Undokai 2009

One of the highlights of Japanese school is the annual Undokai, or Sports Day, and it was a beautiful day for Sagamidai Elementary's Undokai this year. The picture below is Maddie about to win her 100m event. Maddie served tea to the old people.

In almost all of the events, the emphasis is on working together in team cooperation rather than individual achievement. In this one, three students carry the hat-wearing children onto the field in an attempt to capture as many of the other teams' caps as possible while trying to keep their team's caps from being captured. Maddie was on yellow team this year. Her teacher is in the yellow shirt.

Here they are on the field. (You can click to enlarge.)

Performing the Happiness Dance: