This is JUS.
About two or three years ago, I used to post photos and videos of dirt jumping, pump track riding, and downhill mountain biking on Instagram and elsewhere, tagged with #TomodaGakuen. Ah, those were the days.
Time passed, and before I knew it, Tomoda Gakuen had suspended its operations.
However!! Last Thursday, on Circles' regular day off, the smoke signals for the resurrection of the new Tomoda Gakuen were sent up by Chairman Egami, Principal Tomoda, Director Sawada, external coach Rachel, Faculty Member JUS, and Trainee Koriyama!!
That’s right—the entire Tomoda Gakuen staff went out for our annual(?) training (or just plain fun) at Trail Cutter.
#DirectorSawada
Trail Cutter is a reservation-only guided tour where you can experience the best mountain bike riding amidst the magnificent nature at the foot of the Southern Alps. They offer over 70km of trails across dozens of routes, and the guides choose the most suitable paths for each participant.
The trails are characterized by vertical undulations and continuous corners—a unique experience you won't find anywhere else in Japan—and they are well-maintained so that both advanced riders and beginners can ride with peace of mind. Since the tour includes vehicle shuttles to the mountaintop, you can enjoy supreme downhill runs without the grueling climb.
This is truly "Heaven"—"Gakuen Heaven" (School Heaven). I just wanted to say that.
Under the command of Director Sawada, the tour began with high energy and a "Hey, hey, hey, hey-hey!"
At 9:30 AM, we met at the rendezvous point, received a briefing from the guide, loaded our bikes into the truck, and headed for the trailhead.
Once we unloaded the bikes and finished our individual preparations, it was time to start.
Right away, Coach Rachel started shouting instructions: "Koriyama!! Pick up the speed!" and "Don't grab the brakes!"
"Koriyama!! Ride with more rhythm!" and "Your hips are too high!"
In the midst of all this, the autumn mountains were stunningly beautiful, and occasionally we would stop pedaling to enjoy the shifting seasons. Even Principal Tomoda couldn't help but wear a gentle smile.
After enjoying the trails for a while, we were famished. We had lunch at a facility called "Mirai Juku," a renovated old folk house located at the bottom of the first section of the trail. By the way, after we left, the staff at Mirai Juku contacted our guide to say, "Someone left their wallet behind!" It was Principal Tomoda's—but that's a secret, so don't tell anyone.
Lunch at Trail Cutter is an all-you-can-eat course of curry and side dishes. Even though we knew we’d have a hard time riding in the afternoon if we ate too much, we couldn't help but go back for seconds of that delicious curry. Principal Tomoda and Director Sawada even had two bowls each!
#DirectorSawada
After stuffing ourselves with curry, we took a short break. Between the full stomachs, the early start, and the high-energy morning, a fierce wave of sleepiness hit us. Principal Tomoda and I both crashed for about 30 minutes.
Once we were shuttled back to the trailhead, the afternoon session began. Coach Rachel was strict again, yelling, "Koriyama!! Focus! You'll get hurt!" at the back, while Chairman Egami watched over everyone kindly.
"Everyone, let's ride safely, have fun, and be precise! Ready?" Principal Tomoda said warmly, and we were off.
Coach Rachel, who was shouting "Koriyama!! Shosei!!" while chasing after our trainee, also joined us for this year's OMM BIKE and has experience riding trails all over the US and beyond with her husband.
By the second half, our bodies were warmed up, our line choices had improved, and we were riding with even more speed. As expected of Principal Tomoda—such precise and beautiful lines! I learned a lot from watching him.
We took a break when we got tired, healed by the supreme trails and the beautiful autumn colors of the trees. That's when Coach Rachel gave Trainee Koriyama a kind word: "Shosei, you've gotten much better." Their bond seemed to deepen, and a gentle, warm atmosphere enveloped our academy group. I didn't miss the single tear that trickled down Principal Tomoda's cheek.
"I'm glad I could come here with this team." I felt that from the bottom of my heart.
By the time we finished the last trail, the beautiful evening sun was shining, and a refreshing autumn breeze blew through. The current Trail Cutter season ends around mid-to-late November.
They usually open again next spring, just like every year. We will definitely be back next year for more training (fun), and next time, we'll bring plenty of students with us.
The new Tomoda Gakuen is now accepting students.
Thank you for your support.
This story is half-fiction.
Tomoda Gakuen returns. "Trail Cutter," read as "Heaven." What could be the meaning behind that?
