Report from Yokohama Dojo (^^)/

Japan's School Lunch! Yummy, yummy!

Harako Mama of Yokohama Dojo has submitted a report on Japan's School Lunch System to share with the members of the Hawaii Dojo and Kesshinkai Dojo. I hope that you all enjoy it! (^^) I did a quick translation and hopefully it is pretty much accurate. Thank you Harako Mama for the report!
The Harako family is very active in the Yokohama Dojo. Not only Harako Mama, but Harako Papa and their two sons practice together. Harako Mama is not onlyh active in Karate but numerous community and volunteer activities. She is also a member of the local "Indiaca(?)", a type of volleyball game developed by Germany. She is also the member of Yokohama Dojo's cutter boat racing team.
Well here is the report.

学校給食レポートfrom JAPAN
Report on School Meals from Japan
ハワイとニューヨークのみなさま　こんにちは。☆Hey!ヽ('ｰ'#)/ Hello!☆
今日は日本の子どもたちのランチタイムの様子をご紹介しますね。
Hey! Hello y’all in Hawaii and New York. Today I will introduce the lunch time of Japanese children..
日本の小学校には「給食」という制度があり、
ランチタイムは、学校で作られた給食を教室でクラスメイト全員で食べます。
学校の先生たちも、同じものを食べます。
There is a “Kyushoku System” in Japanese Elementary Schools. Lunch which is prepared at school eaten in the classrooms by everyone, including the teachers. The teachers eat the same meals as the students.
毎月のメニュー表は各家庭にも配られ、
材料や一食あたりのカロリーとたんぱく量がきちんと記載されていて
１年生から６年生までの全学年、メニューは同じですが、量は発育に応じて３段階に増えていきます。
A menu is distributed to families every month. Included in the menu are the ingredients, calorie per meal and amount of protein. The menu is the same for First grade through Sixth Grade, but the amount of the meal is adjusted in proportion to the children’s growth in three levels.
アレルギーのある子どもには、アレルゲンを除いた別メニューが用意されているという
細やかな配慮もきちんと行き届いています。
A separate menu which leaves out allergens are made for children with allergies, such minute details are taken for those children.
これは親にとってもありがたいことで
年に何回か、遠足などの校外活動の日はお弁当を作ることもありますが
仕事に行く前の忙しい朝、毎日お弁当を作ることなく
おいしくて栄養の偏りのないお昼ご飯をわが子に食べさせられることは何よりも安心できます。
This is a thankful thing for parents. There are several occasions in which lunches are made by parents for excursions, but it is great not to have to make a lunch during busy mornings before going to work, knowing that the child will be eating a nutritious meal at school.
給食の始まりは約１２０年以上も前。
貧困のため、学校にお昼ご飯を持ってこられない子どもたちのために、
おにぎりと焼き魚などの食事を提供したのが始まりとされています。
第二次世界大戦で一度は途絶えた給食でしたが
アメリカなどの救援を得て再開され、現在に至るそうです。
Kyushoku started almost 120 years ago. Due to poverty there were children who could not bring lunch to school.
For those children onigiri (rice balls) and broiled fish were provided. Although school lunches were stopped during the Second World War, with the United States assistance the system was revived and continues to this day.
ハワイとニューヨークの子どもたちに、日本の給食を紹介したいとのリチャード師範からのお話しを受けさっそく、拳心塾横浜道場の子どもたちが通う小学校へ取材のお願いに行くと
「プライバシーの問題もあるので、顔写真には配慮してください」という条件付で
快く撮影を許可してくださいました。
After receiving Shihan Richard’s request to introduce Japan’s Kyushoku to the children of Hawaii and New York,　I quickly approached the elementary school which Yokohama Kenshinjuku children attend. With the stipulation that face photos were not taken due to privacy concerns, the school approved of taking photos.
管理栄養士の指導のもと、きちんとカロリー計算された食事は和食、洋食、中華料理とメニューも豊富なので、その日によって主食はお米、パン、麺とさまざまです。
Under the supervision of a Nutritionist, with calories measured, a varied menu of Japanese, Western and Chinese meals are prepared. Depending on the day, bread, rice or noodles are provided as staples.
ある週のメニューをご紹介します。
I will introduce a week ‘s menu.

(月曜) Monday
☆ぶどうパン Bread w/grapes
☆ツナと野菜のスパゲッティ Tuna and vegetable spaghetti
☆ミックスビーンズサラダ Mixed Beans Salad
☆牛乳 Milk

(火曜) Tuesday
ご飯 Barley Rice
☆イワシのかば焼き Broiled Sardine
☆ひじきの炒め煮 Braised Seaweed
☆お味噌汁 Miso Bean Soup
☆牛乳 Milk

(水曜) Wednesday
☆胚芽ごはん Multigrain Rice
☆ビビンバ Bibinba (Korean Vegetable Dish with meat)
☆わかめスープ Seaweed Soup

写真②挿入







(木曜) Thursday
☆ご飯 Rice (white)
☆チリコンカン Chili Con Carne
☆海草サラダ Seaweed Salad
☆ドライプルーン Dried Prune
☆牛乳 Milk

(金曜) Friday
☆ロールパン Rolls
☆ししゃもフライ Fried Capelin (fish)
☆ボイルドキャベツ Boiled Cabbage
☆人参ポタージュ Carrot Potage Soup
☆牛乳 Milk

と、こんな感じ。色は少し地味ですが、とってもおいしいですよ～♪(＾ー＾)
The Food color may seem dull but it’s very delicious!
４時間目の授業が終わると、子どもたちは白衣、帽子、マスクを身につけ
石鹸で手をきれいに洗い、給食室にクラス全員分の食事をもらいに行きます。
盛り付けも自分たちで頑張ります。
After the Fourth Period is over, the children put on white gowns, caps and face mask, wash their hands thoroughly and proceed to the kitchen to pick up the entire class’s meal. The serving is also done by the children themselves.



Serving lunch in their classroom.



Off to get our lunch!


食前は「いただきます」、食後は「ごちそうさまでした」のご挨拶。
自然の恵みと、作ってくださったかたたちへ感謝をこめて手を合わせます。
Prior to eating they all say “Itadakimasu” and after finishing they say “Gochiso sama deshita”
They put their hands together to show appreciation to the nature’s bounty and to those who made the meals.

"Itadakimasu" "Gochisosama"

取材はいつでもどうぞ！と許可をいただいたあと、
日にちを連絡していなかった突然の訪問にもかかわらず、
なんと私の分まで用意してくださっていて子どもたちと一緒に給食をいただいてきました♪
After receiving permission to make the report anytime and in spite the fact I had gone without setting a date, they provided me with a meal so I could eat with the children.
教室中にあふれるにぎやかなおしゃべりと笑い声、
おいしい笑顔に包まれた楽しい給食の時間はあっという間に過ぎました。
Laughter and conversation filled the classroom. An enjoyable lunch time surrounded by smiling faces quickly passed by.
食後はみんなで後片付けをします。
空になった食器類を給食室へ返すときも大きな声で「ごちそうさまでした！」を言い
牛乳パックは開いて洗い、リサイクルへ。
After the meal everyone helps clean up.
Empty dishes and utensils are taken back to the kitchen and in a loud voice say “Gochisosama deshita!”
The milk cartons are opened up, washed and recycled.




Recycling milk cartons!

 このように日本の学校では、「給食」は単なる「食べること」としてだけではなく
[教育活動の一環」として、きちんと位置づけられています。
ハワイやニューヨークの子どもたちは、どんなランチタイムを過ごしていますか？
As you may have noted, in Japan’s schools “school lunch” is not merely about “eating”. It is part of education and is an integral part of it.
How do children in New York and Hawaii have their lunch time?
―以上、レポートは横浜道場の原子(HARAKO)でした　(^-^)ﾉﾞー
Reported by Yokohama Dojo member Harako (mama)
Translated by yours truly, Roushiichi aka Richard



Now it is Hawaii and New York's turn to report! (^^)