In 1961, amidst the growing community of Higashimurayama, a need arose. The burgeoning student population required a new school. Thus, Higashimurayama City established Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School. Originally, it opened with 438 students and eleven grades. We stand now before its Hagayama branch, officially opened much later in 2001. Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School Hagayama branch serves this specific area of the city. Its history is intertwined with the main school. That story begins in the early 1960s, a time of significant growth for Tokyo’s suburbs.
The main school building was completed and the opening ceremony held on January 31, 1962. The school song, a source of pride and unity for students, was composed a year later. In 1964, with the implementation of the city system, the school was renamed Higashimurayama City Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School. Over the following years, the campus expanded. A gymnasium was finished in 1965. A pool followed in 1966. A four-story reinforced concrete school building was completed in 1967.
By 1970, the need for another junior high school in the area was evident. A preparatory committee was formed to establish what was tentatively called the Fifth Junior High School. However, in 1971, it was decided to keep the Third and Fifth Junior High Schools separate entities. This eventually led to the creation of the Hagayama branch many years later. It wasn’t until 2001 that Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School Hagayama branch officially opened its doors. Two years later, in 2003, the Midori field class was added.
Today, Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School Hagayama branch continues to serve the local community. The school’s motto, “Learn diligently, train hard, and become rich in heart,” guides its students. In 2019, the school opened a special support classroom called “ARCH,” further demonstrating its commitment to inclusive education. From its humble beginnings in the 1960s to its modern-day presence, Higashimurayama Daisan Junior High School, and this Hagayama branch, embody the spirit of growth and adaptation. It has met the ever-changing needs of the community it serves.