On Monday, November 24, 2025 (substitute holiday), the “Kyoto Private Schools Festival 2025” was held at the Maruyama Park Music Hall in Kyoto City. This event, which has a history of over 20 years, is a student-centered celebration where students, parents, and faculty from private high schools across Kyoto voluntarily gather to widely showcase the unique appeal of private education in Kyoto.

This year again, students from our school participated in great numbers, helping energize the venue with various performances, booths, and activities that embody the distinctive qualities of private schools.

■ Junior High School Wind Ensemble Performance

The festival opened with a performance by our Junior High School Wind Ensemble. In front of a large audience, they showcased the results of their daily practice with a powerful ensemble. The crowd responded with warm applause, and many attendees offered words of encouragement with bright smiles after the performance.

■ LAONIN: International Cooperation Project Booth

The student-led international cooperation group “LAONIN” set up a booth themed around support for Laos. Students actively engaged with visitors, sharing their activities and selling coffee, exemplifying how RitsUji students approach global issues as personal concerns.

■ High School Student-Led Talk Show

“Refugees × High School Students — Voices for a Shared Future”

Marking 80 years since the end of WWII, a peace education program planned by high school students featured a talk show on the topic of refugee issues in Myanmar. Our students took part as planning committee members and served as MCs during the stage program. It was a meaningful session where attendees considered “what we can do to build a peaceful future” from a youth perspective.

■ Junior and Senior High Baton Twirling Club Stage

In the afternoon, our Junior and Senior High Baton Twirling Club took to the stage. Their synchronized movements and dynamic formations captivated the audience, bringing the energy of the venue to its peak.

■ Shijo Parade

The festival concluded with the "Shijo Parade" held on Kyoto's main street, Shijo Avenue. To the sounds of Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School’s wind band, our Baton Twirling Club gave a vibrant street performance. Spectators stopped in their tracks to applaud, and the event became an opportunity to showcase the appeal of Kyoto’s private schools to the public. This initiative also served to advocate for equal access to education and expanded learning opportunities for younger generations, connecting the spirit of private education to the future.

■ In Closing

Many RitsUji students participated in this event, working together with students, parents, and staff from other schools throughout Kyoto Prefecture to create a large and successful gathering. With beautiful weather throughout the day, the venue was lively and full of energy. Through interactions with students from other schools, our students gained new insights and valuable learning from the experience.