Doshisha Kori Junior - Senior High School

 Christianity

We hold Christianity dear because it helps us to think how to live and cultivate thoughtfulness. Also, all students have a Bible class once a week. In that class, we learn not only extensively about the Bible but also about Nijima Joe. Sometimes we discuss social issues from a moral viewpoint. Students visit a local church in order to experience real Christianity. Students listen to a pastor and write their own views. Also students learn biblical teachings which Nijima Joe who founded Doshisha held dear. Both chapel expeditions and Bible classes are good chances for students to expand Christianity’s knowledge.

We do not only have worship services, but also we do Christmas donations and flower day donations, and the money that’s collected is used for many different people. There are other Christian-related events such as early morning worship and Christmas celebrations are held. Our school also provides human rights education. We experience using a wheelchair in the first year of junior high school to acquire a different perspective. We also carry out volunteer activities such as preparing meals in areas where many day laborers live. Christianity teaches us the “spirit of serving others” and the “spirit of loving others”. The sacred service in the chapel is our tradition and our pride.

 Jo Niijima

Doshisha was built by Jo Niijima. He was born in Tokyo in 1843 as Shimeta Niijima. He went to America to learn more. Shimeta was named Jo by the captain of the ship he took to go to America. He really liked that he was given that name. He learned English at Phillips Academy. He studied Christianity in Andover Theological Seminary. He gave a speech to Americans to raise funds to build a school, and built a Christian English school in Kyoto. Thanks to his friends’ assistance, he was able to establish Doshisha.

 Service

The spirit of service at Doshisha is based on Jo Nijima’s spirit of service, and a passage from the Bible that says “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. As typical volunteer activities, we raise money through donations and make rice donations. The money raised is used to help people in need. Also, in the case of the rice donation, we donate rice balls to day laborers at the cafeteria called “Ikoi Shokudo” in Kamagasaki.

In the first place, Doshisha itself was supported by the donation. The donations made at Doshisha are based on the spirit of service, and “give-and-give” without expecting any return.

 Build a School in Laos Project

This project to build a school in Laos was started by the junior high student council in 2008. In September 2012, Doshisha Kori students collected enough money to built an elementary school with two classrooms in Laos. Money was raised from many donations and proceeds from goods sales. In addition, we could give them many notebooks and school supplies.. Through this movement, Doshisha Kori students learned the importance of supporting and taking action.

 International Programs

One of the Doshisha philosophies is international education. Doshisha Kori has many kinds of plans to come in contact with foreign cultures. There was many programs to visit various countries. Doshisha Kori has a lot of opportunities to do homestay. For example, students can go to Canada or New Zealand on summer vacation for three weeks. Students can experience many things and learn English there. Also, students can go to Boston or England during spring vacation for eleven days. In Boston, students can go to Phillips Academy and Amherst College where Jo Nijima studied. We also have a program with The Nueva School in San Francisco. We visit their school in March, and they visit our school in May and February. Doshisha Kori follows Jo Nijima’s teachings and educates the students who play an active part all over the world.

 Freedom

Another important philosophy at Doshisha is freedom. Our school teaches students to learn on their own. That’s because our school wants students to become independent people. Students have time to think about their future. Teachers often do group work in class to know opinions from the various viewpoints. Also club activities are very active in our school. The biggest feature in our school clubs is we should think on our own, judging by ourselves and do our own part. We can know the fulfilment of overcoming challenges. The experiences in our school are precious and they will make us grow.

 Classrooms

I will introduce the school’s classrooms to you. Doshisha Kori High School has many kinds of classrooms. Doshisha Kori junior high school and high school students always study in our homerooms. However, if it is difficult to use the homeroom for experiments or practical work. Then we will study in a special classroom. There are three science labs, two music rooms and two art rooms. There is also a calligraphy room and a home economics room. We go to the classroom assigned to us by the teacher for each class. Our school has a lot of classrooms, so we can have a full range of classes. Among them, there are many great and beautiful facilities for sports in the school. There is the first gym, the second gym, the weight room, the Kendo hall, the Judo hall, dance room, wrestling hall, and more. There is also a chapel called the Koushinkan that was built in 1977. The Koushinkan is the place where services are mainly conducted. The seating capacity is about 1200 seats. It has a high ceiling and a beautiful window made of stained glass. The Koushinkan is also used at entrance and graduation ceremonies.

 The Media Center, Keishinkan

This facility is a combination of a library and an ICT education center. Also, we can walk on the rooftop, so it will make it easy to move around the campus. The library isn’t just a place for reading. We can use it for various situations such as research, presentations, exchanges and self-study. Also it has a function as a gathering place. There are many ICT devices, like iPads and laptop computers. Through this place, we can develop as people who can respect the position and opinion of others. Another attraction of the media center is that there is a lot of greenery such as trees. People can concentrate on studying when surrounded by greenery.