History
In 1987, Miyazaki Prefecture announced the Forestopia Miyazaki Plan as one of the leading projects designed to create a vision for the 21st century in Miyazaki. "Forestopia," which is a combination of "Forest" and "Utopia," is a term coined to represent a place where people can live spiritually rich lives by taking advantage of the gifts of the forest. The Forestopia Miyazaki plan designates three towns and two villages – Takachiho Town, Hinokage Town, Gokase Town, Morotsuka Village and Shiiba Village – as model areas, or Forestopia Areas. The goal is to create a new type of mountain village by promoting the creation of public facilities and opportunities for personal interaction. These facilities and opportunities for interaction are designed to incorporate various functions of forests, as well as the unique and traditional lifestyle found in mountain villages. According to these principles, a "Forest for a Return to Human Nature" – which contains a "Healthy Forest," a "Learning Forest" and an "Experience Forest" – has been developed.
As a core part of the "Learning Forest" development project, "Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase Junior High School" and "Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase High School" were established in Gokase Town in 1994. Together, they became the first public secondary school in Japan to combine upper and lower secondary education in one institution. The name of the school was later changed to "Forestopia Learning Forest -- Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase Secondary School" when a part of the School Education Act was changed.
This school is a boarding school and there are 40 students in one grade. First grade to third grade is designated as the lower secondary school, and fourth grade to sixth grade is the upper secondary school. Both schools provide a full-time, general course of study. Six years of consistent educational activities are provided.
Students cultivate sensitivity in this rich natural environment in Gokase. We are passionate about providing an inspirational education which develops students' individuality, in order to cultivate talents who have a global perspective and can open up the future on their own initiative, with an abundant creativity.
| 1987 | Forestopia Miyazaki Plan was announced. | |
| 1991-1992 | “Forestopia Learning Forest -- School Foundation Planning Council” was established. In 1993, the council submitted a report. | |
| 1993 | Sep. 6 | Name of the school was announced to be Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase Junior High School & Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase Senior High School. |
| Oct. 15 | Student capacity was announced as 40 per grade for both the Junior and Senior High Schools. | |
| 1994 | Jan. 30 | First examination for selecting new students for Junior High School was conducted in Miyazaki City. |
| Mar. 9-10 | First examination for selecting new students for Senior High School was conducted in Miyazaki City. | |
| Apr.1 | School was opened. An additional 18 teachers were added, bringing the total number of teachers to 22. Designated a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Research and Development School,” for the period between 1994 and 1996. |
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| Apr.4 | Dormitory opening ceremony was held. Dormitory building was named Kodama Dormitory. | |
| 1996 | Nov. 27 | Education Minister Takashi Kosugi visited the school. |
| 1997 | Mar. 3 | First graduation ceremony for Gokase High School was held (42 students in Senior High School) |
| Apr. 1 | Designated a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Research and Development School,” for the period between 1997 and 1999. | |
| 1998 | Feb. 21 | Education Minister Nobutaka Machimura visited the school. |
| 1999 | Apr. 1 | School was reclassified as a secondary school, following a change to prefectural law. |
| Apr. 12 | First entrance ceremony for Gokase Secondary School was held (40 students in Lower Secondary School). | |
| Jul. 29-30 | Kyushu-Area Secondary School Education Forum was held at the school. | |
| 2000 | Mar. 3 | First graduation ceremony for Gokase Secondary School was held (38 students in Upper Secondary School). |
| Apr. 1 | Designated a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Research and Development School,” for the period between 2000 and 2002. | |
| 2003 | Mar. 12 | Education Minister Hayao Kawai visited the school. |
| May. 29 | Members of The Association for Chairpersons of the Education Board in Kyushu visited the school. | |
| 2004 | Oct. 2 | Commemoration Ceremony was held for the 10th Anniversary. |
| 2005 | May 15 | Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachino visited the school. |
| Oct. 24 | Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nariaki Nakayama visited the school. |
