MIMAYA Yuji
Principal
History and Tradition
Founded in Meiji 11(1878), Mito First High School is the oldest and most traditional high school in Ibaraki Prefecture. About 39,000 graduates now play a leading role in various fields,including economics, judiciary circles, education, medicine, science, and art.
Our school is located on the tip of a tongue-shaped plateau, on a hill above the ruins of the main citadel of Mito Castle. Although it is located in a convenient urban area, only a 10-minute walk from Mito Station, our school maintains a rich natural environment. Students commute to school each day with renewed spirits, passing through the recently beautified "Mitogaku no Michi" path and passing through the Yakuimon Gate, which is a structure estimated to have been standing since the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Our school is now open to the public.
Innovation
Our school has always taken on the challenge of making new efforts to improve without simply resting on its history and traditions, beginning with the implementation of the "First Educational Reform" implemented in 1908. Reform is one of the traditions of which we are proud.
In recent years, we have introduced a credit system that emphasizes higher education, small class sizes, a variety of electives, medical courses, and the establishment of an integrated education system with a junior high school attached to the school.
Since last year, we have been implementing a number of reforms, including the following :"Delegation to the U.S. and China," in which students travel to the U.S. and China, "Humanities and Science Fusion Lectures," in which front-line researchers give lectures on cutting-edge research, "Public Leader School," in which leaders who are responsible for public and public interest activities are invited to give lectures and participate in training at the National Diet and Kasumigaseki, and "Career Exploration Dialogues" with top runners at the forefront of society. Furthermore, we have established the "Chido Tonan Kai" to support students who have already graduated and have not given up on realizing their first choice.
In addition to these developments, we are renovating our facilities and equipment by installing high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the school, including not only classrooms but also the gymnasium and study hall (self-study room), as well as a remote lecture delivery system.
In addition to improving and enhancing classes, we aim to nurture top leaders who can not only stay current with changes in society, but also become a pioneer for positive social change through such advanced efforts as those described above.
Balance
Our school motto, which was established at the time of the first educational reform and is sung in the school song, is “Shisei-ikkan”(Make a sincere effort for life) and “Kennin-Ryokko”
(Keep patience towards the goal). Our school has emphasized the development of not only intellect with "academics first," but also honesty and the ability to persevere to the end. These are "non-cognitive abilities" that cannot be expressed numerically, but are key to leading a fulfilling life and playing an active role in society, and have been attracting worldwide attention in recent years.
While reaffirming the value of our school motto, which has been handed down for more than 100 years since the Meiji era, we are striving to enhance students' intellectual, moral, physical, cognitive, and non-cognitive abilities in a well-balanced manner. For example, as part of this effort, since last school year we have been inviting medical and psychological experts to conduct "GRIT Seminars" twice a year, in spring and winter, in the hope that they will learn to manage their life’s trials.
At the same time, we will support students to lead a fulfilling school life by balancing classes, self-study, school events, committee activities, and club activities, while utilizing the newly established counseling room and interview room.
Kyodo(collaboration)
Our school culture is characterized by a free spirit that respects the independence and self-reliance of our students to the maximum extent possible. Students have independently planned and organized various school events and committee activities, including the two major events, " Arukukai Marathon" and " Gakuensai Festival," which will be held for the 76th time this year, and "Student Assembly," a monthly school-wide event for free discussion.
We will continue to encourage these student-led activities and actively promote original initiatives through collaboration between the junior and senior high schools, such as "+4 grade activities" (joint activities between Sr.3 and Jr.1, Sr.2 and Jr.2, and Sr.1 and Jr.3) with the affiliated junior high school, which was established in 2021.
Ibaraki
Moving forward with the foundation of our longstanding history and traditions as well as our values of innovation,with the keywords of Innovation, Balance, Kyodo(or " I B ara K i " for short), we will continue to firmly nurture and support young people who will take responsibility for their hometown Ibaraki, Japan, and the world.
We would like to have your understanding and cooperation in our educational activities, and sincerely welcome all aspiring junior high school students to knock on our school's door.
MIMAYA,Yuji