In high school, I was a member of my cross country club. Lucky for me, I was really fast, so catching me for the traditional hazing was difficult, but they eventually did and drug me through a long, deep pothole, leaving abrasions on my back.We all laughed, and it was done in a spirit of lighthearted comradship, (though it did hurt a bit).More importantly, it was done: all left was talent, regardless of grade.
Seiseiko is well-known for its sports teams and are a perennial rival of my kids’ school, Kyushu Gakuin. Neither of my kids suffered any sort of hazing, but apparently it is a problem at Seiseiko. My guess is that it is a combination of the kohai/senpai mentality and the immense pressure OBs (alumni) put on the various teams. Japantoday has an article regarding the dissatisfaction of a certain student who was hazed. From my perspective, the actions themselves don’t seem excessive from an adolescent view; it’s the cementing of the kohai/senpai relationship, which will last forever, that is a problem. Thoughts? - William
