“Why is that school called ‘Tamade’?” a child once asked. The answer lies in the rich history of this very place Osaka Municipal Tamade Elementary School.
Here we stand before Osaka Municipal Tamade Elementary School. This school is a public elementary school in Nishinari Ward Osaka. It stands in the Tamade area in the southern part of Nishinari Ward.
Let us step back to 1873. The school began as the Third Middle School District Sixth Major District Third Elementary School. It was also known as Tamade Elementary School. At that time it was the first elementary school established in Nishinari County.
Initially the school was located in Nagamoto Temple. Nagamoto Temple later moved. The original site of the temple and school is near present-day Tamade Nishi Park.
The school system changed frequently in the early Meiji period. Tamade Elementary School also underwent many reorganizations. In 1881 it was named Daek Elementary School.
In 1887 Kotsuma Village and Tsugayanosindo merged their village administration. Tsugaya Elementary School was integrated. The school took the name Tamatsugawa Elementary School. This combined “Tama” from Tamade and “Tsu” from Tsugaya. Tsugaya Elementary School became a branch. Two years later Tsugaya Elementary School became independent again. However it kept the name Tamatsugawa Elementary School for a while.
In 1901 a higher elementary school was added. It was renamed Nishinari County Tamatsugawa Ordinary Higher Elementary School. In 1908 it was renamed Nishinari County Tamade Ordinary Higher Elementary School.
In 1909 the school moved. Its new location was 592 Aza Nakanodo Kotsuma Village. This is near present-day Tamade Naka 1-chome Nishinari Ward.
The area around Tamade grew rapidly in the Taisho era. Many people moved in. The number of children increased. In 1913 Nishinari County Tamade Second Ordinary Elementary School opened. Today it is Kishinosato Elementary School. In 1920 Tamade Third Ordinary Higher Elementary School opened. Today it is Sembayashi Elementary School. With the opening of Tamade Third School the higher elementary school was moved there. Tamade School became an ordinary elementary school only. It was renamed Tamade Ordinary Elementary School.
In September 1920 it was renamed Nishinari County Tamade First Ordinary Elementary School. In 1925 Osaka City annexed the area. The school became Osaka Municipal Tamade First Ordinary Elementary School.
In June 1927 the school moved to its current location. This is at 2-chome Tsumori Higashi Nishinari Ward. In 1941 it was renamed Osaka Municipal Tamade National School due to the national school order. At this time Osaka City decided to abolish school names based on location and establishment order. Tamade’s name was chosen.
In 1944 students were evacuated due to the worsening war situation. Students from Nishinari Ward went to southern Osaka Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture. Tamade National School students evacuated to Yuasa Town Hirokawa Village and Tanada Village in Arida County Wakayama Prefecture.
In the Great Osaka Air Raid on March 13 1945 the lecture hall burned down. In 1947 the school was renamed Osaka Municipal Tamade Elementary School. In 1965 standard uniforms were introduced.
Isn’t it amazing how much history is packed into the grounds of Osaka Municipal Tamade Elementary School? From humble beginnings to its present form it has witnessed countless changes and challenges. The school continues to educate and shape the future of Osaka’s children.