1 . Club Activities in Japanese Schools

In the after-class activities of Japanese high schools, there are various clubs. Participation depends on students; however, most students choose a certain club.     1     And there are various kinds within each type.

A recent survey showed activity participation rate (比率). In junior high schools, participation rate was around 70% in sports clubs and around 20% in culture clubs. In senior high schools, participation rate in sports clubs dropped to about 50%, and in culture clubs, rose to around 25%. One reason is that there are more kinds of culture clubs in senior high schools than in junior high schools, so there is a wider range of choices.     2    

The rate of junior high school students not choosing any club was less than 10%. However, that number more than doubled in senior high school. In recent years, the number of students not joining in any clubs is increasing. Stronger individualism, which causes unwillingness to participate in group activities, is one factor behind this change.

    3     Japanese clubs are considered “a part of education” and are different from club activities overseas. Learning teamwork is a common factor; in particular, sports clubs have a strict hierarchy (等级制度) and are useful in leaning to be polite. This is said to have influenced the way Japanese companies work, for example, with respect for seniors. Compared to sports clubs, the hierarchy in culture clubs is not as strict.     4     Besides, clubs which practice traditional Japanese martial arts and culture offer a valuable chance to learn the traditional arts firsthand. By experiencing such arts in teenage years, the chance of passing traditional culture to the next generation is large.