Tsuyazaki Jr High Girl's Volleyball

I checked out some games from the Girls Jr High Volleyball tournament this past Sunday. Nagano Sensei, my ostensible supervisor/team teacher/buddy is one of the coaches... The team won one and dropped one when I was there, but the most impressive thing... just watching them play is positively inspiring.

I wonder when it is that we, as "adults" lose the spirit, energy and enthusiasm that kids have?

I mean, these gals are all 13-15 years old and they're running around yelling, jumping, chanting, diving, twisting... and the best is after every good shot they have intricate and complex hand slapping/hi-fivin'/circle running rituals. It was awesome. It left the 70's jive handshakes in the dust...

Growing up sometimes isn't all it's cracked up to be.





This was awesome. During the huddles, the junior girls would line up behind the senior starters and spend the entire time-out fanning them with towels. One the one hand, a sign of the strict hierarchy of Japanese society... on the other hand, it was just too cute. And while I couldn't hear what Nagano-sensei was telling them, their synchronized "Hai" reverberated throughout the gym. Too adorable.