This is the norm in Aomori elementary schools! From ski mountains to apple desks, Aomori childhood traditions

Things that people who grew up in Aomori Prefecture take for granted may surprise people from outside the prefecture and seem "unusual."

In winter, ski mountains are set up in the schoolyard, students carve woodblock prints in art class, and apple writing pads are distributed...these are all everyday scenes for children in Aomori, but it seems that they are not often seen in other prefectures. Here, we would like to introduce some of the common things that happen

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Winter physical education = winter sports

When it comes to winter physical education in Aomori, winter sports are the obvious choice

Since snow accumulation is commonplace, rather than exercising in a gymnasium, the mainstream was to utilize the snow and cold for exercise. However, there are differences in winter physical education between the snowy Tsugaru region and the bitterly cold Nanbu region

Skiing in Tsugaru, skating in the south

For those who grew up in the Tsugaru region, winter physical education was usually synonymous with skiing. There was a place to lean skis against the wall at the entrance of the elementary school, and they would hang their gloves and socks to dry after physical education. This was commonplace for people in Tsugaru, but it seems to have been a luxurious class for people from other prefectures.

On the other hand, skating is mainstream in the southern region. The skating culture is particularly strong around Hachinohe, where there is little snow, and it is not uncommon for children to go to the skating rink as part of physical education classes. People from outside the prefecture are surprised at the idea of ​​skating in physical education classes, but for children in the southern region, it is normal. This is an elementary school culture unique to Aomori, where the way people spend winter varies depending on the region

The events vary by region

However, physical education classes vary depending on the region. Even within Aomori Prefecture, there are people who have learned both skiing and skating, and others who have never done either. Also, even though we call it skiing, there are two types: alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, and in some regions students learn both

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When you think of elementary schools in Aomori, you think of "Ski Mountain"

When talking about Aomori's winter physical education classes, mentioned above, one thing that is essential is the " ski mountain ." Every winter, a small mountain of snow appears in the schoolyard. When I talk about this outside of Aomori, people ask, "What's that?", but it's actually a fairly common sight within the prefecture.

A snowy mountain suddenly appears in the schoolyard

As winter deepens, the accumulated snow is collected and used to create a snow mountain in the schoolyard. This snow mountain is not made for playing, but is used for ski lessons. There are also "ski lessons" where students visit a ski resort and ski down a real snow mountain, but basically, students ski down the ski mountain in the schoolyard. It is an impressive snow mountain that makes you want to climb it, but you are warned not to climb it normally, as it will collapse if you walk on it with anything other than skis

Is there a ski mountain in the summer?

You might think that a ski mountain is something you do in winter, but in fact, there is a "base mountain" in the schoolyard even when there is no snow. Since it would be a lot of work to build a mountain from scratch every time snow piles up, a small mountain of dirt is made in advance, and then in winter, snow is poured over it to complete the ski mountain

In areas with heavy snowfall, like Aomori City, simply clearing away the snow is enough to create a decent ski mountain, but in areas with less snow, this "pre-built base" is extremely useful. To us, it was just a part of the schoolyard, but our friends from other prefectures looked puzzled. We explained that it was the "base for the ski mountain," but they were doubly surprised, as they had no concept of a "ski mountain" in the first place

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A staple stationery item for elementary school students: the "apple pencil"

Anyone who grew up in Aomori has surely had an apple desk pad . Elementary school students in the Tsugaru region, in particular, used these apple desk pads as a matter of course. However, surprisingly, it is not well known how these desk pads became so popular. Why did they become such a standard stationery item for elementary school students in Aomori?

The apples are written on the "apple writing pad" with information about the variety and shipping process

of the prefecture's most famous apple varieties, such as Fuji , Ourin , Jonagold , Kogyoku and Sekaiichi , a way that even elementary school students can easily understand. It also includes illustrations of how apples are made, making it easy to see at a glance when and what steps are involved.

Even though Aomori Prefecture is the number one producer of apples in Japan, the number of producers is decreasing year by year, and more and more children are unaware of the process that apples go through to grow. In this situation, this "apple desk pad" is a great educational material

The process from pruning to bagging and shipping is clearly illustrated in diagrams, allowing children to naturally learn, "So this is how apples are grown." Perhaps through the apple desk pad, some children will be inspired to become apple farmers in the future—and with that in mind, it feels like it has more meaning than just being a desk pad

It has been distributed free of charge for about 50 years

This desk pad is said to have been created in the 1960s, nearly half a century ago 

It was originally created by the Aomori Prefecture Apple Council as a PR material to teach children about apples. It was distributed to schools and kindergartens, and before we knew it, it had become a "standard item for elementary school students in Aomori." Recently, it has attracted attention as it will be distributed to elementary schools for the first time through a public application system

It is true that they were not distributed at elementary schools, but were probably given as souvenirs on field trips to apple juice factories. The apple desk pads were not just handed out, but were probably made with the hope that "children of Aomori would feel closer to apples."

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Printmaking is a staple in arts and crafts

When you are asked, "What did you do in winter art class?", what comes to mind? When you think of "winter art class" in Aomori elementary schools, it's printmaking. I can still picture the black and white worlds lined up in the hallways

Winter Art Class = Printmaking

Aomori is often snowbound in the winter, which inevitably reduces the amount of time spent playing outside. It is during this season that printmaking begins. Many people will vaguely remember the atmosphere of art class, where students silently carved pictures. Perhaps because of the winter air, the entire classroom was silent, with only the sound of the chisel clicking. I'm sure many people feel nostalgic when they hear the word "baren." The finished prints were lined up in the hallway or entered in competitions, and I remember it being a great time to experience art

Why is printmaking so popular? The influence of Shiko Munakata

The reason why printmaking is so popular in Aomori elementary schools is the presence of the world-famous woodblock artist Shiko Munakata. Munakata, who was born in Aomori Prefecture, created powerful, lifelike works that attracted nationwide attention as a form of expression. In order to increase children's interest in art through printmaking, printmaking begins every winter

By the way, first and second graders make paper prints, and then third graders move on to woodblock prints, which requires the use of carving knives, which makes for a much more tense experience. It was also a moment when I thought, "Maybe I've grown up a bit."

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It is common for school grounds to have a sumo ring

It is not uncommon for elementary schools in Aomori to have sumo rings in their schoolyards. In the Tsugaru region in particular, sumo has been popular as a "traditional local sport." Matches are held at sports days, and students wrestle with each other during recess... It is a common sight for elementary school students in Aomori, but people from outside the prefecture are often surprised when they hear about it

Sumo has been popular in Aomori since ancient times, and it has produced many famous sumo wrestlers. Although the number of people competing is declining, many sumo tournaments are still held in Aomori. The sumo rings in schoolyards are playgrounds for elementary school students, and it is also a culture that is deeply rooted in local pride

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summary

Ski mountains, apple desk pads, woodblock prints, sumo rings - all of these are unfamiliar to people from other prefectures. However, for those who grew up in Aomori, they are all part of the local culture, filled with fond memories. They are treasures of Aomori that we never forget, even as adults

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