Rokko Junior and Senior High School

Rokko Junior and Senior High School
Location
Information
Type	Jesuit, Catholic
Established	1937 (1937)
Gender	All boys
Enrollment	1.100
Website	RokkoAcademy

Rokko Junior and Senior High School in Kobe City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, a Catholic school founded in 1937, was the first Jesuit secondary school in Japan. It offers an integrated middle and high school education for boys and does not recruit at the high school level.

History

The Society of Jesus had opened Sophia University in 1913. Its next educational venture was Rokko middle school in 1937. With the completion of a wooden building it was named Rokko Junior High School in 1938. It accepted 12-year-olds for a 5-year program leading to the secondary school degree. There were 15 on the staff and 135 first-year pupils in 1938. The Hansen flood in 1938 damaged the building and grounds. In 1941 a four-story reinforced concrete building was completed.

Amidst the war crisis of 1945, in April classes were interrupted but students were encouraged to study privately. The school was damaged by an air raid that hit Kobe University. The war ended on August 13 and classes resumed in September. The following years saw numerous adjustments in the junior/middle school program. The school continues to follow the seven-year, pre-World War II system.

In 1950 the school foundation was renamed Rokko Academy School. Construction continued through the '60s and '70s: an auditorium and gymnasium (1957), Mount Tate camp (1961), building expansion (1965), science building (1966), 36-km walking course (1967), swimming pool (1968), Kumihama beach school building (1971), annex and chapel (1974). In 1976 the baseball club won the 31st National (Wakasugi, Saga Prefecture) championship. Further improvements: Tateyama Hutte (1979), clubhouse and archery field (1981), new auditorium and completion of gymnasium (1987). Trips to India began in 1985, a student training institute in 1988, New Zealand language training in 1992. In 2010 a temporary school building was utilized as the old one was replaced with a new one occupied in 2012. A camp at Maejima, Okinawa, replaced the one at Kumihama in 2017.

In April 2016 five Jesuit academies joined into a new corporation, called the Sophia Academy Corporation, to consolidate their efforts and strengthen their Jesuit identity, as through common programs for teachers. The corporation is centered at Sophia University, which will lend its assistance to the schools. In this way, with the declining number of Jesuits, the Jesuit influence is more likely to endure. These schools are Hiroshima Academy, Rokko Academy, Sophia Academy, Taizon Academy, and Glory Academy, along with Elisabeth University of Music.

The school is situated on a promontory overlooking Kobe and Seto Inland Sea. It is a 25-minute walk from Rokko station on the Hankyu Railway line, and a 10 and 15 minute walk from two Kobe city bus stops.

Academics and activities

The school pursues the Jesuit ideal of training "men for others." Special aspects of its program include close contact with parents, active learning with projects outside school, and group language studies. Total enrollment is around 1,100.

There is no examination for admission to high school except to fill vacancies. While all English classes aim at entrance to Kyoto University, students can choose from three levels of mathematics education.

The alumni join together in the Rokko Friends Association.

Gymnastics are included in the program during the winter months. Students assist with the cleaning of the school. A sports festival is held in June, third-year students attend Tateyama camp in July, and they along with second year high do community service in August. A visit to India program is run every other year. A Cultural Festival is held in September, Extracurricular Learning in October, and Walking Competition in November. In December there is a ski training camp for middle 2. A spiritual reflection day is held each January. High school graduation is in February and middle school in March.

Activities take place three days a week and most first year high school students take part. Archery is an activity in which the students have competed at the national level.

Community service

Social outreach includes a monthly collection for Damian Social Welfare Center in India; community service days during summer vacation (middle 3 to high 2); day to think about life in January; and monthly religious lecture (Magis day).

Student Council

Students are elected to this organization which has a voice at school staff meetings. It includes various committees: training and discipline, community service, library, gymnastics, and for the junior high school.

Alumni

Academic

• Yasuyuki Yamada (8th Phase) - Doctor of Agriculture (Kyoto University), Emeritus Professor, Kyoto University Former Nara Institute of Science and Technology University President
• Masayoshi Inoue (11th Phase) - Doctor of Science (Osaka University), Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Robert Wood Johnson, New Jersey Medical and Dental University
• Katsuhiko Suzuki (13th period) - Kwansei Gakuin University emeritus professor
• Kentaro Serita (16th term) - Professor Emeritus of Kobe University, Professor, Aichi-Gakuin University
• Fifth Beginning of the Beginning (19th period) - Doctor of Law (Kyoto University), former principal of the Defense Academy (former Kobe University Graduate School of Law Professor, current Emeritus Professor, Former Japanese Political Science Association Chairperson)
• Mitsunori Miki (period 25) - Doctor of Engineering (Osaka City University), Professor, Doshisha University
• Ryo Ooshiba (Phase 29) - Dr. Political Science (Yale University), Vice President of Hitotsubashi University, International Political Scientist (Former Director of the Japan International Political Science Association )
• Yokota Takayuki Murakami (35th term) - Associate Professor, Osaka University, Comparative Literature
• Kengo Akizuki (38th term) - Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, Kyoto University Graduate School of Law
• Kiyoji Yamauchi (39 th period) - Ph.D. (academic) (Kobe University); Professor, Kobe University
• Kenichiro Tsutsui (Stage 47) - Professor Tohoku University, Brain Scientist
• Kaoru 500 Kaoru (49th period) - Professor of University of Tokyo
• Nakano Takeshi (50th term) - Professor, Kyoto University

Business world 

• Suzuki Masami (11th term) - J League second generation chairman
• Yamamoto Tadashi (12th period) - (Japan) International Relations Center Director
• Minoru Fujita (Fifth Period) - Honorary President of Ogilvy & Mather Japa Japan
• Seizo Ishiguro (19th term) - President of Alpine
• Mitsuru Taoka (19 period) - Original Koyo transportation president, the Yamaguchi-gumi boss Kazuo Taoka eldest son
• Tetsuro Shioguchi (25th) - Venezuela ambassador, Jordan ambassador
• Shigeru Kobayashi (25th term) - Vice President, AIR DO
• Hitoshi Shiomura (30th term) - Founder / President of Nobel Pharma , Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize
• Jun Nakauchi (30th period) - President of Chuouchiro Gakuen School Corporation and Distribution Society University, Daiei Vice President
• Takao Yamamoto (34th term) - TV Asahi Executive Producer
• Katsutaro Inada (35th term) - Inahata Sangyo President
• Shozo Shiota (44th term) - President and Representative Director of Polygon Pictures
• Daisuke Shimada (51st term) - President of Enteramotion

Governmental 

• Naka Wakui (17th period: deceased) - Justice of the Supreme Court
• Nobuo Oishi (29th) - Nishinomiya parliament members

Entertainment / culture 

• Kazuki Omori (27th period) - Film director
• Ryosuke Otani (29th period) - Actor
• Kurosawa Qing (31st term) - Film director
• Ozaki Masaya (36th term) - Screenwriter
• Kenichi Irie (38th period) - NHK announcer
• Yozaki Yoichiro (39th period) - Rocking editor-in-chief, music critic
• Ken Honda (43 th period) - Novelist, businessman
• Iwasawa Keiaki (44th term) - Radio personality, stadium DJ
• Yamada Rui 53 (Baron Baron) (51st term) - Comedian (middle school dropout)
• Yohji Kawahara (54 th period) - Musician (Sound Schedule)