KIMITSU, Chiba -- Inbound tourists dressed in traditional Japanese uniforms experienced nostalgic school life in Japan during a unique one-day program at a former school building here.

Participants clad in "sailor fuku" and "gakuran" school uniforms were instructed to stand up and bow in a Japanese-style class greeting at the former Kameyama Junior High School -- located deep in the mountains of Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

The "Kimino High School" service started in November 2023 by Undokaiya Co., an event management company based in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward which typically organizes sports festivals for businesses and local governments.

All activities are conducted in English by professional actors. During the Japanese class, participants learned calligraphy, while in social studies, they practiced sword fighting while dressed in kimono. Participants enthusiastically chanted "Ei! Ei!" as they practiced using fake Japanese swords

During lunch, they were served traditional Japanese school meals. In physical education class, participants experienced sports day activities such as "tamaire," where players throw beanbags into baskets on high poles, and tug-of-war. The day progressed at a lively pace with events like evacuation drills in which participants hid under their desks, as well as an iconic delinquent student from the Showa era (1926-1989) intruding class, making their "Japanese school life" an exciting experience.

One of the participants was Emete Breeze, a 27-year-old from Canada visiting Japan for the first time after becoming interested in the country's culture due to Japanese movies.

When asked about the difference between traditional Japanese school life and the one she experienced growing up, she explained, "We don't have to do things all together always. It's all individual work (in Canada)." She added, "I wish I experienced this (Japanese-style classes) as a real child, but it was good to experience it for the day as well."

Hitomi Iwasawa, 59, a public relations official at Undokaiya, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "I was surprised to learn that many foreigners developed an interest in Japanese schools through anime and manga." The program has also attracted many tourists from other Asian countries as well as those who want to observe the classes. The company hopes to eventually host international exchange events between local junior and senior high school students and tourists. The influx of inbound tourism may also help revitalize this rural area.

(Japanese original by Koichiro Tezuka, Photo Group)