. >> reporter: the beginning of the schl year, hakuba high school held a ceremony to welcome entering students. >> translator: freshman students, welcome and congratulations. your time here will be historic for hakuba high school as you will be the first to study under r brand-new curriculum. >> reporter: hakuba high school has tradition and location at the foot of the japan alps it was natural for grooming olympic skiers. however, enrollment gradually declined as students opted to apply to urban institutions. two years ago, education officials thought about shutting it down. however, if the school closed, families might move away and businesses would suffer. so a plan was devised to revive the school and they convinced the prefecture to go along. one aspect was creating a new curriculum. international tourism was on obvious choice. students from across the country were encouraged to apply. english and practical tourism skills are basic subjects. an official visited local businesses including those owned by residents from other countries to ask for their support. . >> please forgive m