In Japan, Cows Are Raised by 'Club Activities'...A Fascinating Club Heaven [Nichiyobi Nichibunka]

Over 70% of Students Join Clubs... Many Engage in Sports Activities
Raising Cattle and Shiitake Mushrooms... Respecting Preferences When People Gather
Morning Practice and Vacation Training Camps... Sometimes a Place to Discover Talents

Did you participate in club activities during your school days? I did, and looking back, those memories remain some of the most enjoyable. Maybe because of those memories, I am still active in a sports club at my company. However, it is quite difficult to participate in club activities as a middle or high school student in Korea. I was in a club that performed at school festivals, so practicing during vacations was essential. I remember sneaking out to practice while trying to avoid my parents' nagging, "When will you study then?"

Japan is a country where club activities, called 'bukatsu,' are very active. Many athletes who compete in the Olympics started their sports careers in clubs. Besides sports clubs like soccer and baseball, there are many unique clubs as well. Today, we introduce various clubs in Japan.

The Japanese manga "Haikyuu" depicting high school volleyball club activities. (Photo by Haikyuu Official Website)

Over 70% of Students Are Club Members... Club Activities Are Taken for Granted

According to a survey by Mynavi, the club membership rate among Japanese high school students is 75.3% for males and 74.1% for females. Isn't it surprising that over 70% join clubs? These are usually divided into sports clubs like soccer and baseball, and cultural clubs like ensemble and art. For males, 45.9% belong to sports clubs and 24.7% to cultural clubs. For females, 38.8% are in sports clubs and 33.7% in cultural clubs. So much so that a popular movie titled 'Kirishima Says He’ll Quit the Bukatsu' starts with a story about a popular student quitting the volleyball club.

Which sports clubs are popular? According to a survey by the sports magazine Sportsru, the most popular sports clubs among male students are 1st soccer (147,000 members), 2nd baseball (131,200 members), 3rd basketball (83,600 members), 4th badminton (69,000 members), and 5th track and field (59,700 members). Volleyball, popularized by the anime 'Haikyuu,' ranks 6th (50,970 members). Other clubs like table tennis, tennis, and kendo also made the rankings.

For female students, the most popular clubs are 1st badminton (56,300 members), 2nd volleyball (55,500 members), 3rd basketball (52,800 members), 4th kyudo (36,200 members), and 5th track and field (33,400 members). Kyudo is a traditional Japanese archery similar to Korea’s gukgung.

A scene from the movie 'Kirishima ga Bukatsudou Yametandai'. (Photo source=Official YouTube of Kirishima ga Bukatsudou Yametandai)

What about non-sports clubs? In public high schools, the top clubs are 1st instrumental music, 2nd art and crafts, 3rd tea ceremony, 4th calligraphy, and 5th band. The tea ceremony club is surprisingly popular, isn’t it?

Japan takes club activities quite seriously. For example, in tea ceremony clubs, they hold experience sessions to introduce and let others try tea ceremony. When first-year students join, they teach them the rules of tea ceremony, such as how to bow, stand, sit, and walk when serving tea. They also hold joint tea ceremonies with other schools’ tea clubs. During summer vacation, they teach how to wear yukata, traditional Japanese clothing, and hold formal tea ceremonies dressed accordingly. They also participate in events where visitors can taste matcha during school festivals. Just tea ceremony alone can take up a whole year.

Usually, clubs that require group practice, such as sports or music, gather around 7 a.m. before morning classes for regular practice. They also practice for 2-3 hours after school about three times a week. Before competitions, they may even sacrifice weekends for practice. Training camps during vacations where they stay together and cook curry for dinner are considered a 'national rule' for sports clubs. If this were Korea, parents might say, "Are you just playing instead of going to hagwon?" This part is a bit enviable.

Respecting Preferences and Hobbies... Many Unique Clubs Like Raising Cows and Mushrooms

Also, clubs can be formed as long as they recruit members. There are really many unique clubs. One famous unique club in Japan is the cow club, called 'Ubu (牛部),' where members raise cows. I hadn’t heard of this club before, so I looked it up and found that quite a few schools have it. Usually, these schools are located in agricultural areas or have related departments like agricultural high schools in Korea. They partner with farms and engage in activities like milking cows and feeding them after school or on weekends. They also participate annually in cow exhibitions (judging events) and experience events related to cows nationwide.

The 'Ubu (牛部)' activity at Kumamoto Nanyo High School. (Photo by Kumamoto Nanyo High School)

There is also a shiitake mushroom club. I even found this on a school bulletin board. A new student asked, "Are there any recommended clubs at Yamada High School?" and someone replied, "I was active in the shiitake mushroom club." This club cultivates shiitake mushrooms together, researches how to grow them well during the cultivation period, and shares recipes on how to eat the harvested mushrooms deliciously. I want to start a shiitake mushroom club too.

Besides these, there are various unique clubs such as the 'Transportation Research Club' for railway enthusiasts, the 'Life Saving Club' where members learn rescue techniques, the 'South American Music Research Club,' and the 'Incense Club' that enjoys and identifies scents of different types of juniper trees.

Members of the Incense Club at Chiyoda Junior and Senior High School are smelling and identifying the scent of incense cedar. (Photo source: YouTube channel 'The Bukatsu!')

A Place to Discover Talents

Japanese club activities are spotlighted every Olympics because many athletes start in sports clubs. The origin dates back to 1886 when students at the predecessor of the University of Tokyo, the Imperial University, founded the 'Imperial University Sports Association.' Traditionally, martial arts like kendo, which train mind and body, were popular sports in Japan. With modernization and the arrival of missionaries spreading sports, students began experiencing various sports. For example, Kanaguri Shizo, known as the 'Father of Japanese Marathon,' who first represented Japan in the Olympics in 1912, started marathon running through club activities as a university student.

Once you join a club, you must participate in activities under the guidance of a supervising teacher after school or on holidays throughout the year. In sports clubs, those who are highly interested or skilled in a particular sport often take on responsibilities. For example, a teacher who once dreamed of becoming a baseball player might coach the baseball club.

With some luck, students can devote over ten years to a single sport during their elementary, middle, and high school years. In Gunma Prefecture, which has had an ice rink since 1949, a significant number of Olympic speed skating athletes were members of the ice skating club at their Gunma elementary, middle, and high schools.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Because of this, some clubs become prestigious institutions that continuously produce professional athletes. For example, the gymnastics club at Osaka City Seifu Junior and Senior High School, known as a 'gymnastics powerhouse,' has sent 15 gymnasts to the Olympics so far. When an alumnus becomes an Olympic athlete, they visit the school to meet juniors, inspiring them to achieve good results. Passing down know-how naturally leads to the emergence of top athletes.

Of course, even in Japan, the time devoted to clubs is gradually decreasing. Due to low birth rates, many clubs struggle to recruit members and face the risk of disappearing.

Still, clubs teach students many things beyond academics. The sense of accomplishment and teamwork felt when completing a project like a competition or festival with fellow members is invaluable. Leadership skills to guide teammates and conflict resolution are things money cannot buy at academies. I believe that having experiences outside of studying during school days is truly necessary.