view of the school (Photo: Kenji Chida)

Shizutani Japan's First School

Shizutani is Japan's first public school

Kenji Chida   - 1 min read

Shizutani School is considered to be the oldest public school in Japan because it was the first school in the country to offer an education to students outside of the ruling classes. The school is located off the beaten path, up in the mountains of Bizen City. I’m sure there was some advantage to this location when the school was established but now the former school grounds that harken to the days of the samurai serve as a reminder of the peace and tranquility that was Shizutani School during a simpler time. The original building overlooks the school grounds and an impressive koi pond complete with an arched stone bridge. 

Kenji Chida

Kenji Chida @kenji.chida

I was born and raised in Baltimore City, Maryland in the USA after which I moved to New York City at the age of 21. I lived, studied and worked in New York for five years then moved to Okayama in 1998 at the age of 26. After living in Japan for 5 years I decided to try to naturalize. I was grante...