Sports Day (運動会, undōkai) is one of the most visible events in the Japanese school calendar. It’s a day where students, teachers, and parents come together as a community to celebrate students’ growth and effort.
Visibility is a key concept to understand here. Many ALTs treat Sports Day as a fun, low-stakes field day. In reality, it is a public-facing community event. How you present yourself will shape how students, coworkers, and parents perceive you for the rest of the year.
This is not just about athletics. It’s about participation, effort, and showing that you belong as a part of the community.
What Is the Undōkai (Sports Day)?
The Sports Day is an annual, school-wide athletic event, usually held once per year in either the spring or fall. Most schools schedule it on a weekend so parents and family members can attend.
Preparation starts weeks in advance. While there are athletic competitions, a surprising amount of time is devoted to practicing the opening and closing ceremonies. Students march in formation, line up precisely, and move in coordinated ways. These ceremonies are often practiced more than the sporting events themselves!
You may be asked to attend or participate in practice sessions. This isn’t busywork. These rehearsals will teach you how to demonstrate discipline, cooperation, and seriousness to parents. You’re being asked to participate so that you’ll know how to present yourself.
While there are winners and losers in individual events, for ALTs, the real failure is in not participating. Effort, visibility, and cooperation matter far more than who finishes first.
What ALTs Are Usually Expected to Do
Sports Day is not a spectator event. Typical expectations for ALTs include:
- Helping with setup in the morning
- Assisting with events or student management
- Participating as an athlete or officiant
- Staying until cleanup is finished and equipment is put away
Regardless of your specific assignments, your role as an educator is to be visible, engaged, and helpful. This is one of the few times your students’ parents will see you in action. You are representing both the school and yourself.
Standing off to the side, doomscrolling social media, or leaving early sends a strong negative message.
What the Day Typically Looks Like
Sports Day is usually organized around teams, most commonly red versus white, competing throughout the day.
The schedule typically includes:
- A formal opening ceremony
- A series of competitive and cooperative events
- An awards ceremony and formal closing ceremony
The ceremonial portions are deliberate, rehearsed, and taken seriously by schools and parents. Students are demonstrating discipline and preparation, not just enthusiasm. Goofing off or looking disengaged during these moments will make you look unprofessional.
Between ceremonies, students compete in a mix of events such as:
- Footraces and relay races
- Group calisthenics
- Group dances
- Novelty events like ball tosses or obstacle courses
You’ll notice quickly that there is a strong emphasis on teamwork and group activity. Even ‘individual’ events like footraces still earn points for the students’ team.
Details of the events aside, you job as an ALT is paying attention, cheering appropriately, and supporting wherever you can.
Tips for First-Time ALTs
If this is your first Sports Day, a few practical points will make the day go much more smoothly:
- Remember that parents are watching and judging
You don’t need to be athletic. You do need to show effort and enthusiasm.
- Ask in advance what you should wear
Dress expectations vary by school and region, and you’ll likely be outside for hours.
- Prepare for the weather
Bring sunscreen and a water bottle. If you’re sun-sensitive, consider long sleeves.
- Expect a full day
Stay until you are clearly told you can go home. Leaving early without permission looks bad.
If You Do Sports Day Right
Handled well, Sports Day pays off in ways that aren’t always obvious immediately.
It builds goodwill with coworkers. It strengthens relationships with students. It improves how parents and the local community perceive you. And it makes the rest of the school year easier, because people remember who showed up and pitched in when it mattered.
What to Read Next
Cultural Festival
Another high-visibility school event with very different expectations.
JTE Collaboration
How school events affect working relationships with your co-teachers.
Life in the Japanese Workplace
Understanding visibility, effort, and group participation.
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