Gleaming under the Osaka sun, Shin Kitajima Junior High School stands as a testament to education and community. What if I told you the land beneath this school has witnessed educational endeavors for over a century?
Shin Kitajima Junior High School is more than just classrooms and hallways. It is a place of learning. It is a place of growth. It is a place where young minds are shaped.
The story of education on this site goes back to 1902. From 1902 to 1931, this was the location of the Prefectural Kitano Junior High School. This earlier school played a significant role in Osaka’s educational landscape. It was a junior high school under the old educational system.
Kitano Junior High School had its beginnings in an interesting place. It started as a European-style school within the Namba Mido temple in Higashi Ward in 1873. Imagine learning about foreign languages in a temple.
The name “Kitano” came from the area’s original name: Kitano Shibata-cho. The school’s location was chosen for its environment. Surrounded by suburban fields, students benefited from fresh air. They enjoyed a healthy environment. They were able to focus on academics and extracurricular activities. “There can only be a large benefit from viewing the suburban fields on all four sides of the new school, both for health and for the mind.”
Interestingly, Kitano Junior High School experienced a brief period as a private school. In 1880, the Osaka Prefectural Assembly decided to cut all junior high school expenses. The school became the “Osaka Private Junior High School”. It was maintained by dedicated volunteers. In 1881, it returned to being a prefectural school.
The European-style school that started it all focused on foreign languages. Textbooks were Western. Lessons were in English. Students were even encouraged to converse in English daily. This English immersion program only lasted two years. Records show that the total number of students was small. There were only 51 students. This included 39 male and 12 female students. The school’s name was changed to “Shusei” school just ten days after it was established.
In 1935, the Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital took over this location. The hospital continues to offer medical care to local residents.
Shin Kitajima Junior High School continues the tradition of learning on this ground. While not the same institution as Kitano Junior High School, it shares a connection to a rich educational history.
As you stand here at Shin Kitajima Junior High School, consider the generations of students who have passed through this location. From the European-style school in a temple to the modern junior high school, this site has always been dedicated to learning. The echoes of the past blend with the energy of the present. Shin Kitajima Junior High School remains a vital part of Osaka’s community.