Graduation ceremony

Our school had its graduation ceremony today. It was a very formal affair which lasted about 2 hours. (There was actually a rehearsal the day before) So sombre the mood was that I didn't dare to take any photos although I brought my camera in. So here are my observations:

1. The school hall was decorated with the typical Japanese banner (u know, the red and white stripes)

2. Principal wore a tuxedo (with coat tails!). All the teachers wore black suits. White shirts and white ties for the men. For ladies, either a black dress or a white blouse under the jacket. Some of the mothers turned up in kimono (in which case, any colour is acceptable)

3. When we entered the hall the first and second-year students were already seated. Then, the students had to practice bowing together (command in Japanese is "nei!"). You will be told to bow lower if you stick out from the mass of backs when bowing (basically affects only the taller students). Students had to hold the bow for about 3 seconds I think.

4. Then, parents of the graduating students and the school band entered.

5. The school band played the typical graduation song (dunno the title, but you hear it in Singapore too) as the graduating students entered, each class led by their homeroom teachers. As they were walking in, everyone had to clap.

6. Japanese national anthem was sung.

7. Presentation of graduation certificates (in the form of a hard cover folder) to every graduating student. When your name is called, you respond "Hai!" and march up the stage. Bow to the principal. Then lift your arms up to receive the open folder (but keep your head down). When you feel the folder in your hands, take a step back (head still down!), bow again, shut the folder and hold it by the side. Now you can look up again, turn and walk away from the stage.

8. Speech by principal, president of the PTA, president of the student council and valedictorian.

9. Everyone sang this farewell song which is basically a recollection of the students' good times in school, gratitude towards their teachers and friends. After the song, many of the students and teachers were crying. (In my school, the same batch of teachers follow the students all the way through their 3 years, so the teachers and students form a really close bond.)

10. School song was sung.

11. Everyone stood and clapped as the graduating students march out of the hall with all the teachers lining the path that they walk through as they leave the hall. Band played a nice song "Sakura". It was quite an emotional scene to watch.

12. Head of the third-year teachers address the parents. Parents leave. First and second-graders pack up the chairs and clean the hall.


We had a really nice formal dinner that night at a neighbouring town. Like the bon enkai, it was a kaiseki meal (lots of small dishes). Pre-recorded videos of the third-year students fooling around and reading thank you messages to their teachers were screened and the third-year teachers gave speeches (boring...yawn!). The food was yummy!!

Then, we went to a small karaoke bar in my town and that was great! The teachers proceeded to get really drunk and they even danced around with the tambourine and maracas while others were singing. Haha...it was really funny to watch! How I wish I brought my camera along for the enkai.