Japanese 

Ayako Kumakura

Japanese Specialist Language Teacher

Konnichiwa, Monty Community!

Celebrating Japanese Day at School

On Friday, 16th May, our school was transformed into a vibrant hub of Japanese culture as we celebrated Japanese Day! From the moment the day began, there was a buzz of excitement in the air—and what a wonderful celebration it turned out to be!

We kicked off the day with a whole-school assembly, led by our amazing Japanese student leaders, Aidan and Sadie. Their heartfelt and confident speech set the perfect tone, reminding us of the beauty of learning from different cultures.

Next, we had the honour of welcoming Gary Oliver Sensei, who wowed the students with his Kendo demonstration, a traditional samurai swordsmanship and is practiced using bamboo swords. Students were fascinated by the discipline, skill, and precision involved in Kendo, and it was a memorable experience for all

Our Foundation students then took to the stage, delighting everyone with their adorable performance of the Japanese greeting song. They sang in big voices, small voices, and even silent voices—bringing smiles and laughter to all. It was a heartwarming moment.

Throughout the day, every classroom became a mini cultural centre, as teachers ran fun and interactive Japanese activities—from origami to Japanese traditional games, Kabuto – Samurai hat crafts, and more.  The most exciting moment of the day was the Teacher Sumo Wrestling! During recess, students gathered eagerly around as teachers suited up in oversized sumo suits and faced off in hilarious, good-spirited matches. The playground echoed with laughter and cheers as students enthusiastically supported their teachers. It was a fantastic moment of fun and community spirit that brought everyone together.

A very special arigato- gozaimasu (thank you) to our wonderful Japanese parent helpers: Tomoe-san, Naho-san, Ryoko-san, and Chika-san, whose support and generosity helped make the day such a success.

Japanese Day was more than just a fun celebration—it was a meaningful opportunity for our students to broaden their cultural horizons, learn new things, and come together as a community. I’m so proud of the enthusiasm and curiosity shown by all our students!