Japan is a lively, highly populated country. Walking in the streets, we were surrounded by characteristic signs, menus, and colourful advertisements.
Conversations with locals and students during school visits helped us practice useful, day-to-day vocabulary, and tested us in deciphering the rapid ‘native speaker speed’.
The Japanese students were all so friendly in introducing customs and giving us a tour of their school life. They taught us about fun traditional games and popular anime.
Japanese schools are a bit different, with a stronger academic focus. There’s even an entrance exam for Kindergarten! It was interesting to learn that students have to wear indoor slippers in classrooms and the gym, and they typically clean the school grounds themselves.
We got to try out unique co-curriculars such as kendo (bamboo-sword fighting), calligraphy and tea ceremony. The kendo students were especially energetic and happy to watch us stumble around and left us in awe with a traditional and safe fight.
We found ourselves indulging in ramen and okonomiyaki and sushi, with perfected flavours. The scenery was something else, too. Mt Fuji dwarfs Australia’s highest point, the Torii gates stand majestically leading to the top of Mt Fushimi. The bustling life of streets such as the Osaka Shinsaibashi markets represent the daily rush of modern society. We drove past lush greenery surrounding dense urban centres and mountainous landscapes formed from plate tectonics. We also experienced an earthquake simulation.
With thanks to Linden (Year 11) for his reflections.
24 June 2025
Titration Club launched in Term 2 with great success, attracting more than 40 Years 11-12 Chemistry students. Each week, students performed precise analytical titrations in preparation for the NSW National Titration Competition, held on Friday 13 June at the University of Technology Sydney.
20 June 2025
Knox Grammar School’s Senior School Instrumental Ensembles have delivered exceptional performances across all divisions at the 2025 Sydney Eisteddfod. Returning to a full suite of Eisteddfod performances this year, our Knox Academy of Performing Arts (KAPA) proudly celebrates our best overall results to date, including first place in every Secondary School Premium Section entered.
18 June 2025
Competitors from 262 schools and organisations across the world gathered at Indiana University Bloomington in the USA, for the World Finals at the Future Problem Solving International Conference.
