In Which Where is Much Fighting Spirit

When asked what 体育祭 meant in English, I usually would reply with "'Athletic Festival'; think Field Day, but with a more competitive air..." 

Let me just say that that is a gross understatement.

What I discovered was less "school event" and more "WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS".

Student Council banner with their President carrying the Shimizhu JHS flag before them

Class 1A (7th grade) Color: White

Class 1B (7th grade) Color: Orange

(Fun fact: the 2nd years' classes got shuffled this year, when usually classes stuck together from 1st grade to 9th grade, so even though their colors were yellow and green, respectively, Class 2A and 2B themed their posters with both yellow and green to show their unity to each other)

Class 2A (8th grade) Color: Yellow

Class 2B (8th grade) Color: Green

Class 3A (9th grade) Color: Blue

Class 3B (9th grade) Color: Red

Seriously. Look at this glorious entrance ceremony.

Standing Pole: Retrieving flags and lifting each other to the top. (though sometimes the music wasn't the most motivating for the moment)

3B Girls

1A Boys

十勝川: The Tokachi River.

1B Girls

2B and 2A Girls

心一つ: With One Heart

Giant Jump: Full Class Jump Rope

Through the final relays and points calculations, many tears were shed by the 3rd years as their final 体育祭 came to an end. Regardless of who were "winners" and who were "losers", everyone had been victorious.