Kyoto high school's store 

offers hands-on business experience.

 By AKEMI NAKAMURA

 YAWATA,Kyoto Pref,

 -In an attempt to provide a more varied education,a prefectural 

high school here has provided students with a class

shop to learn about real-life business situations.

 The move,which according to authorities at Minami Yawata High School

is the first of its kind in Japan,is designed to give students an 

opportunity to apply classroom theory to real-life business.

 As an alternative to some classes,41 sophomores majoring in marke

ting management operate the "my-sis"shop to hone business skills.

Two teachers direct the activities.

 According to Shinzo Raita,head teacher of the 1,177 student body,

public high schools in Kyoto Prefecture are now trying ideas like 

this to attract students who would otherwise favor private schools.

 The shop was planned three years ago to augment the high school's

business courses.

 At a cost of \120 million,the facility features a computer-based 

point of sale scatting system,lighting,inventory and two 626 cu.meter

refrigerators.It offers about 700 different items to students and

faculty.

 "We want the students to practice what they Learn in class by operating

the shop," said Hirokazu Uehara,director of the business course

 "We also want them to experience real marketing situations,"

 Before opening the shop,students were taught display techniques by 

specialists from Seibu Department Stores Ltd.During summer vacation,

some students went to Kagawa Prefecture to study services at "Reoma 

World Resort".

 "Although it was hot and hard standing outside all day long,I learned

lots-like we should act appropriately according to the customer and 

situation in hand,"said Ryo Kuramoto,a sophomore and president of

the shop.

 Running the shop is a major undertaking each day, beginning in the

fourth period,when students in the stock section put items on the

shelves.

 During lunch break,uniformed sales staff operatecash registers as

the shop floor fills with student customers.

 After lunch,students put things in order,count goods and return un

sold raw food to the distributor.

 In the first three days of operation starting Sept. 8,the shop rang

up \45,000 in sales,according to Yumiko Hayashi,a sophomore and chief

of the accounting section.

 "We made a profit of \22,500 in these three days.But out of this 

we must pay for unsold goods that we cannot return to the wholesaler,

 "Hayashi said."Although we don't need to make a progit,we don't want

 to go into debt either."

 Student consumers,on the other hand,will also be given practical 

exercises.

 "We introduced bank deposit cards to buy goods at the shop so stu

dents will learn how the cards actually work before using credit cards

and prepaid cards,"Uehara said.

 Currently in Japan more than 95 percent of junior high school stu

dents advance to high school.However,2.2 percent of the junior hig

h students,or some 120,000,dropped out in 1990.

 "We now have various types of students enrolled in high schools.Some

just cannot bear to sit through lectures in classrooms,"

 Uehara said."But they may be stimulated by practical work like 

operating this

shop."

 Uehara noted that many students in the marketing course began working

particularly hard to prepare for the operating of the shop.

 "I think I'm more suited for operating a business than working at

 a desk,"said Kuramoto,student president of the shop."So I'm enjoying

this workshop,which is different from ordinary classes."

 "I'm also enjoying my role as the president because I can meet various

people," he said.

 "I feel that to operate this shop by ourselves is more difficult than

managing usual classes,"said Hayasi of the accounting section.

"But I can say what I want to do with this shop,and realize it."

 The students will rotate through each section to experience every

step of management and to maintain interest in the course,Uehara said.

 Students plan to form an environmental section to promote recycling 

at the school and a planning section to design special sales for

Christmas and St.Valentine's Day,he said.

 "When I met this class a year and a half ago,some students had lo

st their desire to continue in high school," Uehara said.

 "Although teachers have to work longer and harder than ever to carry

on a curriculum like this,we want the students to regain their desire 

to learn something and to get back a feeling of accomplishment,which 

they dont't always get from studying for university exams,"

 Uehara said.

 'Although teachers have to work

     harder,we want the students to

     regain their desire to learn and

  to get back a feeling of accomplishment'