No Applause, Please

Yesterday was my school's graduation ceremony - a veeeeery different affair in Japan. My memories of graduation are tied up with thoughts of hot weather, looking really nice, robes, throwing hats, cheering, celebration, rows and rows of seniors who can barely contain themselves, teachers running around to confiscate beachballs and of course, plenty of parties. But graduation here is really different - equally important, just with a drastically different tone.

Ours took place in the school gym, and thankfully they set up a few heaters because that place gets freezing this time of year! The grads sit in the front, organized by homeroom and student number, the teachers off to the side. The parents sit in the back, also grouped according to their child's homeroom number (The Japanese are VERY group oriented). Because it was a Monday, it was mostly mothers and only a few fathers.

The part I found the most odd was that the students were wearing their regular school uniforms, complete with sparkling white gym shoes. It just didn't seem right! I like the idea of graduates proudly wearing their cap and gown, with a dressy outfit underneath. Graduation is symbolic of the transition to adulthood, it is a dignified occassion; so why make the students wear those same ugly childish uniforms they have worn everyday for three years? But that is the way it is done here.

Before I describe the ceremony, I need to point out a few details. First of all, the ceremony itself is actually pretty solemn - there is no applause whatsoever until the students file out of the auditorium. Which also means that it is pretty boring, especially if you don't understand Japanese! Also, the whole thing is incredibly regimented. Each time a person comes to the stage to either take the podium or accept an award, they follow this exact procedure - walk to the front of the audience, stop. Turn to the side where the school principals sit. Bow. Turn back front. Walk up the steps to the stage. Bow towards flags of Japan and Shizuoka Prefecture. Give speech/accept award. Bow again. Turn around and walk down stairs. Stop at front of audience and face front. Turn to principals. Bow. Turn front. Turn around and walk to their seat. EVERY TIME! And in the case of speeches, the entire audience stands while the person is walking to the podium. When they get there, everyone bows in unison, and sits back down. Same exact thing when the person leaves the podium. So yea, lots and lots of bowing!

So the ceremony goes like this - The grads walk in while the school band plays a song (not sure what song it was.) Then everyone stands, bows, and sings the national anthem. The principal makes a speech, then gives a few awards (not sure for what.) Then each homeroom teacher comes to the podium, and reads the names of every student in their class, in number order of course. As their name is called, each student stands, says "Hai!" and bows. When they are all standing, one student goes up to accept the graduation certificate on behalf of the entire class. Then they all sit down. No applause. Repeat for all 4 homerooms. Then, there are several speeches from PTA members, and two student speeches.

After the speeches, we sang the school anthem, which I can *almost* sing along with now, and then the grads filed out of the room while everyone appluaded. The second year students left, and then the teachers of graduating classes gave a short speech to the parents, followed by a parent giving a speech to the teachers.

Afterwards came the smaller, more festive ceremonies in the individual homerooms. I should mention here that Japanese high schools are organized by homerooms - a group of about 40 students who stay together pretty much every class period of every day for their entire 3 years at high school. They ideally also have the same homeroom teacher for those three years. So needless to say, a pretty tight bond does form!

During this ceremony, the 2 homeroom teachers makes a speech to the students and parents (Micah and I gave one in the English course homeroom), and then each student comes up and recieves their actual diploma. The students present bouquets of flowers to the homeroom teachers, and in our case they also made cards for myself and Micah. Then there is another speech by the homeroom teacher. And then it is time for pictures and yearbook signing!

I didn't have my camera, but Micah took a lot on his and was kind enough to share them. All of these come from 34 homeroom - they are the English course at our school, and the students that I know the best. They also happen to be my favorite class - not just here, but one of the best classes I have ever taught. They are just an extremely special group of students - smart, sweet, funny, enthusiastic, and really good-hearted people. They are fantastic, and I always left their classroom on the biggest high, thinking, "That is what teaching is meant to be!" So saying goodbye to them was a little sad :(

This is me with Kayoko Yagi, the 34 Homeroom teacher who I do a lot of team-teaching with. She was one of only two women who wore a kimono for graduation.

Yumi, Kaori, Daimu and Kaori.

Ok, I don't know the names of all of these kids, except Yuka on the far left and Keiko who is leaning on me. Both of them were actually born in China and speak fluent Chinese. Keiko is one of my absolute favorites - she is tremendous student. When I was first teaching them, she raised her hand to answer a question, and I didn't know her name when I called on her, so I just pointed. And she said, very sweetly "My name is Keiko." VERY out of character for a Japanese student to do, believe it or not. And of course I never forgot her name after that.

Me and Micah with Honami and Rie. Rie is the tiniest student in the class, and Micah is 6'4". I'd also like to point out that Micah and I did not plan to wear almost matching suits, that is a coincidence!

A whole class picture.Happy Graduates

Me with Ayumi. She was one of the first students I got to know, when I coached her for a speech contest. A super sweet girl. Also please take note of our fingers. Ayumi is demonstrating the proper V formation. Compare mine, clearly inadequate. I am pretty certain they actually train their fingers to be held in the proper position. Try holding your fingers close to your body and making the V face the camera. And make it wide. Maybe it is my hands, but it is really difficult to do.

Micah and I with our favorite JTE's (Japanese Teachers of English). Kawashima, Yagi, and Haraguchi-sensei. I really love all three of them! Haraguchi, on the right, is my supervisor, and one of favorite people in Japan. He is one of the most dedicated teachers I know, always helpful no matter how busy he is, and NEVER gets in a bad mood.