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School Playing Various Roles as the Sole Public Night-time Junior High School in Saitama Prefecture

Public Night-time Junior High School providing an occasion to brush-up your education

　Kawaguchi Municipal Shibanishi Junior High School, Youshun Branch School is the sole public night-time junior high school which gives an opportunity to learn for those who have missed to finish compulsory education, or graduates who want to learn once again, and those who have come from abroad and had not finished the curriculum corresponds to that of Japan’s compulsory education. The school building is very pristine since it has just moved to a new place in 2024.

　Students have classes from Monday through Friday, from 17:30 to 20:40. Approx. \10,000 expenses for learning materials per year is charged on you, though tuition fee and text books are all free given. You will get an official certificate of finishing Junior High School curriculum after completed the whole course.

　Intimacy between students and teachers is obvious, as I observed scenes of teachers having spontaneous talks with students whenever they saw them even in the middle of this interview. Also, on the day I visited, I saw some graduates calling on this school. What a homey atmosphere this place has, I thought.

Multicultural co-existence and diversifying learning environments

　Not only providing a place to re-learn, this school is functioning as a place of multicultural co-existence with 17 Japanese students and 70 students with roots in abroad. It is appointed as one of “Alternative Schools for Diversified Learning (※schools appointed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology to provide education to students with specially arranged curriculum focusing on School Refusal Pupils and Students)” that allows to provide diversified education program which accommodates to needs of each student from the school year 2026.

　This school is just undergoing a great change. From the next school year, it will be operated with both day-time and night-time courses.

School cherishes cultural appreciation

　They were having a workshop of Japanese culture in a “Integrated Studies” class on the day I visited. Teachers performed each specialty such as martial arts, cup-and-ball game, the art of tea ceremony. A science teacher introduced onion-skin dyeing experiment. Students looked enjoying this workshop as nodding with great interest at teachers’ explanations, or trying to play a cup-and-ball game together.

　Also, a music teacher introduced a song concerning Hiroshima and War. “What we ought to do in the land embracing Hiroshima, is to put out the cause of conflict that is silently burning”. Something emotional stirred up in my mind at the scene of all the students from different origins sang together this lyric.

Specific arrangement in learning environment and happy school life

　In each class, the school employs special arrangement to accommodate with each student’s level. In Mathematics class, they employ different teaching method for each student’s academic ability. They also provide intensive linguistic care for 1^st year students if their Japanese ability is not reaching the standard level. Nevertheless, language barrier still exists since majority of students have their roots in other countries. Now, the school is doing everything it can do to create a learner-friendly environment such as making the best use of automatic translating system in slide projector displaying, and attaching Furigana or illustrations on signs inside the building.

　In the recess, they were enjoying playing volleyball, badminton, etc. in the school gym. The place was brimmed with homely atmosphere.

Ties with local community

　School event schedule is full of activities that can be enjoyed together like rice-cake pounding, Hyakunin isshu playing cards contest, and so-called Youshun recreation which contains bean-bag toss, volleyball, etc. You can see how homey atmosphere this school has from their aiming-100-posts-a-year official blog full of lively scenes from their everyday school life.

　By cooperating with a local drum team enthusiastically performing in Kawaguchi City, this school gives students an opportunity to learn about Japanese drum performance art, one of traditional Japanese cultures. With such activities, this school plays a role of connecting a teaching establishment with local communities.

　From the next school year, this school re-launches as a newly appointed “Alternative School for Diversified Learning” and start to take on the responsibility of playing diverse roles, as well as stepping towards the next level. It will become an important pioneer to open-up a new world for the community.

Kawaguchi Municipal Shibanishi Junior High School Youshun Branch School

Requirements for applicants：

Applicants must be already passed Junior High School student age, that means turns age 16 or more in the next school year which starts in the next April. Must have residence registration in Saitama Prefecture and apply to either of the following conditions.

・Have not officially finished Elementary School or Junior High School course.

・Have finished Junior High School course, though would like to re-learn the curriculum.

・Residents of foreign nationals with proper residence status. (Require skills of simple Japanese conversation, Hiragana, Katakana)

Phone：048-423-7896（※accept between PM2：00～PM7:00

(Weekdays only)

Address：3-18 Shibazonocho, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture 〒333-0853

School official HP：

https://shibanishi-yousyun-j-kawaguchi-saitama.edumap.jp/

Editor’s Note

Beyond my expectations, school atmosphere was totally harmonious and homey! In the workshop of Japanese culture in Integrated Studies, I have got lots of new knowledges such as a song related to the War and Hiroshima. I felt this is the place you can get a profound learning which you will never be able to acquire just by attending an ordinary school. 　　 Seira

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Let’s Explore Cupo・la M4-Floor! 〜Counseling Desk for Foreign Residents〜

Walk 1-minute from Kawaguchi Station East Exit, you will find “Cupo・la” main building in front of you.

Do you know 【M4-Floor】, the floor stuck between 4th and 5th floor in the building?

Just walk along on a pedestrian deck from the station to the Cupo・la main building, then go upstairs to the M4-floor by an elevator or an escalator.

On this M4-floor, you will find administrative services sections as “Kawaguchi Citizen’s Partner-Station”, “Kawaguchi Volunteer Center”, “Counseling Desk for Foreign Residents”. Among notices covering one of the entrance walls, lists of volunteered Japanese language classes, that are held in Kawaguchi City as many as 21 classes, draws my attention. Each place and day is specified in there, you will be able to find classes suite to your schedule.

At an information counter coordinated by the Multicultural Coexistence Desk, you will have free access to various information written in Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Turkish, and of course in Japanese. And you can enjoy checking each brochure and fliers to your heart’s content.

Is this the place only displaying information and booklets? To solve this simple question, I asked Ms. Yao, one of the Municipal Coordinator for International Relations. Originally Chinese, she speaks Japanese and English very well, and is a coordinator with five years’ experience on this job. She says, this is the place called “Kawaguchi Citizen’s Partner Station”, which have been established to promote residents’ volunteer activities and civic cooperation. Also, in here, this Multicultural Coexistence Desk operates Counseling Desk for Foreign Residents. I wondered what kind of services we can get at this counter. If you are a non-Japanese speaker and received notices or letters from the municipal office, schools, etc. and have no idea how to deal with them, then this counter helps you to understand the situation. In case you have got a situation and do not know what to do with it, come to the counter and ask the person in charge. Three Coordinators that includes Ms. Yao, and Counselors for Non-Japanese Speakers are here to help you. Once-a-month Legal Consultation is also held in this place. It is reassuring having access to such services when you are living in a foreign country, is not it?

In Kawaguchi City, many volunteer groups are active in each field. When they have events, you can get information on them on this floor. Not only foreign residents, but also Japanese can get access to plenty of useful information in here.

It seems to me that M4-floor’s 【M】 is not only stands for “Mezzanine”, but also stands for “Much Information”!

There is “Administrative Services Center, Kawaguchi Station” on 4th-floor, Chuo-Public Library on the 5th-floor. When you have some spare time, wh y do not you drop in on the M4-floor. You may find some hottest information of Kawaguchi City.

Place: Kawaguchi Citizen’s Partner Station

M4-Floor, Cupo・la Bldg. 1-1, Kawaguchi 1-chome, Kawaguchi City

TEL: 048-227-7607 FAX: 048-226-7718

Open: Tue～Sun (Closed on New Year holidays(Dec 28 – Jan 4)・Holidays appointed by the law concerning National Holidays)

Open hours：Tue〜Sat　９：００〜２０：３０　　Sun　９：００〜１７：００

※Please check open hours of “Counselling Desk for Foreign Residents” on Kawaguchi City official website.

https://www.city.kawaguchi.lg.jp/soshiki/01060/020/4/3584.html

Editor’s Note

The dusk from the window of M4-floor is magnificent. By Zunko

“Discover! Kawaguchi” Editorial Staff : Zunko

Supporting my fave musician is my life!

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Let’s Donate Our Blood!

Here is a question for you who happened to be reading this page.

Age 16 and over.
4 weeks have passed since the latest disembarkation to Japan.
Have not accepted dental treatment in the past 3 days.
Have not received any vaccination recently.

※Please visit the Japanese Red Cross Society official website for

Further details. https://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/first/

If you meet all the conditions above, you are eligible to donate your blood.

For novices at donating blood and has no idea how it would be like, I have visited Blood Donation Room marked with its mascot figure, “KENKETSU-Chan”. It is 30 seconds of walk from Kawaguchi station, East exit.

Do not forget to bring a photo-attached personal ID if it would be your first blood donation.

It is recommendable to book via App. for web members called Love Blood ※, to save your time and make registration easier. 献血Web会員サービス「ラブラッド」｜日本赤十字社 (kenketsu.jp)

Fill out the questionnaire with your weight, blood pressure, pulse frequency, etc. then wait for a doctor’s interview while you rehydrating. When the body gets terribly cold, it will get harder to find your veins.

Also, cold body temperature slows blood flow. So, you would better have something hot in the waiting room while waiting for your turn of blood donation. Feel free to have hot soups and beverages in the waiting room. They are all free.

After doctor confirms there is no problem with your blood, then, you are ready to start. A whole blood donation takes about 10 to 15 minutes. After you donate your blood, you will need to have a good rest at least half an hour in the waiting room. Rehydration is also important at this point. After given instructions on the day of blood donation, such as to avoid hard exercise and alcohol, etc. then you are free.

“Saving Someone’s Life”, that is what the blood donation is.

I understand you are having days packed with schedule, however,

somehow find the time to open the door to the Blood Donation Room. Your kindness will save someone’s life. We all rely on your cooperation.

Editor's Note

They will give you a bit of treats when you leave. Happy rewarding, isn’t it? by　Zunko

“Discover! Kawaguchi” Editorial Staff : Zunko

Supporting my fave musician, that’s my life!

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Other

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Contents

School Playing Various Roles as the Sole Public Night-time Junior High School in Saitama Prefecture

Let’s Explore Cupo・la M4-Floor! 〜Counseling Desk for Foreign Residents〜

Let’s Donate Our Blood!

Acquire Practical Japanese Skill at Shibazono Japanese Class!