Graduation Time

Soooo. . .

Every year in Japan, the end of March signifies the end of the school year, the ending of winter, the beginning of spring, and a time for great changes. Cherry blossoms start to bloom, everyone is much happier about being here because the weather is actually tolerable. There are too many enkais (work parties) to count.

A typical graduation ceremony:

sit
stand
bow
sit
bow
bow
sing
sing
bow
speech
bow
bow
bow
stand
bow
sit
bow
bow
bow
speech
bow
bow
speech
bow
bow
speech
bow
bow
speech
bow
bow
stand
sing
bow
sit
bow
bow
speech
bow
sing
bow
bow
stand
bow
bow

for about two hours.

These ceremonies really make me hate the ceremonial culture in Japan which regards crying as acceptable but not smiling. Everyone wears black or gray and the entire occasion is way too serious for what it is. This goes for all ages, kindergarten through junior high. I don't have high school here, but I imagine it is pretty similar. It also doesn't need to take over two hours to accomplish everything. The speeches from officials are all generic and the speeches the students make to one another are recited in unison, which sounds robotic and makes them seem apathetic (which, I'm pretty sure, they are). It's also a strange time to see people getting emotional. This year, a large chunk of the junior high school boys starting crying like crazy during their graduation. It was strange to see them like that, these little punk rockers and baseball players in tears. . .

That all being said, I finished the year off with a Spring Dance for the JHS students. It wasn't quite as successful as the first one since I asked for them to give ￥100 to get in. There were also many students who graduated and wanted to go, but had to move to their dorms for high school and things. Still, many enjoyed their time there experiencing this western idea of a dance party. We stayed in our giant circle with a few people popping in and out to solo dance every so often. I ended up painting some faces, which I think they had never seen before judging by their reactions. Again, like an idiot, I forgot to take photos of the place all set up. . . next time? They always ask for another one, but they'll have to earn it this time by being awesome students in the new school year! Haha. . .