Saturday, March 18, 2006
Graduation
Wednesday the 15th was the graduation ceremony for the 3rd graders at the Jr. High and Friday the 17th was the graduation ceremony for the 6th graders at the elementary school. Both ceremonies were very similar. All the students not graduating and the staff sat in the gym facing the stage. On one flank were the parents of the graduating students and on the other flank were various “important” people such as the head of the PTA, the local police officer, and representative from the Board of Education. The graduating students were brought out and sat on or in front of the stage. The principal made a speech. Then the principal called out each student’s name, the student did a military style walk (hands at side, only 90 degree turns) to the principal’s podium, then the principal handed the student their diploma, then the students marched over to their parent(s) and handed over the diploma to their parent. There of course were also lots of thank yous and bowing. Then students not graduating stood up and said something nice that one of the graduating students had done for them. My Japanese isn’t good enough to know exactly what was said. More bows and thank yous exchanged, along with some tears. At some point a cord on a big ball was pulled, opening the big ball & pouring out confetti and a big message congratulating the graduating class. Then everyone not graduating stood in 2 lines making a corridor that the graduating students walked down on their way of out the gym amid the applause of all there..
In Japan you sometimes have no idea what is going on, but you definitely know when something is starting or ending. Growing up here there are definite stages and everyone knows what stage they are in. In America it really isn’t clear when you become an adult. Is it 16 when you get your driver’s license? Is it when you graduate from High School? Is it when you graduate from college? Is it your 18th birthday when the law claims you are an adult? Is it your 21st birthday when the law finally allows you to buy a beer? In Japan it’s very clear. You become an adult when you turn 20. That’s when they are finally allowed to drive, smoke, vote, and drink; and in case anyone isn’t sure they have a ceremony where everyone that turns 20 that year gets together, dresses up real nice, and get told that they are now indeed adults. I really like this aspect of Japanese culture. It’s very nice to know when something has started and when it has ended.
In Japan you sometimes have no idea what is going on, but you definitely know when something is starting or ending. Growing up here there are definite stages and everyone knows what stage they are in. In America it really isn’t clear when you become an adult. Is it 16 when you get your driver’s license? Is it when you graduate from High School? Is it when you graduate from college? Is it your 18th birthday when the law claims you are an adult? Is it your 21st birthday when the law finally allows you to buy a beer? In Japan it’s very clear. You become an adult when you turn 20. That’s when they are finally allowed to drive, smoke, vote, and drink; and in case anyone isn’t sure they have a ceremony where everyone that turns 20 that year gets together, dresses up real nice, and get told that they are now indeed adults. I really like this aspect of Japanese culture. It’s very nice to know when something has started and when it has ended.
# posted by Kakinoki James @ 7:58 AM 
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