Japanese School Festivals: Fun & Tradition Combined

Japanese school festivals occur annually at the end of October or the beginning of November. Many schools choose to organize them on the national holiday “Culture Day” (November 3rd), but some also hold this event on Halloween. In the spirit of gearing up for Halloween, let’s explore the exciting aspects of school festivals in Japan with TokyoTreat!

What is a Japanese school festival?

A school festival, or bunkasai in Japan, is a unique event where students showcase their talents and work together. It’s a fun time and a way to boost students’ interest in learning and teamwork. During the festival, students use what they’ve learned in class to create performances and activities for everyone to enjoy. School students, parents, or anyone interested can join and immerse themselves in the festivities.

Usually, these events are organized at all school-year levels, from nursery to university. From elementary to high school, they are mandatory activities within the regular curriculum and a prerequisite for all students to take part in. However, they’re optional at the university level!

When did Japanese school festivals start?

The earliest school festival in Japan was “sosakuten” (creative exhibition), which started in 1921 at Koishikawa Junior High School. Choshichi Ito,  an educator during the Taisho era, introduced this event to spark students’ creativity. It also provided a platform for showcasing their imaginative projects. During that time, sosakuten drew significant attention from newspapers and over 3,000 enthusiastic visitors. 

After World War II (around 1948), when the new high school system was implemented, cultural festivals mainly focused on clubs and voluntary activities. However, by the 1960s, the modern style of school festivals had taken shape, featuring class performances and various intriguing activities similar to the lively bunkasai we have today.

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What can I expect at a Japanese school festival?

Typically, as the festival day approaches, each class must choose the activities they will participate in for the festival, along with the theme of the activity. All students contribute to preparing for the chosen activities for the sake of their class. Below are some everyday activities at bunkasai:

Themed cafes

Themed cafes are a prevalent concept at school festivals in Japan. Almost every school has one or a few cafes serving various types of sweets, snacks, tea, coffee, and other beverages. Bunkasai cafes are often simulated in famous manga and anime, including titles like Ao Haru Ride, Komi Can’t Communicate, and Non Non Biyori. 

However, the most captivating theme is always the maid cafe. There’s even a reverse maid cafe where adorable male students serve as hosts. School festivals mostly fall near or on Halloween; exciting Halloween-themed concept cafes are also trendy among Japanese students. 

Haunted houses

This is also one of the most beloved activities during Japanese school festivals. Students invest a lot of time, thorough attention, and creativity to create a thrilling and engaging haunted house that can scare the most visitors. 

Furthermore, participating classes also need to assemble many students to dress up as eccentric monsters, obake (ghosts), or bakemono (Japanese demons) to enhance the excitement and vividness of their haunted house.

Festive games

Games are essential to every festival, and bunkasai is no exception. Some popular entertaining games in bunkasai include throwing balls into bottles, puzzles, and menko (the card-flipping game). For each game, there’s always a fun little prize for the winner and the players. 

Theaters

On the day of the Japanese school festival, the theater takes center stage as a showcase for the artistic talents of students from various classes or cultural clubs within the school. It can also be singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and magic shows. 

The highlight is often theatrical performances where students can expose their exceptional acting skills. Watching performances based on classic plays by Shakespeare, Japanese history, or fairy tales is common. 

Food stands

Food stands are also meticulously prepared by the students who have already acquired knowledge from their cooking classes. Popular dishes include takoyaki, yakisoba, dango, and taiyaki. Moreover, there are also delicious Western dishes like hamburgers, pizza, and pasta. Around the food stands, you’ll always hear inviting words and advertisements from the organizing students, aiming to attract as many customers as possible.

In short, Japanese school festivals serve as a platform for students to showcase their talents. They feature many compelling activities, from haunted houses to Shakespeare plays!. This vividly depicts Japanese school students’ precious creativity and beautiful team spirit. Have you been a part of such vibrant festivities at school? Share your thoughts and experiences below!