The 39th All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival, “Biwako Sobun,” was held in Shiga Prefecture for 5 days from July 28 through August 1. Also known as the inter-high school culture club, the festival was jointly sponsored by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, the All Japan Senior High School Cultural Federation, and the Jikei Group of Colleges and other organizations. The event brought together approximately 20,000 high school students from across Japan representing 22 high school club activities including theater, chorus, wind music, local performing arts, and the Japanese board game “Go.” The students showed off the fruits of their daily efforts and were able to spend time with other students and make new friends. The cultural festivals were held in 13 cities in Shiga Prefecture, including the cities of Otsu and Hikon, and saw more than 100,000 visitors.

 

Over the past few years, the Jikei Group of Colleges has been providing encouragement and support for high school students engaged in cultural and arts-related activities. The Jikei Group participated in the 38th All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival last year in Ibaraki Prefecture and has also joined the All Japan Senior High School Cultural Federation as a supporting member.

 

The Jikei Group took part in the opening ceremony held on the first day in the Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Otsu City and also opened a booth there as well. Staff members from the Jikei Group Headquarters and schools such as Osaka College of Health and Nursing and Toyo Medical College interacted with high students and other attendees in the crowded hall and answered questions on a range of topics such as professional training college programs, student life, and club activities. The staff members from the Jikei Group also provided the students with career path advice.

 

Participants from the Jikei Group had an enjoyable time watching the lively performances and presentations from the high school students, if only for a short time. The faculty and staff members of the Jikei Group look forward to meeting everyone once again next year at the 40th All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival scheduled from July 30 to August 8, 2016 in Hiroshima Prefecture.