“Challenge Lesson?” That’s an interesting concept isn’t it? Welcome to Osaka Prefectural Minato High School. This high school has a rich history. It began as Osaka Prefectural Ebie Shima High School for girls in 1911.
Osaka city had only three other high schools for girls then. These were in the north east and south districts. The west district needed one so this school was built.
Initially, Osaka Prefectural Minato High School opened in Osaka市立第一女子手芸学校. That translates to Osaka Municipal First Girls’ Handicraft School. In May 1911 it moved to the former site of Osaka High School of Commerce. In July 1914 the school moved to its current location. Soon after it was renamed Osaka Municipal Port High School for Girls.
The school term was four years at first. In 1921 it became five years. Osaka Prefectural Minato High School was a pioneer in health and hygiene. In 1926 it established a health room. This was rare at the time. Many students were malnourished. Therefore, in 1929 the school began offering lunches. These lunches included spinach dishes and grilled mackerel. Curry rice and pork cutlets were also served.
Sports were popular from the beginning. Students excelled in table tennis and tennis.
In 1934 a typhoon caused major damage. High tides flooded the school. Most of the building was unusable. Classes continued in the remaining classrooms and lecture halls. A new school building was completed in 1936.
During World War II students mobilized for labor. They worked in munitions factories.
In March 1945 air raids damaged the school. After the war, in September, a typhoon caused flooding.
In 1948 educational reforms led to a new name. The school became Osaka Prefectural Minato High School. There was competition with another school also wanting the name Minato. Eventually, the other school prevailed.
In June 1948, Minato High School became coeducational. It exchanged students and staff with another high school.
In 1949 there was a plan to close Minato High School. The plan was to use the site for another school. School officials and locals protested. The plan was withdrawn in 1950. In 1950 a typhoon caused more damage. The school suffered about six million yen in damages.
In 1973 the school abolished its uniform. It introduced a standard clothes system. By 2013 students could choose their uniform.
During the 1970s and 1980s high school enrollment grew rapidly. To accommodate this, Osaka Prefectural Minato High School increased class sizes. In 1980 there were ten classes per grade. By 1987-88 there were fourteen classes. Each class had 48 students.
In 1984, a plan emerged to replace the aging school building. The new building would be eight stories tall. There were concerns about the height. Planners partially changed the plan. Construction began in 1985. It was completed in 1988.
Today, Osaka Prefectural Minato High School continues. It provides quality education to students in Osaka. It prepares them for the future.