THE FACTS Swimming is an important part of the physical education curriculum during the summer months. About 75% of all middle schools in Japan have a swimming pool, and swimming is a popular summertime sport among Japanese students. Most schools with a pool inaugurate the swimming season in June. For three months until the season's close in mid-September, students look forward to swimming classes during the all-too-brief summer. From fall through spring, water is left in the pool to be used as a reservoir in case of fire. This means that leaves and soot gather at the bottom of the pool during the nonswimming season. Before the pool can be used for swimming, therefore, it must be thoroughly cleaned. Usually, this is done by teachers and members of the swimming club on the Saturday prior to the pool's opening. After the water is completely drained, the pool is filled again with clean water the following day. By Monday, it is ready to usher in the swimming season. Usually, the season's commencement is marked with a ceremony organized not by the school but by the physical education faculty. It is supervised by the gym teacher, members of the student gym committee, as well as other teachers and students. THE SCENE The Akatsuka Third Middle School administered by Itabashi-ku in Tokyo commences its pool season in June. At the opening, the school principal addresses the assembled teachers and students, saying "Let's spend another cheerful summer this year." The student body president also speaks, saying "Let's be on our guard so as to avoid accidents." After the speeches, all participants jump into the pool together. Temperatures in June tend not to be not very high. And the weather is frequently drizzly, since June is part of the rainy season in Japan. Everyone shouts out loud before the ceremonious plunge, but on cold days, only a few brave souls actually jump in. Photos: A swimming class at a middle school.; Students jump in at a pool-opening ceremony. (Tamaki Yamamoto)

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