Message from Hakuo

By Hisako Yoshimoto, Principal of Hakuo Junior & Senior High School

Tokyo Metropolitan Hakuo Junior & Senior High school has been a consistent
pioneer for over 130 years since its foundation in 1888. This “Pioneering Spirit”
is our school philosophy underpinning the education in Hakuo. Our goal is to
enhance three qualities in our students: 1) Developing themselves through their
constant effort with their strong will; 2) Forging their own life paths, overcoming
any hardships they face; 3) Being enthusiastic and devoting themselves to
contributing to social progress. Our students lead self-depended school lives
with self-awareness and pride in the history and traditions of Japan. Above all,
we provide students with lots of opportunities to work hard together with good
classmates, through friendly competition and cooperation. This is the foremost
appeal point of Hakuo.
Hakuo, with this long history and a variety of traditions, was bestowed the
important mission to again become a pioneer school by the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government. From the 2018 school year, Hakuo has started providing you with
a learning environment with a rich international flavor and further enriching our own curriculum, which stresses
English learning that enables students to gain global point of view. Our program is based on the New Action
Plan in the Tokyo Metropolitan School Reform Promotion Plan released by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of
education in February 2016.
Through this program we aim to educate students
capable of both global-level competition and cooperation, founded on a respect for diversity
&
who possess their own identity and make the most of their individual talents to solve problems

What is required in the age of globalization is not just cooperation but also competition with understanding and
respect of Diversity.
Hakuo keeps making progress without fear of change as a leading “Pioneer” in the new age, with the aim of
cultivating students to become leaders active on the world stage.

Ideal Students School Philosophy

Research &
Presentation

The Pioneering Spirit

To become
leaders History
active
on the
world stage
Understanding
Traditions & Enriched
Culture education
of Japan in Diversity

School building in 1912

Facilities

West School Building East School Building

Hakuo has a West School Building (housing third-year junior high through third-year senior high) and an
East School Building (housing first-year and second-year junior high). Each facility has taken innovative
measures to create schooling with a rich international character, such as providing a Language Room that
gives students opportunities to learn and speak multiple languages.

The West School Building is equipped with four science classrooms, a gymnasium, a Computer Assisted
Language Learning (CALL) classroom, a Japanese-style room, an audiovisual room, a kendo / judo classroom,
and a pool. The building also provides enriched learning environments, with self-study rooms on the first
floor and a self-study area on the second floor.

The East School Building is equipped with learning environments necessary for two years of junior high
school, including two science classrooms, an audiovisual room, a technology room, a dressmaking classroom,
a kitchen classroom, and a pool.

Area
Hakuo is located near Ueno and Asakusa, two areas where you can get a sense of Japan’s traditional culture.
The following are brief descriptions of Ueno and Asakusa.

Ueno Asakusa

Ueno is about a 15-minute walk from Hakuo. Asakusa is about a 20-minute walk from
The Ueno vicinity includes many cultural Hakuo. Because of the famous Sensouji
tourist attractions such as Ueno Park, the temple, the area is packed with overseas
National Museum of Western Art (which is a tourists. Also nearby is Sky Tree, a famous
World Cultural Heritage site), and the Tokyo Tokyo landmark.
National Museum. The area is bustling with
overseas tourists.
School Life & Events

Approximately 1200 students are enrolled at this school. The junior high school has four classes per
grade with about 160 students in each grade, and the high school has six classes per grade with about 240
students in each grade. The majority of the students come from nearby wards.

“Keep your dictionary always by your side: Good preparation makes a big difference” has been the slogan.
About 80 percent of graduates go directly into universities or colleges of higher education and study. Most
students enjoy club activities after school under the guidance of the teachers.

Junior High School

An important component of participating on the international stage is understanding Japan’s traditions and
culture. This is why first-year students are given first-hand experience with familiar local traditions and
culture to deepen their understanding and appreciation of local culture and the value of traditions and
culture. Students are also provided with opportunities to learn debating and presentation skills during the
summer holidays while taking up lodgings. In this way, we foster people ready to play an active role in the
future.

Second-year students are given first-hand experiences in agriculture, a time-honored industry in Japan, and
learn about Japan’s traditional food culture. This raises their food consciousness and heightens their
awareness and interest in agriculture.

Third-year students visit an institution of higher education (Tokyo University) to boost their awareness of
future paths after graduation. Hakuo graduates conduct a campus tour to help students visualize their future
prospects with a greater sense of purpose.

Learning traditions Farm life experience Visit to Tokyo University

Class atmosphere Enriched math and science education Short-term study abroad programs

Taking in international students Language Room Online English conversation lab

Senior High School

Along with respect for diversity and learning global cultures through the understanding of Japan’s
traditions and culture, Hakuo runs various programs designed to foster the sociability to look broadly
outside of Japan and contribute to the international community. These programs include overseas field
trips, short-term foreign-language study abroad programs, next-generation leadership training, and
interactions with other schools.

Hakuo’s first initiative is to experience and learn traditional culture. Fourth-year students (first-year
senior high school students) participate in local events such as the Asakusa Yabusame horseback
archery festival, the Torigoe Festival, and the Monomachi artisan festival and study their history and
significance. This experience furthers their understanding and appreciation of local Ueno and Asakusa
traditions and culture. Fifth-year students take Introduction to Japanese Culture, a unique course
developed by Hakuo, in which they acquire even deeper knowledge about Japan’s traditions and culture.
Through these classes, Hakuo instills the concept of viewing Japan’s place in the world objectively.
Under the subject of Introduction to Japanese Culture, there are some courses, each offering a firsthand
experience of Japanese culture.

Hakuo also conducts academically enriched exchanges by incorporating learning exchanges in math and
science subjects, mutual presentations, and group learning together with international students. These
programs aim to cultivate a broad base of knowledge and nurture students with a global perspective.

Horseback archery experience Japanese culture experience Torigoe festival

Sports Day

Sports Day takes place in late May each year. Students are divided into four teams (red, blue, yellow, and
white) and compete in various athletic events. Each team puts a lot of imagination and creativity into their
cheerleading battles that they unveil it on the day, creating an exciting atmosphere. As one of the school’s
three major events, students put incredible enthusiasm into their practices leading up to the day. One of
Hakuo’s traditions and a centerpiece of our school is the quadrille, which has been performed by female
students since our first-ever Sports Day in 1904.

School Festival

Our school festival is called the Hakuo Festival, which is held in mid-September each year. Open for two days
at both junior and senior high schools, fourth-year students (first-year senior high school students) present
plays and video productions on the theme of “expression.” Fifth-year students (second-year senior high
school students) provide a wide selection of dishes created in the school kitchen classroom on the theme of
“food.” Junior high school classes give creative and imaginative presentations on their regular lessons and
special activities. The centerpiece of the junior-high presentations is the presentation by students who have
entered the school on the Japanese traditions and culture program. Viewers can enjoy the superb abilities of
students already performing as professionals in kabuki, kyogen, and other arts.

Choral Competition

The choral competition is the last event of the school year, held in February during the third semester.
Students from first-year junior high through second-year senior high compete on their performances of
choral pieces selected by each class. Because students hear choral performances of high-school students
starting in junior high school, the overall performance level has become exceedingly high, with students
choosing difficult musical pieces. Judges include Hakuo graduates who are now professional musicians.
Clubs
Soccer English
Baseball Dramatics
Field & Track Events Cooking
Basketball Computer
Volleyball Tea Ceremony
Kendo Biology
Judo Geography
Badminton Astronomy
Tennis Chemistry
Japanese Drumming Art
Mountain climbing Hyakunin Isshu
Swimming The game of go & shogi
Table Tennis Brass Band
Chorus Folk Songs
Cartoon Drawing Piano
Liberal arts Nagauta music & a shamisen

Hakuo has 14 sports clubs and 19 arts and science clubs. Over 80
percent of students participate in at least one club. Club members
set goals and practice and rehearse diligently to win a higher prize.
One feature of Hakuo is club activities rooted in Japan’s traditions
and culture, such as nagauta music and shamisen, hyakunin isshu,
tea ceremony, and Japanese drumming.

Message from Hakuo

☆ Masanobu Aoki ☆ Emika Furuhata
Hi! I’m going to introduce Since I entered Hakuo High
some nice things about School, I have experienced
Hakuo to you. There are many more things than I had
many events to enjoy our expected. For example, I
school life. There are nice studied in the United States
and fun teachers. So you for ten months and got the
can ask anything to the chance to learn cultural
teachers, and they’ll teach differences between Japan and other countries. In
you politely. Also we have many clubs. That makes addition, I learned how to play the shamisen which
our school life fruitful. I hope you will come to is a traditional Japanese instrument in music
Hakuo and enjoy yourselves with us. I’m waiting for classes. Hakuo is a place where students can learn
you. both diversity and tradition. You have a lot of
opportunities to help you to achieve your goals!
 Access Nippori-Toneri Liner
Minowa
Tsukuba Express

Access
Keisei Line

Our two school buildings are located between Nippori

Asakusa and Ueno, which are visited by many

Our two school buildings are located between
overseas tourists. Walking around the area, you
Asakusa and Ueno, which are visited by many
will find old temples and shrines, Kappabashi Ueno Asakusa
overseas tourists. Walking around the area, you Tokyo Metro
Chiyoda Line
Tobu Skytree Line
Street or Kappabashi Dogugai, and many other
will find old temples and shrines, Kappabashi Tokyo Skytree®

Toei Asakusa Line

Okachimachi
interesting sights.
Street or Kappabashi Dogugai, and many other Toei Oedo Line
Kur
ama
interesting sights. e
Tokyo Metro
Ginza Line
JR Line Asakusabashi Area map of
Ueno Station Akihabara Taito City
Tokyo Metro
Hibiya Line

Tokyo Metro
Ginza Line
Ueno Station
Tokyo Metro Kokusai Street
Hibiya Line
Ueno Station Tokyo Metro Asakusa Street
Ginza Line Tokyo Metro
Inari-cho Ginza Line
Station Tawara-machi
Station To Asakusa
Kiyosumi-bashi
Street

West Building
Kasuga Street

JR Line A3 Exit
Okachimachi Tokyo Metro East Building
Hibiya Line Toei Oedo Line /
Station Naka-Okachimachi Tsukuba Express
Toei Oedo Line
Station Kuramae Station
Shin-Okachimachi
Station

Toei Asakusa Line

Kuramae Station
To Akihabara

West Building
Five‐minute walk from Shin‐okachimachi Station (Oedo Line /
Tsukuba Express)
Five‐minute walk from Shin‐okachimachi Station (Oedo Line /
Five‐minute walk from Inaricho Station (Ginza Line)
Tsukuba Express)
10‐minute walk from Okachimachi Station (JR Line)
Five‐minute walk from Inaricho Station (Ginza Line)
15‐minute walk from Ueno Station (JR Line)
10‐minute walk from Okachimachi Station (JR Line)
1‐6‐22 Motoasakusa, Taito‐ku, Tokyo 111‐0041
15‐minute walk from Ueno Station (JR Line)
Tel.: 03‐3843‐5678 Fax: 03‐3841‐6925
1‐6‐22 Motoasakusa, Taito‐ku, Tokyo 111‐0041
Tel.: 03‐3843‐5678 Fax: 03‐3841‐6925

East Building
Seven‐minute walk from Shin‐okachimachi Station (Oedo Line /
Tsukuba Express)
Seven‐minute walk from Shin‐okachimachi Station (Oedo Line /
Five‐minute walk from Tawaramachi Station (Ginza Line)
Tsukuba Express)
3‐12‐12 Motoasakusa, Taito‐ku, Tokyo 111‐0041
Five‐minute walk from Tawaramachi Station (Ginza Line)
Tel.: 03‐5830‐1731 Fax: 03‐3843‐5761
3‐12‐12 Motoasakusa, Taito‐ku, Tokyo 111‐0041
Tel.: 03‐5830‐1731 Fax: 03‐3843‐5761