opinios

Japanese Ceremoanies

Yesterday my junior high schools held their the graduation ceremonies. I went along to one of them last year, so pretty much knew what to expect, but a few little things along the way added some spice to what is otherwise a very dry, boring, drawn out affair that is way too formal for me to be able to sit through without falling asleep.

Here is the basic run-down:

• Lots of speeches.
• In alphabetical order each student gets up, one by one. Turns to honourable guests and bows. Turns to teachers and bows. Walks to foot of stairs to wait for student in front. Walks to top of stairs and bows to everyone. Responds "HAI!" when name is called out. Approaches school principal and bows. Receives certificate and bows to him again. Walks across stage to other stairs. Bows to everyone again. Goes down stairs and bows to guests AGAIN. Finally sits down. It is one big production line and not even the most rebellious students break the rhythm.
• More speeches.
• Some singing of the national anthem, the school song and some other Japanese song I had never heard (although by this stage all the graduating students are sniffling wrecks and even the biggest pains in the arse who are always getting in trouble and never come to class are fighting back tears while trying to sing).
• Students run off to the park to take photos of each other and sign each others' year books.

This is pretty much the same every year, at every junior high school in Japan. Very emotional for the kids. One big factory operation for spectators.

But this year there were a few variations on the rigid structure.

• A minor tantrum in the staffroom by one of the office staff over the lack of names on the seating layout for office staff (I never realised the division between office staff and teachers at my school was so big until now).
• A minor earthquake during the middle of a speech by one of the second years, telling the third years how they have been such great role models and taught them so much.
• The school principal basing his entire speech around a thorough analysis of the lyrics to the boy band SMAP's hit song Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana ("The only flower in the world"), what the words meant to him, and how this applied to a young person moving up into adulthood.

And lastly...

• Two of my favourite second year students breaking down and sobbing, repeatedly, releasing more tears than all of the graduating third year students combined, because they found out that I was going back to Australia and they would miss me.

Nyah, aint it sweet to be loved. Ganbatte, Ozu-san and Nitta-san!!!