The Sakaue Branch School was a winter branch of Sakaue Elementary School in Toga valley. Its full name was Toga Village Sakaue Elementary Sakaue Branch School 利賀村立坂上小学校坂上分校.
Sakaue Elementary was only a few kilometers north along the river. So today, it feels like a huge waste to have a whole branch of the school for students just down the road. But, back when the branch school was used, there were no school busses, and the roads were often completely drowned in meters of snow from the mountain valley.
It was difficult finding information about this school. I learned of it from watching this video on Toyama's website. 15 years ago, Toyama Prefecture did a retrospective series about the wooden schools of the past that were still standing. I'm not sure why, but other Haikyo explorers did not go here.
The video shows glimpses of an old map that marks locations of the area. So, I thought it would also mark the true location of this school. I could not find the map's location on Google Maps, so I went to the area to snoop around for it. After going to the nearby temple, the map was posted on the side of the road nearby.
It was the exact same map from the video, but worn and weathered after 15 years. Also, it did not mark the location of any school. Thinking it was along the driving path through the woods, I got in my car and went east. However, just up the road, I saw it.
A wooden deshelved building, covered in vines, windows broken, and still standing for some reason. It was next to the 利賀村高齡者生産活動センター, or the Toga Village Senior Citizen Activity Center.
The door to the school was open, and broken off of its hinges, so I went inside and took a bunch of photos. The building had been repurposed after the school closed, but many of its school features were still present, such as the low sinks in the bathroom, the coat rack along the entrance, and the numbers on each stair going to the second floor.
I didn't realize it until after coming out of the bathrooms, but the building was infested with bats. One or two them were startled and began flying around because of my pressence. I think they were mostly harmless though? I was wearing a mask so I was (probably) protected from whatever diseases could come from their feces.
Upstairs revealed the remnants of the business that last used the building. Any classroom walls had been removed to create a wide open space. In the corner, piles of boxes were left containing various threads and clothing materials. Scattered on the ground were work orders and instructions for creating women's undergarments.
Apparently the school was used as a textile shop for ladies underwear? So weird.
There was a calendar on the wall from 1996, so its possible the building was abandoned 30 years ago. This is somewhat consist with other schools and buildings in the area.
There is a saying when hiking and exploring, "take only photos, leave only footprints." Don't steal anything. Don't disturb anything. Don't destroy. However, I did find a book amonst the garbage.
This is an anniversary book commerating Toga Junior High School. Inside contains the history of schools in Toga valley complete with photos and detailed information. I took this book as it will help me find more schools in the area, and compare the past with the present. Eventualy, I will clean it up a bit and scan it.
It's pretty impressive how long the building has held together. Many other 80-year-old buildings have completely collapsed from years of heavy snow. I suppose being so close to the senior center has its benefits. Those eldery townspeople probably remember going to this school and want to try and preserve it as best they can. Although, these days, it seems like the building's only use is a shelter for firewood.
