On April 28, a junior high school in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, became the first in Japan to incorporate the R&A-certified “Community Golf” program into its educational curriculum. The event, part of a “Nature Life Experience Learning” activity for first-year students, aimed to foster camaraderie through a personal sport.
Even in Kanuma, a city branding itself as a “golf town,” only 4 out of 29 students had prior golf experience. The rest were complete beginners, their excitement palpable as they gathered at the Kanuma Nature Experience Center (Waku Waku Nature Land). Mayor Shoichi Matsui and Education Director Hitoshi Nakamura were present to support the initiative, watching the children’s smiles.
At 9 a.m., 58 students, after breakfast on the second day of their two-night trip, split into two groups of 29. The Community Golf group listened intently to Junji Nagashima, Japan’s only national tutor for Community Golf Instructors (CGI), as he explained the basics.
Students listen to tutor Nagashima at the plaza in front of Kanuma Nature Experience Center. Photo: Seiryusha
Community Golf is designed to teach life skills through fun, basic golf lessons. Nagashima asked, “Anyone ever played golf?” Only four raised their hands. Despite Kanuma boasting 12 golf courses, the low number was striking. But for the other 25, this was their first-ever golf experience, and their anticipation showed.
The 29 students split into six teams, each first choosing a team name. Having come from six different elementary schools, the seventh graders were still getting to know each other through the overnight event. They came up with creative names like “Mananyan LOVE,” “White Rice,” “Teacher Kikuchi is God,” “Catfish,” “Gishigishi Poplar,” and “Eflex.” Sharing the stories behind the names sparked laughter, breaking the ice.
The equipment was simple: plastic clubs and tennis balls. After warming up with catch, the children learned basic rules: “Red (mark) means stop. Yellow is for placing equipment. Blue (green) is the playing position.” Safety was emphasized even with plastic tools. For everything else, including scoring, the CGI asked students, “What do you think we should do?” fostering autonomy.
The games began with “Domino” (putting), then “Darts” (chipping), and finally “Driving” (full swing), which drew loud cheers. Two teams tied at 800 points led to a tense playoff. Team “White Rice,” named after their breakfast staple, emerged victorious. Their high-fives showed how the win strengthened their bond.
Even the losing teams visibly grew closer. The second group of 29 enjoyed Community Golf similarly.
The Nature Life Experience Learning program, which includes all seventh graders from Kanuma’s junior high schools, aims to deepen understanding of nature and society while building “zest for life” through human interaction. The alignment with Kanuma Group’s Community Golf initiative led to its first inclusion.
Akira Nakamura, the education director, noted, “Schools already have annual curricula, so fitting this in was challenging. I’m relieved it worked out.”
Tense playoff moment; classmates watched in suspense. Photo: Seiryusha
Grade-level head Satoru Ogihara explained, “During planning, we learned about Kanuma’s golf initiative. The center hadn’t offered it to junior high students before, but we thought it a great opportunity. The program’s goal of team-building and discipline—following rules like red for stop, yellow and blue for positions—fits perfectly, and students learned that adhering to rules brings enjoyment.”
Mayor Matsui, after visiting and high-fiving students, said, “Letting children and the community experience this is a great trend spanning three generations. We’ll expand Community Golf’s reach.”
Kanuma Group President Noriharu Fukushima, whose company trains CGIs with guidance from the JGA, said, “This program suits education. Community Golf’s values of inclusivity and empathy align with the nature center’s learning goals. We’ll continue dispatching instructors to support the program.”
With the Japan Golf Association (JGA), Kanuma City, and local company Kanuma Group forming a strong alliance, golf’s essence is being introduced into junior high education. If such efforts accumulate and spread nationwide, golf could one day become part of the official curriculum, helping children grow through sport. A firm step has been taken.
[Report and text: Akira Ogawa]
