PE

From Secondheaven

In this section we'll hit some of the more pop-culturized aspects of Japanese Culture, and explain how they occur according to testimonial and research, and also how they will occur in Second Heaven's school setting! To being, the ever-popular anime scene, the PE shot! Yes, those shorts really do exist - and they're called bloomers!

Bloomers?! P.E. in Japan

P.E. in Japan is probably the most pop culturized, most idolized form of P.E. any anime fan may have seen. Involving cute girls in tiny shorts and structured uniforms with their names scrawled on them, and boys peeping from bushes, along with pictures being sold on the side, of course this is majority stylized...?

Not so much so, according to Maiko Covington, publisher of Japanese School, one of the most respected postings to the internet of Japanese school culture and one of the primary sources for the work put into structuring our Second Heaven. The shorts are called "bloomers" and are mandatorily a part of the summer uniform. There is a winter uniform involving a track suit with the same name emblazoned on the chest, and the change date for these uniforms is often on a county or national level - one day in October, they switch from summer to winter, and again in April or May back to summer. The uniform is mandatory, and the dressing down for not wearing the bloomers and shirt can be caustic.

However, the bloomers, according to Ms. Maiko, are not as flattering at the cartoon counterparts tend to make them. As for the boys in the bushes little could be found either way of actual documentation - but I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the popular girls suffered a peeping tom or two. It's all in good fun, right? ...right?

Moving along! PE begins with the change-out during the ten minute recess, in which specialized gym shoes and uniforms are worn. Often in the school's colours, the uniforms are reputably not a fan-favourite. According to Maiko: No matter what the girl's figure, the bloomers will make you look like you have "thunder thighs."

During this, SUN RADIO is performed, which is covered in greater detail in the Events section; safe to say this works as a warm-up, and when they are met by the teacher, they are often only two sports mainly played.

Basketball and volleyball. The girls and boys are split off, with a representative chosen by the student in charge of keeping the class in line. The teacher then calls the class together after the excercises are done, delivers reprimands for faulty uniforms, and the PE session is called to a close.