The annual "gakuensai:" school festival in Japan - and in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, is a highlight of the school year.
Held in November - this marks the almost-midpoint of the Japanese academic year. In Japan the school year begins in April.
While the local New Jersey schools are just getting under way, New York Ikuei Gakuen students, following Japanese educational traditions, present skits, dances, traditional Japanese folktales -complete with costumes and original scenery filling the stage.
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The school, which will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary, performs this annual tradition at the Northcliff school in Englewood Cliffs, although the school itself is located further south on Bayview Avenue.
Although traditional Japanese performances are the main part of the event, some, such as Mary Poppins, are performed in English. The school recently began Friday English Day. Unlike in Japan, New York Ikuei Gakuen includes English study for children growing up in the USA, but will likely return to Japan to complete their education.