Construction of a gymnasium with a clearly defined purpose of use to further enhance classes and club activities

Mar. 30,2022

Special Topic

Nakamura Gakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School has a long-standing reputation for human and dietary education following the educational philosophy of the school's founder, Haru Nakamura. The school is also one of the prefecture's strongest sports schools, with a number of club activities achieving outstanding results at national tournaments.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology designated the school as a 'Super Global High School (SGH)' in 2015, and as a 'World Wide Learning (WWL) Center School' in 2020, in the successor program, and is working to nurture human resources who will be active in the future society as global leaders.
In 2010, to commemorate the school's 50th anniversary, a new school building, as well as a variety of facilities to put the school's educational philosophy into practice were built, such as a unique circular cooking demonstration room, which is a symbol of the school's focus on food education, and an auditorium that is valued as a place for spiritual education. The gymnasium renovation began in 2020, with the Sub arena getting completed in July 2021 and the Main arena scheduled to be completed in May 2023. The Sub arena has been fitted with a large motorized partition, the 'Divider' as well as many other user-friendly features for classes and club activities. We interviewed Maasa Araki, a health and physical education teacher and advisor to the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, about the features of the Sub arena and how the Divider is being used.

Nakamura Gakuen Girls' Junior & Senior High School
Department of Health and Physical Education
Supervisor, Rhythmic Gymnastics Club
Maasa Araki

Focus on ease of use in dance classes and rhythmic gymnastics

--As per my understanding, the Sub arena and club building were completed in July 2021, and the Main arena and Martial Arts arena are currently under construction with a May 2023 completion date. What role will the Sub arena play in the physical education facility?

Our school's physical education program has dance classes throughout the year, including bar lessons and creative dance. Hence apart from the main gymnasium, we have always had a second gymnasium with mirrored walls and bars, and the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, of which I am an advisor, has mainly worked there. The Sub arena will serve the same purpose as the Gymnasium 2, so it will be primarily used for daytime dance classes and club activities, including the Rhythmic Gymnastics club when the Main arena is completed.
It is currently used for ball games, so there is a basketball goal and no bar is installed to avoid danger, but eventually the basketball goal will be removed and the entire surface will be mirrored, with a bar installed.

--What factors were taken into account during the construction of the Sub arena?

When building the Sub arena, we were able to get quite a few of our requests considered.
Rhythmic gymnasts throw their props high during their performances, but the low ceiling of the old Gymnasium 2 made it difficult for them to do so with much force. Simply put, in competitions, you must perform four or five forward rolls after throwing the props, but the ceiling here was so low that I could only perform one (laughs). We also practiced in the main gymnasium, but as we had to coordinate with other club activities, we didn't get enough time to practice.
As a result, we were very particular about the ceiling height of the Sub arena. The ceiling of the Sub arena is 10.5 meters high, and the area is almost twice as large as before. We also requested for the ceiling structure to be as empty as possible, because if there were any pipes or lights sticking out, the props would get caught or bump into them. In the previous gymnasium, many props had gone missing and the lighting was also ruined due to this.
We also asked that the floor be as soft as possible. The floor is cushioned, so even if gymnasts jump or leap on it barefoot, the impact on the body is minimal. We also requested soundproofing because we frequently play music for both dance classes and rhythmic gymnastics.

--It seems your requests have been incorporated quite well! Did you also provide input on the Divider?

We had a very detailed discussion about the Divider, especially the height of the solid section. The height should be such that it obstructs the view on the other side while not being oppressive to the players. Because many of the basketball team members are tall, the height of the solid section had to be such that they could not see the other side of the room when standing by the partition, but could see the back of the room through the mesh from a position slightly in front of the partition; we had the designer consider all of these points. For my part, I believe the height was set at the optimal level as requested.
I had no say in the matter of the color, but I am glad they chose a color that conveys a sense of calm. Rhythmic gymnastics practice is often filmed on video, and if the background is pure white, grime tends to stand out. Additionally, if the gymnasts are wearing sparkling costumes, there might be a reflection issue and the shooting may not be as clear and crisp as I would like it to be. The color of this Divider blends in very well with the overall photo shoot environment.

--How will the Sub arena be used till the Main arena is completed?

Since we don't have enough space right now, we all use the nearby Nakamura Gakuen Group's university facilities to accommodate each other. During the summer vacation, the Sub arena is only used for club activities; however, once classes begin, it will be divided into separate slots for use based on the day of the week and time. The volleyball and basketball teams will use the entire area as those sports need the full space for practice; at other times the space will be divided for combined use such as rhythmic gymnastics and naginata, or rhythmic gymnastics and baton twirling. We appreciate the partition because it allows two club activities to practice at the same time.

The Divider's effectiveness in obstructing view

--What, if anything, has changed since the introduction of the Divider?

Thanks to the Divider, the props do not fly around the space; we really appreciate it! Especially in Kendo, where you are wearing a mask and have a narrow field of vision, it would be very dangerous if hand tools soared to the neighboring side.
The previous partition was a protective net with an open section at the top, so they occasionally flew off the top. The props often passed through or became entangled in the netting, and when they got caught in high places, it was extremely difficult to get hold of them and lower them to the ground.
Also, because the previous partition was manually operated, there was a lot of prep work to be done, such as pulling it by hand or going up to the gallery on the second floor. Now it can be operated with the touch of a single button, so I think it has become a lot easier. The students operate the motorized partition, and it seems over the past month they have got the hang of using it, such as not standing beneath it, or not leaving things on the floor when it is deployed.
I have not yet used it in class, but when I do use it, I think it would be fun to divide a class into two groups for creative dancing, partition them off so they can't see each other during practice, and then have them see each other for the first time during the performance. It is really exciting to think about such a possibility!

--Have there been any changes in your students?

I feel that they are now able to concentrate on their own practice. Earlier when they practiced at the gymnasium with other clubs, I sometimes wondered if they were pressurized by the efforts their friends put in; there were also times when they would lose their focus and stare at the other clubs' practices in a daze. I think it is great that such things no longer happen.
Because the rhythmic gymnastics club frequently plays music during practice, it was difficult for others to deal with the sound as well. Others, such as the basketball team, also give instructions quite loudly, so when we couldn't hear the music, we turned up the volume. Then we would ask each other to turn the volume down a bit or to lower our voices. But now, I feel we can practice without much disturbance from our neighbors. The sound is still there when two clubs practice together, but we have learned to tune it out so that it does not bother us. I think the other players being masked behind the partition is a key to this.
As long as the Divider separates us and our own practice environment is not hampered, I believe it is beneficial to hear and feel our neighbors' practices.
For example, we were practicing with the Kendo club the other day. Our Kendo club has won the national inter-high school competition many times, and it was a great feeling to have the best Kendo club in Japan practicing next to us. Although we couldn't see them, we could feel their spirit and intensity. When we saw those girls giving their all during practice, it was as if our team players felt obligated to work hard as well, and they practiced quietly. I believe that learning about the amount of effort other clubs put into their daily practices will be motivating for our students.

Inheriting from Nakamura Gakuen's tradition

--How do you feel about the completion of the Sub arena?

I strongly feel that we need to continue providing the best coaching possible in order to be worthy of the incredible facilities that have been built here.
In the words of our school's founder, Haru Nakamura, "Form is the manifestation of the mind," and in the "Basis of Educational Practice," one of our school's founding principles, "We believe that 'form is the manifestation of the mind,' and strive to put this into practice." We believe that our students' daily stance and conduct are all connected to their minds, and that the way in which they carry their uniforms and strive hard in their club activities are all manifestations of their minds. As a result, if a student's uniform is unkempt, we suspect something may have happened and call out to the student.
Our one-of-a-kind educational program includes bar lessons. They are inspired by our hope that by practicing on the bar, students will learn how to look their best and develop a lovely posture. Students can also use creative dance to express their hearts and minds in a tangible way. In the case of the third-year students preparing for the entrance examinations, their movements reflect their inner turmoil, and in that sense, we conduct classes while considering how we can bring out their inner feelings through dance.
I am also a graduate of this school. Even though the facilities have changed and I am now in a new environment, I believe my task is to carry on the school's long-emphasized lesson that "form is the manifestation of the mind".

--What do you have to say about the activities of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club?

I believe it is because of our seniors' tireless efforts that we have been able to create such a great environment for our club activities. Erika Akiyama, one of our graduates, who competed in the Olympics was very impressed by the Sub arena when she came to coach us. I would like to carry forward the tradition of these seniors.

--The number of people wanting to join the club appears to be increasing as the practice environment improves.

At this point, there are children who have expressed their desire to join next year. When there is a supportive environment, students with a strong desire to succeed will congregate, making it easier for us to coach them.
Our club practices on mats for rhythmic gymnastics, and we are very fortunate to have a practice environment that resembles the actual match conditions. Local clubs typically practice on a floor with no mats because they use civic gymnasiums or other nearby gymnasiums. They must perform under the disadvantage of having different conditions for practice and games because there are mats at games.
To offer them proper coaching, we had junior children from club teams come to our school to practice with us on Saturdays and Sundays even though they are now resting in the Corona Disaster. I also mentor the children, and I believe it has helped the teachers of the clubs see our students from a different perspective.
Another good thing was that children from elementary schools came to practice at our school and were fascinated with our students' performances; it sort of acted like an inspiration for them. It is my one-sided wish, but I hope that we can cherish these local children and nurture them into athletes capable of competing in national competitions.

--The Sub arena will be a valuable resource for local children who want to participate in rhythmic gymnastics. We look forward to the future success of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club. Thank you very much for your time today!

Special Website

Nakamura Gakuen Girls’ Junior & Senior High School website

Date of interview: Aug,2021

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