午夜剧场

Upon entering the main entrance of the Yochisha, you will find a shadow play piece titled "Ko'uma Fledging in Time" created by shadow artist Seiji Fujishiro on the right wall, and the Yochisha 150th Anniversary logo designed by creative director Kashiwa Sato on the left. These two works always watch over the Yochisha students warmly as they pass through the main entrance on their way to and from school.

The shadow play "Ko'uma Fledging in Time," installed on January 29, 2008, depicts the zelkova tree soaring high above the Yochisha playground and the Ko'uma running around it as they take flight into the vast sky. Ko'uma refers to the Yochisha students. Mr. Fujishiro graciously accepted the request to "create a shadow play of a landscape that anyone who knows Yochisha would immediately recognize." As inscribed in the poem presented alongside the shadow play, it dynamically portrays how "(...) the Ko'uma learn much and grow large, eventually becoming fine steeds with wonderful dreams and hopes, taking flight into the sky toward the future," perfectly representing the six years spent at Yochisha.

The 150th Anniversary logo, created to mark the Yochisha's 150th anniversary in 2024, was designed by Mr. Sato based on the concept of "150 years where different individualities coexist and shine." It was completed in January 2022 after numerous discussions between Mr. Sato and the faculty. As Mr. Sato explained, "The letters K, E, I, and O, colored in their respective class colors, are all composed of different fonts yet are firmly united under The Pen Mark. The letters of YOCHISHA look as if Yochisha students of various personalities are standing side-by-side energetically. The unique 150TH characters also tell the history of 150 years, where no two years were the same." This expresses the essence of Yochisha: "shining while coexisting and acknowledging differences."

Beyond the shadow play and the 150th Anniversary logo, a large zelkova tree—the symbol of Yochisha—stands tall in the middle of the spacious playground. There were originally two zelkova trees, but one was cut down in 2021 for safety reasons. Whether during morning assemblies, physical education classes, club activities, or recess, the large zelkova tree is always there watching over the Yochisha students.

Yochisha held its 150th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony on May 30 of this year at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall, attended by approximately 3,000 people including current students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. I felt once again that 150 years is a long time and that we have been supported by many people. While the landscape of Yochisha may change as we look toward the next 175th and 200th anniversaries, I hope it remains a place that warmly watches over Yochisha students forever.

(Junko Hirota, Administrative Director, Yochisha)