What is an Undokai?

Undokai is Japanese for sports festival. Sports festivals are held annually throughout Japan in public schools as part of the curriculum and are a tradition dating back more than a century. Influenced by British sports festivals, the first Undokai was held during the Meiji Era at the Imperial Naval Academy in Tokyo in 1874. According to The Japan Times, 230 students participated in this first sports festival, and the events included pole vaulting as well as a variety of races, one of which included chasing pigs!

According to OldTokyo.com, 32 Undokai were held in primary schools between 1884 and 1892. As the government ordered the construction of sports fields at schools in the early 1900s, schools began adopting Undokai on their own. It eventually spread across Japan, becoming a mandatory part of educational curriculum. Undokai were believed to be an ideal means to stoke patriotism and promote health. 

One of the event’s more interesting obstacles dealt with apparel, as tight obi (sashes) worn with kimonos made it difficult for girls to do calisthenics while clogs inhibited running. Therefore, bloomers, blouses and skirts were introduced.