Surprised when a goat had its entrance ceremony like a real student in Japan?

At a small elementary school located in Isa city, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, where only 8 students have attended for 6 years, a lovely and humane story took place.

With the declining birth rate and the wave of overseas migration, many schools in rural Japan are facing the risk of closing due to lack of students. However, instead of giving up, this elementary school has come up with a creative and heartwarming solution: welcoming a female goat as a "new student".

This adorable female goat named Minami-chan was born in late 2023 and was given to the school as a special gift by a farmer who is also the parent of a 6th grader at the school. The school principal personally named the goat and decided to officially accept Minami as a member of his small family. This was not only a symbolic act but also an effort to bring liveliness and joy to the campus, which has become quiet in recent years.

On April 24, in a solemn yet lovely atmosphere, the official entrance ceremony dedicated to Minami was held with the participation of all students, parents and local people. Everyone eagerly awaited the moment the goat entered the school as a "new student".

At the ceremony, Minami's "parent" farmer carried the goat into the venue amid enthusiastic applause. Minami was a bit embarrassed in front of the crowd, occasionally bleating in response to everyone. The students lined up neatly, sang the national anthem in unison, and took turns giving bundles of hay as meaningful gifts for their "new friend".

One of the most memorable points of the ceremony was the principal's welcoming speech. Unlike usual, he started by... bleating like a goat, showing his friendliness and closeness to the "special student". Immediately after, a teacher acting as an "interpreter" translated the greeting into congratulatory words in human language, making the whole hall burst into laughter.

The principal also did not forget to wittily remind Minami that he "is not allowed to wander out on the streets", because the safety of students is always the top priority, whether they are two-legged or four-legged students.

Immediately after the ceremony, Minami quickly became the center of attention in the school. The students were excited to have a new friend to play with, take care of and accompany them in their daily activities. Under the guidance of the teacher, the students built a small wooden house for Minami right on the school campus. Every day, the students took turns walking the goat, feeding it and brushing its fur – seemingly simple activities but bringing great educational value about love for animals, personal responsibility and team spirit.

At first, Minami was quite naughty, often barging into the classroom, causing chaos and making the lessons noisy and full of laughter. But gradually, the goat also "accustomed to the local customs", became more gentle, spending most of its time grazing, sunbathing and walking around the schoolyard. It seemed that Minami also felt the love and care from her little friends.

"I'm so happy to have Minami. It's like having a family member at school," one student told the press. Another was excited: "I want to take Minami out every day. We will take good care of her."

This touching story was quickly reported by NHK World-Japan and spread on social media not only in Japan but also in many Chinese media. Many netizens expressed their emotion and excitement at this creative idea of the school.

"With the number of students decreasing, bringing animals into schools is not only a great way to relieve boredom but also a great educational idea," one person commented. "They should think about adding dogs, cows, ducks, chickens or kittens. Such classrooms would be like a happy farm where children can learn knowledge and love life around them."

There were also humorous comments: "Life is more magical than TV dramas. Imagine you say: 'My classmate is a goat' - how lovely and hopeful."

However, some opinions also raised questions about the sustainability of this model: "What will happen to Minami in the future? Will she be able to continue living at school?" or "Do the children really understand the responsibilities of living with animals?" However, most agreed that the school's actions are a living testament to creativity, humanity and the ability to adapt to difficulties - something that many places can learn from.

The story of Minami is not only a funny story about a goat "going to school" but also a great lesson about caring, creativity and community spirit. While many places in the world are facing the problem of aging population and low birth rate, symbolic measures like this can be a small but meaningful step to preserve the warmth of community, especially for children in rural areas who are gradually losing a vibrant learning environment.

Minami is not just a pet, but has become a symbol of hope, of life that continues to thrive in a school that seemed to be slowly disappearing.

Minami is more than just a goat who fills a void in the schoolyard. His presence gives the students a companion, a reason to smile every day, and a source of inspiration in a landscape that is gradually becoming quiet due to population fluctuations.

Through Minami’s image, one can clearly see that school is not only a place to teach letters, but also a place to nurture compassion, care and connection between people and nature. Lessons about friendship, sharing and responsibility do not come from textbooks, but are written every day through small actions – from taking a goat for a walk, tending grass to feed it, to building a house together to protect it from the sun and rain.

Minami's story may have started in a remote rural area, but it resonates with a global message: Even if the population is decreasing, even if schools have fewer students, as long as there is love and creativity, we can still sow seeds of hope and create extraordinary things from the most ordinary things.

And who knows, many years from now, when today's children grow up, what they remember most about elementary school is not the tests, but the memory of a four-legged friend named Minami - the friend who taught them how to grow up with their hearts.

T.rex dinosaur leather handbag: breakthrough biology, fashion or science fiction? Gongon09:46:21 26/05/2025A step forward that seemed to only exist in science fiction is now gradually becoming a reality: a high-quality, health-safe leather material developed from the origin of... the Tyrannosaurus rex.