Graduation Day at Ooka Junior High

Friday, March 19th

So this was my frist time to attend a Japanese junior high graduation ceremony.  It was pretty routine, but I'm glad I got to see it.  Shibata-sensei told me that the junior high ceremony is probably the most-attended/popular for parents (more than elementary school, high school, or even university).  I don't think she really had a good answer for it. (:  So above is the graduating class of 2004 (Japanese year, Heisei 16).  There are about 300 kids in the class.

Here is the first student, receiving his junior high 'diploma' (I'm not sure what it is really... certificate? diploma?  Oh well, it says "you did it!")  The pricipal is reading it to him here, with Oda-sensei looking on (she helped pass the diplomas to the principal).  The principal only read this first diploma, and all the others he simply handed to the child after their name was called.  Quite similar to my own high school graduation, in a way. So here's how it went:  This boy took his diploma and stepped towards the left front corner of the podium, as the next student came and stood at the RIGHT front corner.  The second student's name was read, and the two students bowed together.  Then the first student walked off the stage and the second student stepped right in front of the podium to receive the diploma.  And it went on like that.

To the right you can see the mini-procession.  The student on the left just got his diploma, and so he's leaving the stage.  The boy before the podium is stepping to the side after getting his, as the boy on the far right is walking towards the podium.  They will bow in unison (like the boy and girl in the picture above this one).  The boy walking to the podium's name has just been called.  The girl behind him will step into his place, and one of the students sitting down still will get up and get in line.  Quite complex to explain, but it moved along smoothly! (:

After all of the diplomas were handed out, the principal spoke to them.  I understood very little of what he said, but I'm sure I heard something like it before at my own graduations. (:  Then, another man was invited to speak--he must have been part of the educaitonal board of Numazu... After that, it was the students' turns.  One boy, in the photo on the left, read a speech from that paper.  I understood a bit more of his, and it seemed like he was reflecting on the year and telling everyone to work hard in the years to come.  After he finished, the students gathered on the stage for group pictures, then performed once last song.  Some girls were crying and couldn't sing well... It really WAS a lot like my own graduation... (:  Then, we applauded them as they walked out of the gym and back into the school.

So there you are!  A quick run-down of my Japanese junior high graduation experience! (: