The Tokyo Kid @ SG
TK
It was a Fairy Tale come true as Waseda Shibuya Senior High School had once again opened its door to the public for its annual school festival, Seiransai 23. Despite a seemingly lower turnout, the atmosphere still had a happy ever after ending with its ever entertaining variety of activities: haunted house, a (surprise) maze, japanese games and escape game to bring a slide of life into what's like to be in a Japanese School. Here's our not so long long time ago story - with unexpected finds!
"This was a trap...!"
Our adventure began in the western side of Singapore, where Waseda Shibuya Senior High School was based. True to its popularity from past year, there was already a queue prior to its festival opening on a Sunday morning, more precisely, 9.30 am. The more popular booths of the festival, such as the haunted house (named "the Revenge of the Wolves" this year), a new genre of fun called the Escape Game ("Find your way") and a maze ("Hansel and Gretel") being packed with eager patrons awaiting a fairy tale ride of their lives!
After visiting a series of classrooms housing student's artistic and linguistic works, we set forth to our first major visit: The Maze with Hansel and Gretel. Housed at one of the infamous places where haunted houses had always being placed during the festival (Room 301 and 302), the description on the festival booklet just mentioned, "Maze". So we were pretty interested to find out, given the theme this year seemed innocent. And so we thought.
There were pretty some puzzles to solve to obtain the red key we need to rescue Hansel and Gretel. Then when we was about to leave to the next room, the host warned us, "Be careful when you go from here..." A haunted house awaited us next and the scare factor this year was definitely higher. The ghosts sure did scare a little out of us.
A Cinderella story we had written!
Another surprise that awaited us was the Cinderella booth. The preview message on the booklet, "You will make your own Cinderella story!" sure was a definite reason you would visit Room 1B. A male Cinderella in her peasant clothes greeted us and asked us to help in "her" quest to meet the Prince, and we sure kind of decorated her with a Snake, yes a snake, necklace before the happy ending with the Prince proposing to her. We joined in the fun with our call for a kiss (and yes, they were all male). We had, I wish to say, written an unique Cinderella plot for them!
Not only the booths, but the decorations went a level up as we could see the dedication of details and design in each booth, both outside and inside of the classrooms. The Wizard of Oz place sure had the Lion, Scarecrow and the Tin Man hanging out from the windows, welcoming potential visitors into their mysterious world. We could see the pieces of coloured paper to put up the 3-level high gigantic bannner greeting us at the main building. It must had being a tedious work and time doing all these impressive pieces of art.
Our high school escape game attempt!
Probably new to the types of activities during the festival was the genre of Escape Game. We had already attempted various editions of the Real Escape Game, so it sure triggered our curiosity to attempt a high school version in Room 2C. Written on the description was the words, "Complete missions or you can't get out from 2C". Inside the room, we had to stack up as many cans as possible on top of each other, play golf (which I must admit I was bad in) and shoot down Humpy Dumpies with a sling shot. We did not fare well (and we also did not attempt the other escape game, "Find Your Way"), but the fun level was more than satisfying!
Of other activities, Japanese culture activities (a card game called "Hyakunin isshu") and games (such as Yoyo, bowling) were other highlights we visited and it was sure a happy ever after ending with precious memories we would bring back for Seiransai 23
It was sure an impressive festival put up by the students and staffs of Waseda Shibuya Senior High and it is a definite annual event you must put on your calender!
See our preview of the event posted on the Tokyo Kid @ SG!