【ありがとう】岐阜・恵那市明智町の中学校に“町民の半分以上”が集合！”閉校は寂しいけど、思い出の詰まった場所でもう一度みんなと笑顔で過ごしたい”

On the 26th, a large quantity of candy was scattered at an elementary school in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture. "Here you go!" The reason the school held this event is that it will be closing at the end of this school year. 77-year-old: "This is the last time. I'm sad." 6th grader who graduated this year: "It's sad that it's ending after 150 years." Matsugasaki Elementary School opened in 1875. Fifty years ago, there were over 200 students, but this year, including the graduating 6th graders, there are only 27. Swallowed by the wave of declining birth rates, its 150-year history is coming to an end. Graduates also participated in the closing ceremony, looking at the displayed graduation albums… Graduate (60): "I found some from when I was in elementary school." "This is it. I don't look much like me now, but... it's so nostalgic." Graduate (77): "Looking at the photos brings back memories of things like this." "I was always getting scolded. I remember having fun standing in the hallway for forgetting things." This was also the last time they sang the school song. Adults and children alike sang together in a grand chorus. The students will be attending an elementary school in the neighboring district from April. Finally, balloons were released. It became an unforgettable memory. In Akechi-cho, Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, it was also the last day. Last week, on the 21st, more than half of the town's population gathered at Akechi Junior High School. This junior high school, which will close this year, is part of a consolidation of five junior high schools located in various towns in southern Ena City, which will merge into one school from April. Yamaoka Junior High School, the school it will merge with, will be expanded and become the new Ena Minami Junior High School. It's sad that the school is closing, but... "It's sad that the school is closing, but we want to spend time with everyone again, smiling, in this place full of memories." So, graduates and local residents held the first ever school festival in the school's 78th year! Free servings included nostalgic school lunch items such as soft noodles with meat sauce, fried bread, and milk with milkshake. 20s: "I ate all of these dishes." 20s: "I often got seconds, playing rock-paper-scissors." However, for some... 50s: "The milk was in bottles too." 70s: "And whale tempura." "That's rare now, isn't it?" "It was delicious." A single school lunch sparked a lively reminiscing. An 80-year-old woman said: 80s: "That school song was created when I was in middle school. I played the piano and we all sang in the choir." Throughout the school building, graduates and their teachers reunited in various places. For the first time in about 30 years, a class was even taught by a former teacher. However, there seemed to be some sadness as well… A student in their 40s: "The number of classes has decreased, and when I looked for my class, it wasn't there." And that's understandable. At its peak, the entire school had 479 students and 4 classes per grade, but that number has steadily decreased, and this year there are only 87 students and 1 class per grade. After the closing ceremony, held two days before the school festival, the 2nd-year students wrote a message on the blackboard, bearing the words "12 years." These current middle school students have spent their time in the same space for so long. However, from April, they will be in a much larger group with 4 classes per grade, meaning they may be in different classes than their friends. Even so, they were looking forward, albeit with some nervousness about the impending merger. In the library, past graduation albums were displayed. The two people looking at the albums were parent and child, both of whom attended the same Akechi Middle School. Second-year junior high school student: "I'm really glad I had time to talk to my parents about school." Six hours into the school festival, as dusk falls, the bonfire is lit, and the end approaches. Executive Committee Chairman: "Akechi Junior High School has closed. But its history and lessons will live on forever." The festival concludes with the "10-inch fireworks," a summer tradition of Akechi Town. 50s: "The last fireworks were so beautiful, I was overwhelmed... I'm so glad I could come." 19-year-old: "The fact that so many people gathered means that the middle school was really loved, so I'm incredibly happy." ■CTV NEWS Official Website https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/ctv ■Twitter   / chukyotv_news   ■TikTok   / ctv_news   ■LINE NEWS https://line.me/R/ti/p/%40oa-ctvnews ■For questions, concerns, or investigation requests, contact "Your Center Reporting Team"! https://www.ctv.co.jp/interview/ ■For photo and video submissions, use "Catch! Submission BOX"! https://www.ctv.co.jp/catch/tokobox.html #news #ChukyoTV #CTV