Japan is a lively, highly populated country. Walking in the streets, we were surrounded by characteristic signs, menus, and colourful advertisements.
Conversations with locals and students during school visits helped us practice useful, day-to-day vocabulary, and tested us in deciphering the rapid ‘native speaker speed’.
The Japanese students were all so friendly in introducing customs and giving us a tour of their school life. They taught us about fun traditional games and popular anime.
Japanese schools are a bit different, with a stronger academic focus. There’s even an entrance exam for Kindergarten! It was interesting to learn that students have to wear indoor slippers in classrooms and the gym, and they typically clean the school grounds themselves.
We got to try out unique co-curriculars such as kendo (bamboo-sword fighting), calligraphy and tea ceremony. The kendo students were especially energetic and happy to watch us stumble around and left us in awe with a traditional and safe fight.
We found ourselves indulging in ramen and okonomiyaki and sushi, with perfected flavours. The scenery was something else, too. Mt Fuji dwarfs Australia’s highest point, the Torii gates stand majestically leading to the top of Mt Fushimi. The bustling life of streets such as the Osaka Shinsaibashi markets represent the daily rush of modern society. We drove past lush greenery surrounding dense urban centres and mountainous landscapes formed from plate tectonics. We also experienced an earthquake simulation.
With thanks to Linden (Year 11) for his reflections.
15 July 2025
Each year, we collaborate with Ravenswood School for Girls to deliver the Knox Ravenswood Student-Led Wellbeing Conference. After five months of planning, discussion and development, the students and wellbeing teams brought their vision to life on Thursday 26 June.
14 July 2025
Congratulations to the cast and crew of this year’s Senior Musical, ‘We Will Rock You’! This production was a great experience for all involved, reflective of the student and staff commitment.
10 July 2025
The power of storytelling was at the heart of our 2025 Junior Play, ‘Stories in the Dark’, which was held in the Drama Theatre in the Junior Academy Performing Arts Centre.
