Tokyo Metropolitan Ogasawara High School, public high school in Ogasawara, Tokyo, Japan
The school sits on a hilltop on Chichijima island and is surrounded by nature, with views of the sea and paths through green fields. The building is simple and functional, with open spaces that let in natural light and overlook green areas and the ocean.
The school was founded in 1969 after the island was returned to Japan from the United States, so that local students could access high school education near home. The school building was relocated to its current site in 1987, built on rocky terrain to meet the community's growing needs.
The school is deeply connected to island life and reflects how nature shapes the community's identity. Students and teachers experience this connection daily, as the sea and natural surroundings are woven into their education and daily routines.
The school is accessible only by boat, which runs about once a week with a journey exceeding 24 hours, so visitors should plan travel carefully. Students from outside the island can stay in a dormitory, and during exam periods they must travel to the mainland, requiring significant planning ahead.
The school offers windsurfing as part of physical education lessons because of its coastal location, and holds a windsurfing contest each October. Additionally, it runs a special environmental learning program where students visit nearby islands like Minami-shima to explore and help protect local plants and wildlife.
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