Today’s School Lunch

Today’s menu was:
・Oyster Sauce Yakisoba
・Chinese-style Bean Sprout Salad
・Kyoho Grapes
・Mini Koppe Bread Roll
・Milk

On the final school lunch day of September, we served a crowd-pleaser: oyster sauce yakisoba.
In Class 2-5, serving was smooth and the aroma of the noodles brought out plenty of smiles.

In elementary school, some students hollow out the roll and stuff it to make yakisoba-pan, but today we didn’t see that style—our junior high students enjoyed the meal in their own way.

For dessert we had Kyoho grapes—seedless and easy to eat, a small but happy bonus.
Here’s to more delicious lunches in October!

※All photos posted here were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via cable to teachers’ PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

Whole-School Assembly

Every Tuesday is whole-school assembly day.
Today, because parts of the ground were muddy from yesterday’s rain and the PE department was drawing lines for the upcoming sports festival, the assembly was held via the school broadcast.
The principal offered words of appreciation to the student council candidates and also spoke about autumn eggplants.
With midterm exams the day after tomorrow, a message of encouragement was given: do your best.


Whole-School Assembly: Principal’s Address (30 September 2025)

Good morning, everyone.

Every morning, the students running for the Student Council have been standing at the school gate, greeting us with energy and smiles.
They are students who have stepped forward with the desire to make Hokuryō Junior High an even better place.
Please support them wholeheartedly.

Now, yesterday morning we had heavy rain with thunder, yet little by little the season is beginning to feel like autumn.
Let me share a short story about autumn.

When it comes to autumn, I must admit—I love eggplants.
Since eggplants are in season now, I often buy them on my way home.
The other day, I found a bundle of slightly blemished eggplants being sold very cheaply.
I thought, “Well, a few scratches won’t hurt,” so I bought them, cooked them, and to my surprise… they tasted even better than the perfectly shaped ones.

Curious, I looked it up.
It turns out that when an eggplant is damaged, it tries to repair itself, drawing water and nutrients toward the injured area.
As a result, the aroma and flavour can actually become stronger.

“In other words, even if the surface is scarred, the strength inside may have grown.”
That explanation truly resonated with me.

And I thought, isn’t this also true for people?
At times, we fail, we feel down, or we bear small “scars” in our hearts.
But through such experiences, we activate our inner power to heal.
We may turn frustration into energy, or rise again with the help of those around us.
Through this, the richness inside us—kindness, perseverance, empathy—deepens.

That is why we must not judge others solely by appearances or by a single outcome.
Instead, I hope Hokuryō Junior High will be a place where we look a little deeper into ourselves and into our friends, and truly connect with one another.

Finally, the midterm exams are coming this week.
Take care of your health, study with a clear plan, and face every question carefully until the very end.
I am cheering you on. That is all.

Today’s School Lunch

Today’s menu was:
・Mapo Eggplant (Mābō Nasu)
・Stir-fried Tuna and Vegetables
・Roasted Sweet Potato with Syrup
・Steamed Rice
・Milk

The mapo eggplant was served piping hot: a hearty mix of beef-and-pork mince with onion, eggplant, carrot, green bell pepper, and ginger, seasoned with doubanjiang, soy sauce, and red miso, then finished with a light starch thickener.
Because it takes time and care, the flavors melded beautifully—rich, savory, and very satisfying.

This semester we’re visiting classes in sequence—“1-1 ⇒ 2-1 ⇒ 3-1 ⇒ 1-2 ⇒ 2-2 …”—and we were glad to finally reach Class 3-4 today.
If we visit Class 2-5 tomorrow, we’ll finally complete the first full round—something we’re really looking forward to.

※All photos posted here were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via cable to teachers’ PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

Morning Arrival: Under the Changeable Autumn Sky

This morning, there was a heavy downpour with thunder just before 7:00 a.m.
By the time students were heading to school, the rain had eased into light showers on and off, but some may have left home without umbrellas and gotten wet along the way.

It is often said that autumn weather changes quickly.
This is because the summer high pressure weakens, and warm and cold air masses compete around Japan, causing the weather to shift more rapidly.
During this season especially, it is important to check the morning forecast to stay prepared.

Again today, students running for the Student Council election greeted everyone energetically in the pilotis!

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / morning arrival / autumn weather / student council election / greeting campaign / safety guidance

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.