-san, as part of the semester-long Japanese culture unit.
These young men were extremely patient and friendly with ASIJ’s aspiring, want-to-be sumo wrestlers, and the children learned so much from them. The children were very interested not only in the physical aspect of this sport, but also in the ritual and history of the sport. They even got to try their hand at competing in the ring with the real sumo wrestlers, which made for some fun photo opportunities.
In addition to the sumo visitors, children also got to spend a musical morning learning all about taiko drumming and traditional Japanese instruments when a group of musicians visited the school. The sessions they did for the audience of students, teachers, and parents were both entertaining and educational, as the audience learned how they could make music using everything from their hands and a roll of tape, to more traditional instruments such as the taiko drum. Both events were a great way to get the Japanese Culture Studies off to a good start and the children are excited to learn much more over the coming months. — JUDY BENEVENTI
