四街道市立八木原小学校

Did a young prodigy from Yotsukaido City once grace the national stage? Let’s talk about Yotsukaido Municipal Yagihara Elementary School, or as it’s known in Japanese, 四街道市立八木原小学校. This seemingly ordinary school, nestled in Chiba Prefecture, once held a student destined for the spotlight. In 2019, a fourth-grader from Yotsukaido Municipal Yagihara Elementary School made it to the national stage. Sekiryo Usuke, a budding shogi player, competed in the 37th National Elementary School Shogi Tournament. His journey began years earlier, inspired by his older brother. He honed his skills, even traveling to Ichikawa City for further training. This dedication culminated in his victory at the Chiba prefectural tournament. He earned him a spot in the national competition held in Tokyo. Yotsukaido Municipal Yagihara Elementary School isn’t just about shogi, though. The school is part of a city-wide initiative to promote English education. Starting in the 2020 academic year, first graders at Yotsukaido Municipal Yagihara Elementary School began dedicated English classes, focusing not only on speaking and listening but also reading and writing. This program expanded in 2022 to all elementary schools in the city. It transformed them into Ministry of Education-designated special educational program schools. This commitment to language learning demonstrates the school’s dedication to providing a well-rounded education. So, as you stand before Yotsukaido Municipal Yagihara Elementary School, remember that within its walls, dreams are nurtured, skills are honed, and young minds are prepared to take on the world, whether it be on a shogi board or a global stage.