Nagara Senior High School JAPAN 502-0071 Gifu-Shi, Nagara Saigo-cho 1716-1 Tel: + 058 231 1186 Fax: + 058 231 1188

Email : nagaraHS@zzz.or.jp English contact : jelede@yahoo.co.uk Homepage address : http://www.zzz.or.jp/nagaraHS

	Our school is in GIFU . This is a fairly mountainous region often called the belly button of Japan due to its central location. It is a rural area about 2 hours from Tokyo by bullet train and has a population of just over 2 million. The surroundings of the school are very beautiful . From our classroom windows we can see Mt. Kinka and Gifu Castle which is at the top of the mountain over looking the Nagara river. Gifu is often called the hottest place in Japan . In summer temperatures often reach 40 degrees and humidity levels are very high. We often get typhoons too . In winter however it can get very cold and there are many ski resorts in the northern parts of Gifu. There are over a 1000 students at our school which is divided into 3 years with students ranging from 15 -18, and 40 to a class. Read on to find out about some of us individually.	Natsuki , Shunsuke and Sachiko.
	Hello ! My name is Sachiko Hosono. I'm 16 years old and a girl student in Nagara High School.I always listen to music. That is my hobby. I like some singers who are "GLAY" and "Porno-Graffitti". And I like movies. Some days ago, I watched Mission Impossible 2. Do you know this movie ? If you don't watch this movie I encourage you to watch it. Anyway, I'll talk about my friends. Natsuki is one of my friends. She has alot of hair !! She worries about this problem but she is always lively. I love this about her. But sometimes we quarrel. I want to make more friends in school.

My name is Yukie Tsuji. I'm a 17 years old girl, and I belong to the second 
grade of high school. I often listen to many kinds of music on holiday. 
Especially, I like classical music which is called 'Daiku' . It sounds 
passionate and it can drown me into a music world.
	I go to many places with my friends on weekends. I have alot of 
friends. They have various traits. For example, one friend who comes from 
China is apathetic.The others are a bit reserved but I like them very much 
because I have spent a long time with them.
	Lastly, I'm proud that I'm a member of Nagara High School. Because 
my school encourages us to study , exercise and do volunteer work. I'm 
particularly interested in volunteer work so I want to join in the volunteer 
work around me.






Hi !  I'm Hitomi Yamamoto. I'm 16 years old and a girl 
inthe first year. I usually play the piano. And I like 
to sleep. So I often sleep when I find free time. I like 
movies, but don't watch them so much. My favourite sorts 
of music are .......none especially. But I like to listen 
to music very much!!! My friends are all fun. We eat lunch
 everyday together. Our school is very 
beautiful! Specially our new W.C. !



Pornograffitti (Japanese band)

	Hello! My name is Tomohiko Sato. I'm a 17 year old male. I'm in my second year in high school. I usually spend my free time talking with my friends and sometimes sleeping. My favorite song is "Saudage" . This song is sung by a Japanese group called "Porno -Graffitti ". The words of their songs are very interesting. My friends are very individual. And they are interesting. So I like them very much. Lastly my school has very beautiful surroundings.		Hello ! My name is Ayami Shimizu. I'm a 15 year old girl in the first year. I usually spend my free time talking with my friends and sometimes read comic books. When we have tests we help each other study. My favorite song is "Believe Your Smile" . It is sung by a Japanese group called V6. The words to their songs are very good. My friends are very valuable. They all have their own special talents like in music or art and try their best in all they do. I like them very much. Lastly my school is full of spirit. Club activities are popular in my school. For example, swimming and track and field etc. At the same time we also study hard for school work.

Hey ! How's it going ? I'm a girl and I live a busy but full life in Japan. I'm 18 years old and I'm in second grade. But I'm supposed to be in 3rd grade. Don't misunderstand ! I had not failed any credits ! I went to Thailand as an exchange student last year.That's why I'm in second grade. I've got so many worth-while experiences. Are you curious ? Anyway I really love to study philosophy so I'm reading "Sophy's world" in my spare time. I Love to listen to music also. Any kind of music gonna be ok for me but recently I tend to be interested in ethnic music, especially Thai stuff. By the way, I think to make friends in Japan is kinda hard work. It's easy to get to know many people on the surface, I mean it's difficult to get to know people on a frank level. I'm always struggling with the idea of group mentality in Japan. Understanding people from other countries is pretty difficult for me. However it's easy to understand clearly what they are thinking and express to me. Sometimes I think our school seems to be a zoo, each class room a cage. There are lots of silly animals . We are expected to conform to a standard and I can't stop feeling small in the cage ! It sucks ! However I am never in despair. There are great friends and club activities such as English speaking club so it's not so bad. See ya ! love Hitomi Maruyama

Yukie and Hitomi (Maruyama)		Hello ! My name is Natsuki Yanagi. I'm a 15 year old girl in the first year at Nagara High School. I usually play the electric organ. I'll have an electric organ examination next month, so I practice very hard every day. I want to pass the examination but it's very difficult to pass. I like popular music. I like old movies. I don't know recent movies well. I like 'The Sound Of Music' 'E.T', 'The Fugitive' and 'Back To The Future'. My friends are real characters. I think I am blessed with good friends. I think there are many tests in school life. I'm tired. But I think I must study hard because I'm a student. There are beautiful mountains and a large river near Nagara High School. I'm happy because the sight from the classroom is good.

My name is Ryosuke Naitoh. I'm a 15 year old male in the first grade in school.
	I usually call my friends about love and cool things.  My favorite song is by 
Dragon Ash. My friend is very interesting like a comedian. One of my friends has lived 
in America. His English is very cool. I feel school is very interesting. For example, 
friends, teachers, club activity and so on. In particular club activity is very interesting. 
I made alot of friends through club activity.

	Hello ! I'm Shusuke Kitagawa, 15 years old male in the first year. I usually play the guitar and use the computer. I like rock music and action movies. I have good friends all over the world . Through 'Home stay' trips we got to know each other. We were good friends then and are good freinds now too. I think maybe school is good !	Ryosuke and Tomohiko
	That's all for now ! We have a school web site you can look at and hope you write to us at our email address. Until next month, bye !