Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima High School
i) History
In 1898 (Meiji 31st), the Third Ordinary (Jinjo) Junior High School of Fukushima was founded in the First Ordinary (Jinjo) Higher Elementary School of Fukushima. This was the first instance of the present FHS. Classes began with 127 students.
It was renamed to The Third JHS in 1900 (Meiji 33rd), Fukushima JHS of Fukushima in 1901 (Meiji 34th), later Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima JHS, and finally today’s Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima HS was opened along with the foundation of high schools under the new system in 1948 (Showa 23rd).
Also during this year, the Distance Learning Program was set up. The school became independent as the Fukushima Prefectural Fukushima Central HS and has provided superior graduates since then.
The number of graduates has reached over thirty thousand and they are prominent on the global stage as well as in Japan. Girls entered as temporary students in 1947 (Showa 22nd), and were permitted to enter only for three years, from 1951 (Showa 26th) to 1953 (28th).
In 1998 (Heisei 10th), a grand ceremony was held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the school’s foundation. The Baien* Hall (memorial hall and training camp building), which was built as part of the memorial event, is utilized in a wide range of activities.
Large-scale renovation work, which began around the 100th anniversary, was finished in 2001 (Heisei 13th). It improved the environment inside and outside the school buildings, and today students’ lively activities can be seen here.
Also, in 2003 (Heisei 15th), which was the year of the 105th anniversary, a commemorative speech was given at the Prefectural Culture Center, and projects such as environmental improvement were implemented.
From April 2003 (Heisei 15th), a coeducational system started, which was the beginning of a new history for the school. Along with the creation of girls’ changing rooms and lavatories, the construction of a new building with a computer room and music room was completed, and the audio-visual classroom was renovated.
In March 2006 (Heisei 18th), the first coeducational students graduated. Now, ten years after the introduction of the coeducational system, students accept each other and have harmonious school lives together.
The school was badly damaged when The Great East Japan Earthquake happened on March 11th, 2011(Heisei 23rd). For example, the third and fourth buildings became unusable. The use of temporary school buildings began in August, and first to second grade students spent their school lives there. The new school building with five stories was completed in May, 2014 (Heisei 26th).
*Baien(梅苑) means a garden with plum trees.
ii) Teachings of “Baisho”
Our school badge, which was made on June 27th, 1898 (Meiji 31st), represents a Japanese plum (“ume” in Japanese) blossom. Ume endures severe cold, wind and snow, then blooms earlier than any other flower. No other flower can achieve such a noble and graceful state. That’s why ume blossoms are said to be pure, innocent, and noble since a long time ago.
Also, these fruits have widely helped people as medicines. Furthermore, the ume blossom is the symbol of Soneda Tenjin*, who has been worshiped as the god of learning. So it’s easy to imagine that many graduates looked up to the ume blossoms in the Tenjin shrine, worshipped in this area, and worked hard in their studies.
That is to say, the teachings of ume represent:
“Have a Pure Mind,
Try Hard
Work for Others”
On October 30th, 1902 (Meiji 35th), our school color was designated as dark red (“enji” in Japanese), which symbolizes sincerity and integrity.
*Soneda Tenjin: “Soneda” is a place name in Fukushima, and “Tenjin” is the deified sprit of Sugawara Michizane.
iii) Motto: “Talents blossom and bear fruit for others”（花咲きみのりて世の為立たむ）
FHS develops superior students who can take action for the future of Japan, based on the school motto, “Be independent and autonomous, and be good at both academics and sports”. （福島高校は「自主自律」「文武両道」をモットーに日本の未来を切り開いていく人材を育成しています。）
Primary Objective:（重点目標）
- To improve the quality of classes and promote thorough self-study, which will help students’ dreams come true.（授業の質を高め自学自習を徹底し、生徒の夢の実現を支える）
- To develop a tough mind and a sense of responsibility to actively engage in school activities and events.（たくましい精神と責任感を養い、部活動・学校行事に主体的に取り組ませる）
- To promote a noble, free, and open-minded atmosphere in the school, based on the spirit of independence.
（自主自律の精神のもと、薫りのいみじき自由闊達な校風を高揚する）
ix) School Life
Brief Schedule
April: Entrance Ceremony
New Students Welcome Ceremony
School Anthem Drills
School Council Assembly
May: Encouragement Rally
June: First-semester mid-term exam
Fitness Test
July: Sports Festival
August: "Baiensai" (School Festival)
September: First-semester term-end exam
October: School Trip
November: Second-semester mid-term exam
February: Second-semester term-end exam
Graduate Farewell Party
May: Graduation ceremony
SSH Project Presentation
Walking Day
Clubs
Sport Clubs:
baseball, track and field, tennis, (swimming), basketball, soft tennis, mountaineering, kendo, table tennis, volleyball, rugby, archery, kyudo(Japanese archery), badminton, softball, handball, soccer
Culture clubs, Special clubs, or Committees
art, chorus, photography, orchestra, jazz, shogi(Japanese chess), go, calligraphy, Oen-dan (traditional Japanese cheer squad), cheerleader. junior Red Cross, book club, newspaper (called “Baisho”), super science
x) SSH (Super Science High school)
FHS was designated by MEXT (Ministry of Education) as a Super Science High School. The first authorized term was 2007-2011, the second was 2012-2016 and the third was 2017-2021. And now the authorization term is in its 4th term (April 2022 - March 2027).
Objectives
In order to develop human resources as leaders in the field of science and technology and also for the revival of Fukushima area, our school aims to develop the following 5 abilities of students:
I. Creative thinking ability by finding tasks and solving problems
II. Expression & dissemination ability based on information gathering and analysis
III. The ability to think and act with a global vision
IV. Technical ability through advanced research
V. Ability to accomplish tasks
Curriculum and Subjects
In order to achieve the objectives mentioned, our school provides the following curriculum and subjects:
(School Designated Subjects; Mandatory for all grades)
- 1st year: SS Research (developing an inquirying mind)
- 2nd year: SS Research (task investigation and research), Information Research
- 3rd year: SS Research (self-expression and self-promotion)
(Optional Subjects; Open to all grades)
- Overseas Training Programs (UK, France, Taiwan, Thailand etc.)
- Career Guidance
- Science club (Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Biology, Mathematics, Information)