Undokai

Undokai is Sports Day, an all day event on Saturday at Daiyonkinrin School (the Japanese cultural center in West Covina does Undokai every year as well).  The kids practiced for the first three weeks they were in school - there were dances, foot races, relay races, obstacle courses, and other events.  All the kids wore their gym uniforms;  half the kids wore red hats and the other half wore white.  It started with each team cheerleading with taiko drum accompaniment and flag waving and whistle blowing.  The first graders tossed balls into the air, hoping that some of them would land in the basket.

taiko drum

ball toss game

M ran an obstacle course.

Miriam was part of a relay race that pushed a big giant ball around a cone

N at the starting line, then running his race.

Fourth graders danced.

M with instructions for the day.

Fifth graders try to snatch the cap from the opposite team.

and here is a movie of the game:

Sixth graders finished the day with demonstrations of their fitness, strength and flexibility.

Then the skies opened and it poured rain.  Luckily the day was almost over.

It was a long day, but what an experience!  The students were remarkably well prepared and organized, and the races and dances were so fun to watch.  Congratulations!

Here are a few more pictures from the day, showing the eventually winning red team (Shiro Gambatte!!)