My 10-year-old is in the school basketball club but is thinking about switching to another club. He's been agonizing over this decision, which tells you something about the importance of school clubs in Japan.

School clubs here are different from anything we had at our school in America. Every child in fourth grade and up is expected to join one. And meetings aren't held after school. They are held during the school day, part of the official period of instruction.

Clearly this is something very different from the voluntary, after-school clubs at U.S. schools. What's it all about? Once a week, students from different classes and grades gather to pursue a common interest. Together, they set goals for the club, organize activities and, most of all, have fun.