SATURDAY: DAY TWO OF BUNKASAI!! Open to the public...time to party!!!
The main office was eerily quiet all day as everyone was out and about helping in various classrooms and greeting all the visitors!
The PTA moms all came out and sold some extra goodies for the big crowds!
My coworkers Kumi...and Steph came to visit as well! It was fun having her around school again, and the students were all stoked to see her (she finished working here on July)
YUM YUM YUM food thanks to the PTA!!
One huge highlight of the day was seeing some former students!! Students in Japan can't dye their hair, wear makeup, or wear anything else besides their uniform...so when I saw these kids in their personal styles, I was so shocked!!! They look so grown up and I truly love seeing all their personalities come out via what they wear, how they style their hair...so cute!
For all three days of the festivities...set up day on Thursday, the first day on Friday, and the day open to the public on Saturday, students were NOT allowed to use their phones AT ALL! Really strict rule considering its a festival and people's parents and friends all come...but hey, this is Japan and this is Ichikashi! Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, every student abided by the rule and I didn't see any phones out all weekend. Bravo kids, bravo.
2S doing their dance!
The brass band performs every year at prime time on Saturday (12:30pm) and everyone comes out to watch it. The good part about being a teacher is knowing the secret spot (aka the printing room on the 2nd floor) that has the perfect view of the show!
BRAVO to 3B who put on an incredible SOUND OF MUSIC musical!! These kids are awesome.
After 3pm on Saturday...the students cleaned everything up in a fury and things went back to normal...except for Nemoto Sensei who was doing funny poses and cracking Steph and I up for no reason haha.
By this time...I was pretty much exhausted from walking around all day and keeping up with the activities at school. And what better way to ease a tired mind and body than with...FOOD!!!!! First up, Naak cafe in Nagareyama Ootakanomori.
Kumi got super spicy and juice chicken and veggies and I got the chicken cheese naan pizza thingie with bruschetta sauce on the side WHAATTTTT. Dreamy.
But, don't be fooled thinking this was all I grubbed on after Bunkasai because about an hour after this meal at Naak, Steph and I met up with Mashiko and Tamaoki to enjoy some Yakiniku at our favorite local spot..
YESSS!!!! SO good and glorious.
And that folks, wraps up my third and final Bunkasai and the third and final post of this series. Phew!