The Japanese love it - they have ceremonies for everything! I can't imagine what the produce would be like for a new emporer or prime minister over here, but at a guess I wonder if it would take at least a month, maybe longer!
Anyway, I was a little cynical as to why they were making such a big deal out of the 15 year old 3rd graders leaving to go to High School. After high school exams were over, the third years had one whole week to practise the procedures involved. It had to be perfect - and believe me it pretty much was. The first and second year students also had to be present at the ceremony, to support their older students (older students are known as 'sempai' to the younger students - which just means senior, superior). Students had to bow together, sit together, stand together, walk in a miltary style to receive their certificates, the certificate presentation system of which was flawless and ingenious in its fluidity to incorporate the sufficient amount of bowing required whilst keeping the flow of students receiving their certificates moving.
The hallway that the students walk through to get to the hall. All decorated with doves, banners and murals.
When the actual day arrived (Sunday 16th), I learnt a whole lot more about Japanese society from that ceremony. I discovered that the cermony really was necessary for Japanese schools, because I discovered just how important school is for the teachers as well as the students. It is a very large and important part of their lives - they spend such a lot of time in it, if they're not studying their subjects, then they're spending such a lot of time training and pracitising in school sports teams.
Some of the third graders started crying as they sang a song of goodbye to their younger students and teachers. Some of the guys started crying too, and one of the youngest, coolest looking male teachers, a P.E teacher and home-room teacher to one of the third grade classes, couldn't help breaking down and crying a little bit as he called the names out of his class to receive their certificates. It was really quite a touching moment.
Some of the kids get a little teary as they sing a farewell song.
One of the nicest parts of the ceremony was when the teachers sang a song for the third graders. Naturally I was really keen to sing along with them, anything I could do to feel and be a part of the school and help out with the teachers. Then, one of the English teachers asked if I would, and could, play the accompaniment for the teachers. I jumped at the chance and in the end was happy with my performance for them. It also was a nice surprise for the kids to see and hear me playing piano, and also for the parents too who were very impressed. The teachers were very grateful for it too - I love those little moments where I really feel I've done a good job helping out. I'm so grateful for my music, which transcends all boundaries and limitations of culture and language barriers!
The students walk through a archway of colours as they make they way out of the school for the last time.
After the ceremony, the younger students performed 'cheers' for each of the three classes leaving the school for the very last time. A few photos were taken, with a few students shouting 'KURISU KURISU sensei!' to get a photo taken with me.
The first and second years perform an Cheer for the leavers, and applaud them as they walk past.
The third years watch the performance of the cheer before they walk out of the school grounds.
KURISU! KURISU! Is what the 'cute girls' (self-introduced to me as that name) usually say when I'm around!
The guys trying to act all cool now that they're no longer Junior High students! They might have been the big fish in this pool, but it'll be back to being the small fish again once they start High School. Suprisingly, the majority of kids I asked never said they were a little bit nervous about high school - only excited!
The school I was at was also where my supervisors daughter was graduating from. Very shortly she will be going all the way to the neighbouring prefecture, Miyagi-ken - to go to High School. She is very good at soft-tennis, and so wanted to go to a high school with a good soft-tennis programme. At the age of 15, to move away from home is incredibly brave!
Some students will go to a high school a considerable distance away, whilst some will go to a high school closer to them. Some will move away, some will commute. Junior High School is the last time all the children of the community will be together. They spend nine years together growing up in the schools of their towns and communities, so one begins to appreciate why such graduation ceremonies are so important. From a young age they are encouraged to be extremely proud of their school, to belong to their school and for it to be part of their identity (the typically bold and vibrant colours of their gym kit, always different to every other school, that they wear at least every afternoon at school is a good example of this). I think this is a fantastic thing - the teachers are always surprised when I tell them we have no graduation ceremonies in our schools from primary to senior. Teachers and students alike are quite glad to see the end of each other - and the school year just fizzles out! Mind you, would such ideas and values really work in society back in the UK?...
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