Figure 1.--Here is the stage of a 6th grade primary school in 2010 at the Nisshin school. We are not sure if these are the graduates at a small school or the graduates receiving special awards. The flags are that of Japan, the city, and the school. A reader writes, "If it is a school in rural Japan it would make sense. My daughter was on an exchange trip for a week with Nanae Japan (on island off Hokkaido) and one of the grades (first or second) had 7 children with 12 teachers administrators for the grade. It was very bizarre!"

Both primary and secondary school graduations are similar, but not identical throughout the country. The graduation ceremonies usually take place in the school auditorium, agora, or gymnasium. There are colorful decorations. Red and white striped banners (the national colors) or other colorful decorations are hung to cover the walls and doors. Three large flags are almost always hung on the stage. They are the flag of Japan, of the city, and of the school. There are lots of flowers and plants. One popular item is an impressive, usually rented bonsai tree (they are very expensive) placed next to the podium. The ceremony is not only for the school, parents, as well as local officials, and special guests attend the ceremonies. Retired teachers are also invited. The students march in with their classroom chairs. The graduates receive a graduation certificate which might be given out in fancy holders. The children in primary schools have worked quite hard and thus the certificates have considerable meaning to them. The boys here are from a Tokyo primary school in 2000 (figure 1). The children may also receive flowers like the boys here. We are not sure how common this was. The ceremonies look to be held during the school day. We assume mothers attended. We are not sure that fathers took off from work. The ceremonies vary from school to schhool, even at public schools. There are, however, many similarities. Hopefully our Japanese readers will tell us more about these ceremonies at their schools.

School Level

Both primary and secondary school graduations are similar, but not identical throughout the country. The major difference is thast the older students play a greater rple in the ceremony than the primary school graduates.

Venue Set-up

The graduation ceremonies are held at the school. The arrangements vary depending on the facilities at the school. This is in part a function of the size of the school. Larger schools have more elborate facilities. The ceremonies usually take place in the school auditorium, agora, or gymnasium, depending on what is available at the specific school. The graduates are commonly on the stage of the audortorium or at the front of the gymnasium. The principal and home room teacher is often seated with them. Other teachers mat stand behind them for the official portrait. There are colorful decorations. Red and white striped banners (the national colors) or other colorful decorations are hung to cover the walls and doors. Three large flags are almost always hung on the stage. They are the flag of Japan, of the city, and of the school. There are lots of flowers and plants. One popular item is an impressive, usually rented bonsai tree (they are very expensive) placed next to the podium.

Schoolwear

Graduation is of course a major event. Parents want the children to look their best for the event. The outfits for graduation of course vary among the schools that require and do not require uniforms. Boys at uniform schools wear their best uniforms, in some cases blazers, although ties are not so common. Not all schools had blazers and often the blazers were not worn on a normal school day. We see a lot of boys wearing white knee socks, but many schools had white knee socks as part of the ordinary uniform. Here regulations varied from school to school. At a few schools the children wear the unifiorms of their new junior high sdchools theu will be entering. We are not entirely sure how boys at non-uniform school dress for this occassion. The boys commonly wore suits. Short pants were very common through the 1990s. We see more boys wearing long pants in the 2000s, but short pants are still widely worn. There is only a short break between the schools years. Thus the primary graduates already have their new junior highschool uniforms. Some schools have the graduating class wear the uniform at the junior high schools they will be entering the next month.

Audience

The ceremony is not only for the school, parents, as well as local officials, and special guests attend the ceremonies. Retired teachers are also invited. We assume mothers attended. We are not sure that fathers took off from work. The underclassmen make up the bulk of the audience.

Proceedings

The ceremonies are held during the school day. The proceedings vary somewhat from school to school. The students at a typical ceremont march in with their classroom chairs. Underclassmen, parents, and teachers are seated first. The vice principal my lead in the local officials thsat have been invited and any special guests. The teachers all politely stand and bow to them as they enter the audotirium. Finally the graduates enter and are led by their homeroom teachers. It is a very formal, solemn event. There have been practices. The children walk very slowly and deliberately. They walk in straight lines and make 90 degree turns with military precission. The graduates line up next to their chairs on the stage and wait for the home room teacher to signal. At the signzl they all sit together at one with military precession. The homeroom teacher may then leave the stage and joins the rest of the teachers or she or he may sit with the graduates. This varies from school to school. The school principal mis normally the head of ceremonies. He or she asks everyone to stand and bow towards the Japanese flag. This is carefully coordinated, often by striking three chords on the piano. 1st-prepare, 2nd-bow, 3rd-return upright.

Singing

Singing is a part of the Japanese school curriculum. And the children have learned to sing quite a number of songs, many of them recognizable to Western audiences. Singing is thus employed in graduation ceremonies. The first song is of course the national anthem. This is followed by the city song and the school song. The latter two are commonly printed in the program. While the children know the songs by heart, this is not always the case for the parents and other adult visitors. For the graduates this is a poignant time because it is the last time they will be singing the school song together with the rest of the school. At this point or after the graduation cirtificates zare destributeds, the lower class sings a piece to to the graduating class. And in response the graduating class sings a piece to the lower class. The children guided by their teachers select the song. After this ever everyone sings a song together. The choice of song varies, but popular choices are: Tabidachi no hi ni ja:旅立ちの日に, Sayonara, "Until the World is One" by Ya-ya-yah, Sakura ja:さくら (森山直太朗), "Aogeba tōtoshi" and "Hotaru no hikari" (Sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne).

Graduation Certificates

The graduates receive a graduation certificate which might be given out in fancy holders or rolled like a scroll. After the singing, the principal who is usually formally dressed in the Japanese vedrsion of a tuxedo or black tie goes to the podium. This is interesting because the principal never wears traditional Japanese attire. Nor since World War II have the students. (Some of the mothers might wear kimonos.) We are not entirely sure why this is, but a national school system based on European models was one of the Meiji modernization reforms. At this point a lady female teacher often wearing wearing a hakama brings out the graduation certificates on a large tray. The hakama (袴) is a traditional male Japanese garment, but is now worn by both genders. This choreographing of western and traditional Japanese garments and symbols is a fascinating part of the ceremony. The homeroom teacher calls out the names of his or her students. Large scghools will involve more than one class and homeroom teacher. The children are tradutioinally called alphaberically, but in a uniquely Japanese gender-split order. Some schools have have begun to dispense with the gender splitting, but it is still very common. Each students stand and says "はい", Japanese for "yes", in a loud voice. In some schools with large numbers of students, only the names are called. At small schools the student may step forward to receive his or her certificate. If so, they commonly line up. again walking in straight lines and sharp 90 degree turns, always at decidely slow pace. At some schools with only a few graduating children, the students may give a short speech about what they want to do at their new junior high school before they are handed their diplomas. This is a also a very formal procedure. The principal reads the certificate out loud once to the audience for the first graduatet. He then hands over the diploma, usually in an open cover. The principal rotates the certificate to face the student and hands it to them. The student accepts the certificate, alwsays extending the left hand first, and then their right hand before pulling it toward themselves. While certificate covers are the most common, some certificates are in scroll form. Notice the tubular certificates the boys here are from a Tokyo primary school in 2000 (figure 1). The children may also receive flowers like the boys here. We are not sure how common this was or just when the flowers were presented. The student then steps back and exchanges bows with the principal before slowly closing the diploma cover. He folds it under his left hand before deliberately turning and walking back to his chair. The returning graduates stop and bow to the special guests before sitting down. The children in primary schools have worked quite hard and thus the certificates have considerable meaning to them.

Speeches

Speeches begin once the graduates are seated. The most important is the one by the principal. The speeches are written vertically from top to bottom, right to left on a fan folded piece of paper. The principal's speech is followed by several additional, usually shorter speeches. Normally the head of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) gives a speech. The students may also give speeches, although this is more common at junior highs than primary schools. An underclassmen may give a speech thanking the graduating students, often for being good 'senpai'. This is a term referring to the hierarchal nature of Japanese society that the Japanese word 'senpai', meaning a senior in an academic or corporate setting and show cases the formality in Japanese life. One Japanese observer explains, "The attitude toward one's 'senpai' is characterized by formality, obedience, and trust." Often the student president gives a speech. One interesting Japanese tradition, again at junior highs more than primary schools is a kind of group speech or speeches in dialog form. This often involves both the graduates and under classmen. The sStudents take turns, \commonly yelling out their part of the dialog. This often occurs at the end in the speech section, but at some schools it comes before, during, or asfter the songs.

After the Ceremony

After the formal ceremony, the homeroom teacher may give the graduates an informal little talk. Then the new graduates are free. Some go hime with their parents. Others roam around the school individually or in groups and chat with friends. They also visit with their former teachers to thank them for their efforts and say goodbye. This is the last time the graduates will be together as some will be attending different junior hiogh schools. This is their last day of school, but the underclassmen still attend classes for a few weeks. Parents may take informal portraits of their children and their friends. At junior high school it is common to do school cheers with the underclassman at the entrance to the school.

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Created: 9:28 PM 8/20/2010
Last updated: 6:05 AM 1/13/2011