New Japanese Boarding School Opens In Milton Keynes

Visit to the newly-founded Gyosei International School.

Exterior views of the newly built Gyosei International School at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The Anglia Television reporter explains that the school is part of a respected Catholic foundation, originating in Tokyo in 1881. The Milton Keynes school will be supported by donations from Japanese businesses, and will be able to accommodate 600 pupils, though 280 will be enrolled for the first term. Scene of pupils sitting in the chapel wearing their uniform of blue blazers. A priest, Reverend Cassidy, is carrying out a service of benediction and sprinkles drops of holy water, assisted by Father Tagawa, founding principal of the school. In the gymnasium, school staff and guests stand for the UK national anthem (heard) and the Japanese national anthem followed by 13 speeches of thanks and welcome (not heard). The reporter talks to parents Hiroko Ohyno and Koji Ohyno who have an import/export business in West Germany and have chosen to send their children to the new school. Koji Ohyno comments on the large size of the school and its good environment. More exteriors of the school premises on the 16-acre site including the tea house. Inside a tea ceremony is taking place, and girl pupils will be taught how to perform a ceremony for honoured guests. Scene of a corridor busy with pupils and guests. Pupils will breakfast at 6.30am and start four morning classes at 8.30am. In the afternoon, two classes are followed by cleaning and homework. The reporter talks through an interpreter with headmaster Masaaki Noboe who speaks in Japanese. She asks about school discipline, and how much pupils will experience of English culture. Few of the pupils speak much English, but one young man says he likes England better than Japan. The reporter was Rebecca Atherstone for this video made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Schools; Japanese culture; Japanese language; Catholic Church; Boarding schools; International education; Tea ceremonies; National anthems; Interpreters; Languages

Additional Description

The Gyosei International School was one of several Japanese private schools in the UK with a Japanese curriculum. The school catered for Japanese children whose families were working in the European Community in business or in the diplomatic service. There was a concentration of Japanese business interests in Milton Keynes. By the time the school closed in 2002 there were fewer Japanese executives working abroad and fewer families sending their children abroad to study.