“Truth, Progress, Gratitude.” These are the guiding principles of Nakamura Gakuen San-yo Junior and Senior High School. Founded in 1986, Nakamura Gakuen San-yo is a private all-boys school in Fukuoka.
Nakamura Gakuen San-yo initially opened as a high school. Two years later in 1988, the junior high school was established. The school is located in the Nishi Ward of Fukuoka City in the Imazu Aotagi district.
Nakamura Gakuen San-yo is operated by the Nakamura Gakuen educational foundation. This foundation also runs Nakamura Gakuen Girls’ Junior and Senior High School. While part of the same school system, the girls’ school is in a different location. It is in the Jonan Ward of Fukuoka City. Nakamura Gakuen San-yo has no affiliation with Nakamura Junior and Senior High School in Tokyo.
Nakamura Gakuen San-yo has been actively promoting itself in recent years. They have used platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Advertisements have also appeared in Living Fukuoka and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. However, recruitment is planned to stop. Nakamura Gakuen San-yo Junior High School will stop student recruitment after 2025. Nakamura Gakuen San-yo Senior High School will follow suit after 2026. The school’s grounds are gradually turning into natural grassland.
The school has a tradition of events. In April, there is a welcoming excursion for new students. May sees the school’s founding anniversary ceremony. The cultural festival occurs in June. Career guidance is also provided in June. There is a forest school for junior high students in August. A sports festival happens in September. Student council elections also occur then. Second-year high school students take a school trip to Singapore in October. The student council changeover ceremony takes place the same month. A cultural event is held in November. This event includes theatrical performances and a chorus contest. There is a traffic safety lecture in November. An anti-drunk driving campaign happens in December. A marathon大会 is held in February. The graduation ceremony is in March.
Students can commute to Nakamura Gakuen San-yo by bicycle. They can also use the free school bus. The Nishitetsu bus also stops at “San-yo High School” on the school grounds. Until October 2006, the Showa bus also served the school.
Nakamura Gakuen San-yo has strict rules about hair. Students with dyed hair may face suspension. Piercings are prohibited. Students are not allowed to obtain driver’s licenses. Part-time work is generally not allowed. Suspension for a second time often leads to expulsion.
Several notable individuals have graduated from Nakamura Gakuen San-yo. Professional basketball player, Atsushi Ishitani graduated in 2004. He plays for the Rising Zephyr Fukuoka in the B3 League. Rugby players, Kohei Goryu and Taihei Ueda, are also alumni. Maruaki Tanaka is a professional musician. Shinjiro Hosokawa is a racing driver. Ryo Taniguchi designed the mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Tsuneichi Sotoyama is a political activist.