Draft:Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School

Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School 福島県立会津高等学校
Aizu High School gate
Address
3-1 Omote-machi Aizuwakamatsu , Fukushima Prefecture Japan
Coordinates	37°28′49.78″N 139°55′45.3″E
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Kōgaku aikō, bunbu fuki" (Studious and loyal to school, literary and military arts as one)
Established	April 3, 1890 (1890-04-03)
Website	aizu-h.fcs.ed.jp

Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School (福島県立会津高等学校, Fukushima-ken Ritsu Aizu Kōtō Gakkō), abbreviated as Kaikō (会高, Kaikō), is a prestigious prefectural high school in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It was founded on April 3, 1890, originally as Private Aizu Junior High School. It traces its roots to the Nisshinkan domain school established in 1798, making it the oldest high school in Fukushima Prefecture. Following educational reform, it was renamed to Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School on April 1, 1948.

History

Origins

The Aizu domain had a training institution called Keikodō for samurai education. As the peaceful Edo period continued, there was concern about the decline of samurai morals. Tanaka Genzai, a senior retainer to the fifth Aizu lord Matsudaira Katanobu, advocated for "revival of education" and decided to establish Nisshinkan. The majority of the substantial funds for its establishment came from a kimono merchant, Suda Shinkurō. The school was completed in 1798 and served as the warrior training institution for the Aizu domain, making attendance mandatory for samurai of the Hanairo-himo-gumi (upper samurai) rank and above.

Modern Founding

After the Aizu domain's defeat in the Boshin War, the region was devastated and needed rebuilding. In 1879, Prefectural Governor Yamayoshi Morinori established junior high schools in Fukushima, Wakamatsu, Miharu, and Taira, but they were closed after 11 months due to opposition from the prefectural assembly. In 1882, former Aizu samurai pooled their resources to establish the private Nisshinkan, continuing the tradition of the domain school. In 1884, prefectural junior high schools were reopened in Fukushima, Wakamatsu, and Taira, but in 1886, following the government's decree limiting each prefecture to one junior high school, all were closed except for Fukushima Junior High School (now Asaka High School).

As a result, former samurai in Wakamatsu sought to establish a "private" Aizu Junior High School. Akiyama Seihachi, the first mayor of Wakamatsu City and a former prefectural assembly member, sought help from Orita Heiuchi, a former Satsuma domain samurai who had served as Fukushima prefectural governor before being promoted to Superintendent-General of the Metropolitan Police. Orita wrote an "Aizu Junior High School Establishment Prospectus" in 1887 and appealed to district heads in the Aizu region and influential people in Tokyo. This activity eventually moved the Minister of Education, Enomoto Takeaki, resulting in a grant of 300 yen from Emperor Meiji. In Aizu, former domain samurai including Yamakawa Hiroshi (principal of Tokyo Higher Normal School, now Tsukuba University), his brother Yamakawa Kenjirō (president of Tokyo Imperial University, now the University of Tokyo), and Takagi Seinosuke (prosecutor at the Fukushima Prefectural Court) campaigned throughout the countryside.

In 1888, despite difficulties in fundraising due to events such as the eruption of Mount Bandai, former domain samurai donated their government settlement money, accelerating the establishment process. With a founding capital of 47,850 yen (equivalent to approximately 200 million yen in current value), the private Aizu Junior High School, the predecessor of Aizu High School, was established.

Modern History

Aizu High School was a boys' school for most of its history. Co-education began briefly in 1951 with 13 female students enrolled, but was abolished in 1955, returning to a boys' school. The school finally became permanently co-educational on April 1, 2002.

The school has maintained its traditions rooted in both the former domain school Nisshinkan and its history as Aizu Junior High School. It maintains a strong academic reputation in the region and is known for its cultural and athletic achievements.

Chronology

• 1798: Nisshinkan domain school established at the recommendation of Aizu domain senior retainer Tanaka Genzai. Completed next to Aizuwakamatsu Castle.
• 1868: Nisshinkan destroyed during the Boshin War.
• February 17, 1890: Permission granted to establish Aizu Junior High School.
• April 3, 1890: Opened as Private Aizu Junior High School, opening ceremony held.
• October 7, 1891: Renamed to Aizu Ordinary Junior High School.
• October 7, 1894: School building completed at the former site of Aizu Gakuhō High School.
• 1899: Following the revision of the Junior High School Ordinance, renamed to Aizu Junior High School.
• April 28, 1901: Transferred to prefectural management, renamed to Fukushima Prefectural Aizu Junior High School.
• March 28, 1935: School building completely burned down in a fire just before the handover of the new school building.
• January 25, 1936: New school building completed, relocated to current location.
• 1943: Due to wartime measures, the course duration was changed from 5 years to 4 years.
• 1946: Restoration of the 5-year course duration.
• April 1, 1948: Following educational reform, became Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School.
• 1951: Co-education began with 13 female students enrolled.
• 1955: Co-education abolished, returned to boys' school.
• 1959: Won the Tohoku District Baseball Championship and participated in the Spring National High School Baseball Championship (commonly known as "Senbatsu").
• 1963: Fire destroyed two-thirds of the school building.
• 1965: Moved to a new school building, Gakuji Auditorium completed.
• 2002: Co-education resumed.

School Principles

The school motto is "Bunbu fuki" (Literary and military arts as one) and "Kōgaku aikō" (Studious and loyal to school). The school uses a two-semester system, and classes are conducted in seven 50-minute periods. The school color is crimson.

Major School Events

• April: Entrance ceremony, first semester opening ceremony, introduction ceremony, academic assessment test, Nakatajima forced march
• May: First regular examination
• June: Alumni lectures, mid-first semester examination
• July: Second regular examination, summer supplementary classes
• August: Academic assessment test (late month)
• September: Third regular examination, first semester closing ceremony
• October: Second semester opening ceremony, school trip (2nd year), founding anniversary marathon
• December: Fourth regular examination, winter supplementary classes
• January: Academic assessment test, high school entrance examination first selection
• February: Fifth regular examination
• March: Graduation ceremony, high school entrance examination second selection, second semester closing ceremony

Special Events

Jishū Lecture

Held annually in late June. In the days of Aizu Junior High School, it occasionally featured speakers such as Hideyo Noguchi.

Nakatajima Forced March

Held annually in late April, this event involves walking a total distance of about 40 kilometers from the school, through the direction of Mount Iimori, to the Gakuji Hall on the shores of Lake Inawashiro at Nakatajima, and then back to school, taking half a day to complete.

Cultural Festival

Called "Gakuji Festival." It was proposed in 1948, and the first Gakuji Festival was held for three days starting September 23, 1949, with Hideki Yukawa as the first lecturer. Currently, a public Gakuji Festival open to citizens is held every three years over three days. Past lecturers include Takeo Kuwabara, Heisuke Hironaka, and Hitoshi Akiyama.

Student Council Activities

At Aizu High School, the student council is called "Gakuji-kai" and operates as a self-governing organization of students. It was established in 1893. From May 22, 1941, it was temporarily dissolved and renamed "Shūrenkai," engaging in labor service with a strong wartime character, but it was revived with the election of officers in 1945.

A characteristic activity of the Gakuji-kai is the "Kenbu Committee." This committee carries on the traditional sword dance to console the spirits of the Byakkotai (White Tiger Corps) who died young during the Boshin War, and performs offerings at the grave memorial services on Mount Iimori in spring and autumn.

Club Activities

In club activities, track and field, debate (social debate), rowing, swimming, archery, and naginata have participated in the Inter-High School Championships.

Before World War II, the boat club was known as a powerhouse, and during its peak, it achieved 2 national championships, 1 second place, 1 third place, and 3 fourth places over a 10-year period. After the war, it also experienced national championship wins. The kendo club has won national championships in various national tournaments, particularly in the one hosted by Kokushikan, and the judo club advanced to the semifinals of the Meiji Shrine Tournament. The baseball team participated in the spring Senbatsu Koshien in 1959 (lost 0-3 to Hyōgo Prefectural Amagasaki High School).

The debate club won the 11th National Debate Championship in 2006. The choir club has a history of receiving gold prizes in the Japan Choral Competition and is known as a prestigious school in the choral world, having won the Minister of Education Award, equivalent to first place nationally, three times in total. The club also has an exchange relationship with Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi High School choir club, and they jointly created "Friendship Transcending Time, Now" which they perform together.

Notable Alumni

Main article: List of notable people from Fukushima Prefectural Aizu High School

Among the notable alumni are government officials, scholars, military officers, business leaders, and cultural figures who have made significant contributions to Japanese society.

Transportation

• JR Tadami Line/Aizu Railway Aizu Line: Get off at Nishi-Wakamatsu Station and walk.
• From JR Banetsu West Line Aizuwakamatsu Station, take an Aizu Bus and get off at the Aizu High School bus stop.

External links

• Official website of Aizu High School

Category:Educational institutions established in 1890 Category:High schools in Fukushima Prefecture Category:Education in Fukushima Prefecture Category:1890 establishments in Japan