So get this – we heard that our local Nagoyan friend Mr. Soh Nakajima, who lives in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, was doing the crossing guard duty at his old elementary school, Ueno Elementary, and we got to do a super close coverage of it! We talked to him about his hype for the first appearance of the season, his reunion with the lollipop lady after like 30 years, and what he thinks about this area and the kids. It’s a pretty hyper-local story, if you ask me!

I will be a shield for the children!

– Hey Nakajima-san, thanks for joining us once again! I heard you were doing crossing guard role at the north gate of Ueno Elementary School, so I rushed over!

Thanks for having me! It’s my first appearance this year, so I’m fired up. After all, it’s my alma mater, and as someone who lives in this area, I want to contribute to the community properly.

– You seem really pumped up!

Every time I do flag duty, I take it seriously and think, “I’ll be a shield for the kids!” Today, I arrived at the scene five minutes early and checked my flag-waving form.

– That’s intense! Have you been doing crossing guard duty for a long time?

Yeah, I have. As a parent, I have a responsibility while my child attends elementary school. Usually, I do crossing gate at a different intersection with a button, but today is the annual north gate duty day.

– I see. Is there anything different about doing flag duty at the north gate?

At the north gate, there’s also a lollipop lady, so we wear a reflective sash and dress formally!

– The lollipop lady ! That’s nostalgic.

Kondo-san, who is here today, was in charge when I was in elementary school. I heard she recently returned. I remember she used to give us riddles when we crossed the street. It’s nostalgic.

Reunion after approximately 30 years!

Kondo-san, driven by a strong desire to contribute to the Ueno area again, has made a comeback as a lollipop lady.

– It feels like a “connection” that Kondo-san returned to this place after a long time and is now watching over Nakajima-san’s child.

I’m really grateful for Kondo-san’s contribution to this area! She always watches over the children with a smile.

– You learn a lot from doing crossing guard, don’t you?

Of course, protecting children’s safety is important, but through Kondo-san’s activities, I have a stronger sense of contributing to the local community.

– I think the coronavirus made people realize the importance of reconnecting with the community, and it’s necessary to create a system where everyone, regardless of whether they are parents or not, can participate more in the community.

I really think so. I can adjust my work, so I can do flag duty, but I think there are many people who want to but can’t. We need to increase flexible lifestyles across society, such as the widespread use of remote work, so that people can easily participate in community activities.

– Also, the school and parents should be more aware of the essential theme of “enjoyment” rather than the formal theme of “participation” when it comes to flag-waving duty. What do you think?

I think it’s okay to include costumes and fun ideas that make the children laugh, like incorporating Halloween or Christmas themes into flag duty. It’s about having a big perspective while creating many small “fun” things.

– Exactly! It’s all about thinking big and starting small. When you add some creative ideas into the mix, it can turn into a fun activity that the community can be proud of! Keep up the great work with your flag waving duties in the future

Thank you very much! My first priority is to spread a culture of enjoying flag waving and making it fun for everyone involved!