Graduation Day

Today was the graduation ceremony for the Middle School 3rd years. I was supposed to work at my Elementary School, but they understood that I was expected to attend so they were kind enough to give me the day off. On Friday, the teachers and students spent the morning preparing the gym for the ceremony. We all cleaned, set up chairs and decorations, and got it looking decent in there for the parents for today. Japanese schools seem to emphasize everyone working together. It is interesting; I don’t remember ever having to do stuff like this when I was in school, at least to the same extent. I suppose it ties together with the kids all cleaning the school every week and serving each other lunch. In any case, we got the gym looking sparkling for today.

Graduations in Japan are similar to American graduations in a lot of ways but also quite different. The graduating students all walked in to Pachelbel’s Canon and Bach’s Air. When all the 3rd years were seated, everyone stood and sang “Kimigayo,” the national anthem of Japan, with a piano accompaniment played by a 2nd year girl. Next they sang some sort of official school theme, like a college varsity Alma Mater song. It was surprising to hear a Middle School with their own song, but I guess every school in Japan has their own. Next, there was a speech by the Principal. He has a very stern, deep voice very fit for public speaking. Following the speech was the actual diploma conferral. Even more Baroque music was played over the speakers. There seemed to be a very proper way of doing it. The students march up the stairs to the stage individually. Their movement to the stage reminded me of a military color guard with sudden stops and sharp turns. On stage the student would wait for their name to be called. There were no cheers from respective families like an American graduation. The student and Principal would exchange a bow followed by the Principal offering the diploma. The student would grab it, first with their right hand, then with their left, and take a step back so that only they would be holding the diploma. They would quickly and smoothly whisk it under their right arm before exchanging a final bow, turning around in place, and returning to their seat. It was all very formal and rigid, and every student accepted their diploma in the same fashion.

Next, the 3rd years led all the student body in singing some sentimental choral songs. At this point, some of the graduating students began to cry. I was told tears are common at graduation ceremonies in Japan. Students spend all 3 years of school with a single homeroom teacher, and people even refer to them as being like “another parent,” so it can be bittersweet for them to leave after having a relationship with their teacher like that. Finally, at the end, the 3rd years all marched out of the gym in procession to Pomp and Circumstance and applause. What followed was a short reception, before the graduates marched out of the building this time, with the parents, teachers, and younger students lining the halls and showering them with more applause and cheers of congratulations. After the ceremony, I was invited to have some bento sushi with the other teachers and school staff. This was a kind gesture, as ALTs are not always included in staff events like this. I enjoyed some local sushi and it was nice to socialize with the other teachers outside of the school work environment. In conclusion, I found Japanese graduation was similar to American graduation, but a lot more formal and with more bowing and crying, and less cheering.

In other news, today is the first day businesses are permitted to open after being shutdown since late January due to coronavirus cases in Niigata. I’m glad because it has been a bit boring with not much to do during the past 6 weeks or so, and bad weather kept me from wanting to go outside much. Finally, I just want to apologize for the poor pictures this time. My Japanese phone has an annoying bug where it seems to not save pictures if I don’t wait long enough on the camera app after taking them. I ended up losing some good shots today this way. Oh well, as they say in Japan, “Shikata ga nai.”