Day in the Life of a Japanese Wagyu High School Student

This is a day in the life of a Japanese Wagyu high school student. This is Soma, a 17-year-old high school student living in southern Japan in Kagoshima, and he's just waking up to start his day. Like any other typical school day, he starts with his morning chores. Where are you headed? Oh, how far is it? Oh, that's not too far. Soma's family runs a Wagyu, Japanese beef cattle farm, and he's responsible to feed the cows every morning before heading to school. Blessed with a warm climate and vast open spaces, Kagoshima Prefecture is Japan's top producer in Wagyu beef, particularly Japanese black-haired cattle, Kroge Wagyu, renowned for their exceptional meat quality. With about 321,000 cattle, this area proudly holds the highest share of this premium breed in the country. Now that he's completed his morning chores, he quickly gets ready for school. And living in a traditional Japanese house like this, he does so quietly, so not to wake his father and sister, who are still sleeping, while his mother is already busy in the kitchen preparing his breakfast. Is that what you're wearing today? Your mom prepares it for you? Every day? Nice! In Japan, it's quite common for students in public high schools to wear a uniform, also known as seifuku in Japanese. In recent years though, school uniforms and grooming codes have become a significant topic. And since 2022, the number of schools which have updated their regulations and designs have more than doubled as they try to address a more diverse student population. Nice! His breakfast is ready in a different room. He usually eats by himself as his mom is busy with morning chores for the farm. I guess it's pretty common in many Japanese homes. Do you always eat this? Your mom is so sweet! Is that you in the picture? Oh, what position? Awesome! How are your knees? Oh no! Soma commutes to high school by scooter, which is quite rare in Japan as nearly half of high school students, 45%, rely on trains for their commute while 31% commute by bicycles and only 0.8% ride motorcycles. By law, motorcycle licenses are attainable at age 16 while car licenses are only available from 18, which is why you never see Japanese high school students driving cars to school. Good morning, everyone! I'm back with another day in the life. This one, I've been wanting to do for so many years now and I finally got permission. It's been tough, but we finally did it. And luckily, we can get this one started soon because Soma should be arriving shortly. Good morning! Did you sleep well last night? Good luck! This is So High School, a Japanese public school nestled in Kagoshima's tranquil and open countryside. In addition to standardized courses, it offers five specialized academic programs. Though relatively small in Japan with around 360 students and 60 dedicated teachers, this school is a vibrant, laughter-filled community where friendships and dreams grow hand in hand. Soma, now a senior, has been enrolled in their concentrated livestock food agricultural program, specializing in cattle. What happened to your slippers? When students arrive, they change into uwabaki, indoor shoes, and take off their jackets at the entrance, a common practice in Japanese schools to prevent dirt and dust from being brought inside. However, recently, some public schools in larger cities like Tokyo have started to move away from this tradition due to the financial burden it places on parents to purchase two pairs of shoes. At this school, all the students are required to arrive every day by 8.20 and to start their morning study individually before their first class. Soma, what are you working on? Oh, you're studying? Oh, okay. In Japan, students are assigned to groups, with each group having their own homeroom where they spend most of their days. Teachers will visit this homeroom class to teach their specific subject, except for some elective classes like PE or farming which require different facilities. Naturally, students in the same homeroom class form closer bonds as they end up spending much of their day as well as year together. Soma's homeroom teacher is here. And every morning, he starts by sharing important announcements. Although he may not teach a specific subject to the class, he's their tainin, teacher responsible for their well-being throughout the year. Next, he has his first period of class, information science, which is held in a different room. And with just a 10-minute break between classes, students start moving right after the bell. Oh, I guess the students are learning how to use Excel today. Soma, how are your computer skills? Oh, did you just start learning? Ah, I love Excel. In Japanese high schools, students are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, based primarily on periodic exams. Since 2022 though, criterion-based assessments have also been added, evaluating students through small quizzes, presentations, group discussions, and daily attitude in their class. Aims to provide a more comprehensive evaluation, emphasizing communication, critical thinking, and other essential skills needed to meet the diverse challenges of today's world. So it looks like Soma's going to be in here for a while, so while he's doing that, let's do what we do and explore. Going down some steps now. Oh, what's this? This looks like a shop class or something. Look at all these wassino. I don't even know what this is, like a drill? Man, just looking at all of these machines, I honestly wish I went to a high school like this, but they taught me something that I can actually use and make. Well, actually that's not true. I went to a pottery class in high school. I guess I learned some CAD as well. I think there's a class going on over there. Let's go see. So this is another specialized program that the school offers, mechanical and electronic engineering. These students are working on their thematic research project in the welding workshop. Hi, what's this? Oh, that's cool. And what do you want to do for a living? What about you? Apparently, the students for their team project designed and engineered this mechanical tool, which allows them to easily create dustpans, a tool that they've been building and refining for more than half a year. And today they're doing more testing. Seeing what we could find here. Light is bright. It's not going to stop us. Oh, look, they even recycle their bottle caps here. Oh, look at this. All these awards. And this right here is when they won the Wagyu competition three years ago and they have it every five years. So they're going to compete again in two years. That's just amazing that they beat the whole entire country for Wagyu. Hey, these doors look a little bit different. Let's see if we can go inside these ones. Hi, what's this room? Apparently, this is where the Japanese, English and math teachers prepare their lessons. What subject do you teach? Cool, and what math specifically? He adds that from 2025, university admissions exams will expand to include even more subjects, making the senior year curriculum more challenging than ever. So did you want to be a teacher when you were a kid? Thank you. I think this is the principal's office right here. But he's not here, actually. Check this out. Look at all of these awards that they've won. Look at this. They even have their uniforms right here, all modeled out. Soba, where are you going? The school's farm is a 15 minute walk away from their main campus, and their break time between classes is limited. So Soba and his classmates walk quickly there together. Hey, so what's your dream? What about you? Really? Show me something. Hey, do you guys not have cell phones? But I don't see anyone ever on it. Ah, I see. So what social media apps do you use the most? Sounds like you can't live without it. And this is the school farm, home to about 36 lacquered Wagyu cattle and 97 Berkshire pigs, along with greenhouses, crop fields, and a food processing facility. Here, students in the livestock food agriculture program gain hands-on experience throughout the school year. As soon as the students arrive, they change into their farming uniform. This specific class is called Chikusan, livestock farming. Today's lesson starts with weighing the cattle, an essential step in tracking their health. After the teacher gives the students instructions, they quickly get to work. Now it's time to farm. In this class, students learn every aspect of cattle management, from raising calves to fattening. Through hands-on practice, they master the fundamentals as well as the complexities of running a successful farm. Oh no, the cow doesn't seem to be enjoying being pulled. Although Soma grew up with cows and is used to taking care of them, moving heavy cattle isn't an easy task. So the term Wagyu refers to four specific breeds of Japanese cattle, with black-haired Wagyu making up 95% of them, and Kagoshima alone produces 20% of the nation's black-haired Wagyu. In fact, Kagoshima farmers have perfected their techniques to a point where they can produce the highest quality A5 Wagyu beef 50% of the time. Now that the weighing is done, students work on learning how to best clean a barn as well as how to groom the cattle. Hey, is there anything different here from your farm? Nice, you're learning different things. Hi, does your family run a farm too? Ah, I see. So other than Wagyu, what are you into? Really? What position are you? Ah, that's awesome. So what have you learned here so far? Cool, so do you like the class? Nice, so what do you want to do in the future? Excuse me, can I ask you a question? So what do you think is important when teaching this class? That makes sense. Is there anything you're extra careful about when teaching? He says that cattle can recognize familiar faces and some first-year students often have the most trouble. Yeah, that does sound dangerous. Thanks. I thought your mom made you a bento. I see. Now that someone's back from the farm, it's finally lunchtime. Is your mom going to be sad that her food isn't enough? That's good. Well, you've been farming all morning. I can understand why you're hungry. In Japan, high school students typically bring their own lunch, often a bento box. Unlike elementary and junior high school, where school lunches are provided as part of the country's compulsory education program, high school isn't included. Hi, can I see what's inside your bento? What? That looks delicious. Your mom made it? That's impressive. Seriously? What's your specialty? You like anything else aside from cooking? Oh, what's your favorite these days? Sweet, thanks. And as promised, he's dancing for us. He's got some moves. So this is pretty cool. Since they don't have like bentos or anything that they serve here, they actually have a bread shop that comes out and sells their bread here out of a van. And vegetables grown by the students are also sold here. Hi, do you buy this often? What did you get? So convenient. After a one-hour lunch break, all the students clean for 10 minutes. Each one assigned a task and Soma is in charge of the hallway. This practice is common among all Japanese students from elementary school onwards. Working together to clean the school fosters teamwork by dividing tasks and achieving a shared goal. It also teaches the students to be considerate of others by maintaining a clean environment for everyone to share. Nice, Soma found his friend in the hallway. You guys play baseball together? What's your position? You guys must be close. Oh, that's cool to hear. Now fifth period begins and I guess it's a math class in their homeroom. Everyone is studying so quietly. So it looks like Soma is going to be in his math class for just a little bit longer. So while he's doing that, let's explore the halls a little bit. I love how everything is just open here. Cool. Look, I just found that Soma is actually right here. Look at this. They even have a yuzu here. Oh, wow. I didn't see this at the elementary school. It says Budokan. So I think this area right here is where they do kendo. Over there where there's like a tummy, that's where they do judo. It's nice that the school has these type of facilities. And then just like the mat itself, just stepping on it. It is kind of like the tummy, but it's like a really soft, bouncy tatami. You can feel the texture as well. Nice, the sophomore PE class is having a marathon. Excuse me. Hi, can I bother you? You're the fastest in the class, huh? So how far are you running today? Wow, you must play sports, right? Oh, awesome. How often do you have this class? Got it. We'll get back to your race. Thanks. In Japan, it's a common requirement for high school students to run long distances in PE class. And even in the winter, train in short sleeves, reflecting the country's stoic emphasis on health and fitness. Soma, do you have any homework today? Not at all? Really? Oh, sounds practical. Hey, is there anyone at school you're interested in? You know, it might be tough running a farm all by yourself. Just kidding, you're still young. I know you'll find someone. After classes, many Japanese high school students typically engage in after-school activities, sports teams or cultural clubs. In Soma's case, he's a member of the Livestock Farming Club. So he heads back to the school farm to learn more about raising cattle. Wow, the students are feeding a baby cow! Hey Soma, what do you actually do in this club? In Japan, high school students uniquely have the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in the art and science of raising premium wagyu. Students like Soma, who tirelessly learn to care for their cattle and strive to raise the highest quality breeds, compete in events such as the Wagyu Koshien, which focuses strictly on the quality of the beef, and Kyoshinkai, which evaluates cattle's appearance. Hey, this tag has your name on it! That's awesome! Bye bye, Soma the cow! Before heading home, he stops by his sotoban, abacus and mental math school. In Japan, extracurriculars like piano, swimming or even cram schools are common, but the abacus has gained in popularity as recent studies show its benefits to train the brain. And since he's already mastered the abacus, he now focuses on mental math. So how long have you been doing this? He's so humble, I'm sure he can do more in his head than 99% of the world. Finally home! Before dinner, he helps his dad with a farming task. So did your son want to follow in your footsteps since he was young? It must require a lot of sacrifice! While Wagyu has gained worldwide notoriety, cattle numbers in Japan are declining due to an aging farming population. But a new generation of passionate Wagyu farmers like Soma are diligently honing their craft. And with the support of Japan's school system, the legacy of Japanese Wagyu beef has a promising chance to endure. Who's the little one? Does it have a name? Seriously? I'd be honored! Yay, dinner time! I guess they're having sukiyaki tonight and of course with Kagoshima Wagyu beef. It's truly amazing to see their family sitting together to enjoy a dinner after a hard day of work and school. I can only hope for the continued success of Soma's family and Soma himself as he takes over his family's farm in the future. And after talking to him and his family, apparently the best way to support them is for the world to enjoy Japanese Wagyu beef. If you like this video, like always, help me out and hit that like button. And if you want to see more videos like this or anything related to Japan, hit that subscribe button and the bell button and I'll catch you guys in the next one!