We were honoured to welcome members of the Association to Remember Setouchi Jakucho, alongside distinguished guests from across Iwate Prefecture, for a truly special occasion: the donation of the Japanese and Korean translations of The Tale of Genji, rendered into modern Japanese by the late Setouchi Jakucho.
Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, The Tale of Genji is widely regarded as the world’s first novel — a cornerstone of Japanese literary heritage. Jakucho’s celebrated translation has made this masterpiece accessible to generations of readers, and her deep connection to Iwate makes this gift all the more meaningful to our school community.
For our students aged 11 to 18, these volumes are far more than books. They are an invitation to engage with over a thousand years of Japanese culture — nurturing the curiosity, cultural fluency and global perspective that define a Harrow Appi education, where world-class British learning meets the rich heritage of our home in Japanese nature.
Our sincere thanks to the members of the Association to Remember Setouchi Jakucho, and to our distinguished guests representing the Chamber of Commerce of Kitakami City, the Joboji Temple General Branch of Ninohe City, the Self-Governing Council of Kunai-cho, Kitakami City, and the Iwate Baseball Association, for honouring us with their visit.