Shojyo Gakuen Junior High School: All 2nd-Year Students to Climb Mount Fuji Starting July 21

Shojyo Gakuen Junior High School (Principal: Yuichi Nogami) will take all 150 second-year junior high students to climb Mount Fuji from July 21 to 24. This grade-wide event aims to promote human and mental growth, as well as class unity, through the sense of achievement and success experienced by reaching Japan’s highest peak.

【Key Points】 - All second-year junior high students will climb Mount Fuji as a grade activity - The climb aims to foster personal and mental development, laying a foundation for their six-year educational journey

Top left: At Mount Kongō (Osaka Prefecture, 1,125 m), students supported each other—carrying tired friends’ bags—resulting in zero dropouts Bottom left: At Mount Gozaisho (Mie Prefecture, 1,212 m), with continuous cliffs, students encouraged one another and descended one hour ahead of schedule

Our school’s educational philosophy is: “To cultivate the spirit of ‘autonomy and self-discipline’ and a broad ‘career perspective,’ enabling purposeful academic advancement and nurturing individuals who will thrive in society in the future.”

As a combined junior and senior high school, we aim to maximize students’ potential during the most formative years of their lives. Through six years of Shojyo education, we strive to develop well-rounded individuals equipped with both high academic ability and strong interpersonal skills.

The Mount Fuji climb was introduced in the 2023 academic year. In collaboration with mountain guides, we have held orientation sessions since the first year, enabling students and parents to jointly build physical strength and learn mountaineering knowledge. As training, students climbed Mount Kongō (Osaka Prefecture, 1,125 m) in October last year and Mount Gozaisho (Mie Prefecture, 1,212 m) this May. We believe that the experience of climbing Japan’s highest mountain together will help students develop the physical and mental resilience needed to overcome the challenges of life ahead.

This year, one student with cerebral palsy will also participate. Diagnosed with right hemiplegia and paraplegia shortly after birth, the student has undergone intensive rehabilitation and now walks naturally with orthotic devices. Passionate about sports, the student has previously participated in soccer, volleyball, and kickboxing, and currently plays for a disabled baseball team. After enrolling at Shojyo Gakuen Junior High last year, they expressed a strong desire to join the second-year Mount Fuji climb. Since August last year, they have trained monthly on mountain hikes, supported by a physical therapist with extensive mountaineering experience who has been guiding their rehabilitation for nearly a decade.

This year’s second-year class motto is “Balance” (Meri-hari). The goal is for all students to support one another and reach the summit of Mount Fuji with smiles.

【Overview of the Mount Fuji Climb】

1. Schedule: July 21 (Tue) – July 24 (Fri), 2026

July 21 (Tue): Arrive at hotel around 17:00

July 22 (Wed): Hotel → Oishi Park → Fuji 5th Station (Fujinomiya Trail) at 13:00

Start climbing at 14:00 → Arrive at New 7th Station around 16:00

July 23 (Thu): Wake up at 2:00, start climbing at 2:30 → Reach summit around 7:30

Begin descent at 8:30 → Arrive at 5th Station around 14:00 → Return to hotel

July 24 (Fri): Depart hotel → Arrive at school before 18:00

2. Participants: 150 second-year students from Shojyo Gakuen Junior High School