The Chopstick Test

Applicants To Nagasaki School Must Be Traditionally Talented

(AP)  Math whizzes and other prodigies need not apply unless they can demonstrate dexterity with a pair of chopsticks under new entrance requirements announced by a Japanese girls' school on Wednesday.

Successful applicants to the Hisatagakuen Sasebo Girls' High School in Nagasaki, Japan, must be able to transfer marbles, beads and beans from one plate to another - using chopsticks.

That's according to the school's principal, Junko Hisata, who commented in an interview with the Kyodo News Agency.

The test aims to judge applicants' lifestyle habits through their handling of chopsticks and must be taken by all candidates - aged 15 or 16 years - starting with those wishing to enroll in April, the start of Japan's academic year, the report said.

The high school caters to girls aged 16-18 years.

The move comes amid concerns that Japanese youth are losing touch with their traditional culinary culture and table manners. Youngsters increasingly wolf down burgers and fried chicken instead of the fish, rice and miso soup of their grandparents' generation.

Flower arrangement and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony are also part of the required curriculum at Hisatagakuen, founded in 1902 and known for its emphasis on discipline.

Teaching culinary culture and table manners is far better than teaching them how to handle and fire a weapon against your own people....

[polipersona]

Sounds like a good idea, but then again, its one thing to encourage the continuation of cherished traditions. Its quite another to force them down the throats of an unwilling population who wants to move foward and accept change. After all, this is a school, a place of education, not finishing school.

[khatores]

That's nothing - I can do the same thing with poppyseeds. If you put the sticks point-down, it is possible to grab a seed between the two. You then hold it tightly (and very precisely) and move it to the other plate. Just that simple.

[oleander8]

What a gentle way to encourage cultural traditions. I'm charmed.