Yokohama Overseas Chinese School, school in Japan
The Yokohama Overseas Chinese School is an educational institution serving students from kindergarten through high school and teaching in Chinese, Japanese, and English across multiple academic levels. The campus is located in Yokohama's Naka ward near the port area, with separate buildings for elementary, middle, and high school sections reflecting both Japanese and Chinese architectural influences.
Founded in 1897 as Japan's first school of its kind, it later adopted the name Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial School and developed strong ties to Taiwan and its founder's legacy. After a split between competing Chinese schools in Yokohama during the 1950s, this institution maintained its alignment with Taiwan and continued to reflect its cultural direction.
The school bears the name Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial School and celebrates Chinese festivals like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, where students learn traditional calligraphy, opera mask painting, and cultural crafts. These gatherings help families maintain their heritage and pass on their roots to younger generations while living abroad.
The school is located in Yokohama's Naka ward and is easily accessible by public transportation, with its position near the port area making it straightforward to navigate. Visitors should note that the buildings show their age, but the campus features open spaces where students and visitors can gather comfortably.
The school runs an annual Mandarin summer camp where students learn traditional skills like making dough figurines and painting opera masks alongside language work. Additionally, groups of students and teachers make regular visits to Taiwan's Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to learn about the founder's history and legacy.
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