The 10th annual Gunma Games took place this September, a milestone for one of the highlights of the GAJET calendar that brings together ALTs from across the prefecture. Teams named after Gunma’s iconic mountains—Akagi, Asama, Haruna, and Myogi—came ready to compete.
The day kicked off with the traditional Japanese radio exercises, led by Ash. Ash has recently upgraded her teaching experience to include babies and toddlers, so naturally the ALTs were perfectly positioned to be entertained by her narration of the radio taiso steps.
Champion Events
The first set of competitions, known as the Champion Events, ran simultaneously. Haruna quickly established itself as the team to beat, claiming victories in the Team Rope Jumping and Jenga. They also secured the top spot in the girls’ Cabbage Toss, while the Akagi’s boys took the win in their category. Haruna’s dominance continued with Cabbage Bowling, earning them an early lead in the games.
Group Stage
After a fierce showing in the Champion Events, the teams regrouped for the next stage. The Balloon Stomp brought out (very) competitive spirits as players tried to pop each other’s balloons, with Myogi emerging victorious.
Asama then took home the win in Jomo Karuta, a fast-paced card game rooted in Gunma’s history, and the No-Hands Cabbage Relay, affectionately dubbed “Cabbage Couples,” where two players transported a cabbage to a basket without using their hands.
Ultimate Cabbage
The main event was Ultimate Cabbage, a chaotic twist on ultimate frisbee, substituting the usual disc for a cabbage. Based on current standings, teams were split into brackets, with the final showdown being between Haruna and Asama. Haruna took home the final win of the day, further solidifying their dominance. Asama came in second place, followed by Myogi, with Akagi finishing fourth.
Final Results
When the points were tallied, Haruna claimed the coveted Golden Cabbage trophy with 29 points, a well-deserved victory after a strong performance throughout the day. Asama and Myogi tied for second place with 22 points each, while Akagi finished in fourth place with 18 points. The 10th anniversary of the Gunma Games was a rousing success, filled with friendly competition, laughter, and a deep sense of community. Here’s to many more years of cabbage-inspired fun!
