Today is Graduation Day! It’s  a very big deal of course, and just a little bit confusing as I try to navigate the cultural differences between Japanese and American customs. I think I got through with only one embarrassing moment, so we’ll call it a success (so far!)

The biggest difference between Japan and the US is of course the timing. The Japanese school year ends in March and begins in April, so many schools are currently wrapping up for the year and preparing for the next. Both of my schools have their graduation ceremonies （卒業式、そつぎょうしき） on March 1^st, as does every public High School in Gunma Prefecture. It does feel a bit strange to have graduation on a Tuesday, however, and the 1^st and 2^nd years all have exams starting tomorrow.

The next difference is that the students wear their school uniforms for the ceremony—no cap and gown for the graduating class! While I would be relieved not to have worn the ugly Hefty-bag style gowns we had to wear, there is something wonderful about flinging one’s cap in the air!

The female teachers of the graduating class did wear traditional Hakama paired with colorful Kimono tops, the traditional Graduation wear hearkening back to the Meiji and Taisho eras. When education was institutionalized during the Meiji period, many girls took to wearing Hakama over their Kimonos to aid and speed their movement.

It wasn’t until the Showa period in the 1920’s and 30’s that the Sailor style uniforms became widespread for girls, and some women still wear Hakama on very formal occasions such as graduations. I might try to wear Hakama next year, but for this year I just went with a suit, as I was reminded about 37 times that today would be formal. I am glad that I dressed it up a bit with my pearls, though!

Another interesting difference was that at my school, the students were not handed individual diplomas. After processing in, formal roll was called for each class and then a representative for the entire grade received a diploma from the principle, with the rest to be distributed later.

Then there were lots of boring speeches, just like in American graduations. (They might not have been so boring if I spoke more Japanese, but…) There were a few songs, as well—the school song, the National Anthem, and so on. Our school band is really excellent, so it’s always a pleasure to hear them play.

During the speeches there were lots of complicated directions about when to sit, stand and bow for the various groups. For example, everyone stood and bowed for the principle’s speech, but only the students stood for the Student Body President’s speech. Only the Teachers and Parents stood for the last speech, though I wasn’t sure who she was—I think a parent, though the PTA President also gave a speech. It was all a bit confusing, and I’m glad that we spent most of yesterday practicing!

At the end the teachers stood by the exit as the graduating students processed out. They hugged and shook hands with their favorite teachers, and many of the students were sniffling and crying.

Most of the students I asked about graduation told me that they felt sad—3^rd years told me that they were sad to be leaving, and 2^nd years told me that they were sad to see their friends go. This one is obviously quite subjective, and I’m sure other students might have answered differently, but I mostly remember being happy and excited to graduate. I guess some people were crying, but I couldn’t wait to get out of there! What about in your school?

Finally, the day ended in pretty much the same way as in American schools—taking pictures together, hugs, and tears.

There were special bentos for the teachers, I think on behalf of the parents. I love the special day Bentos, which are always filled with tasty treats, and today’s was especially nice. Celebratory red-bean rice in the middle, and clockwise from left: kara-age fried chicken, spicy greens, a meatball, kinpira, fried chicken breast, sweet omelet, fish paste shaped like a flower, fried mochi wrapped in sweet tofu (my favorite!), another strongly flavored veggie, a fried fish or maybe beef cake (yeah, a bit ambiguous) flavored with shiso, and finally pickles. It was a ton of food! Oh, and miso soup too, of course.

The one awkward moment came when I went to put my box back in the case and didn’t realize that there was about to be a meeting. The Vice Principle started the announcement as I was walking across the room, at which point I froze like a deer in headlights. Should I continue on? Could I hide behind the lunch box case? (Tried that, didn’t work–Vice Principle was still staring at me when I peeked out from behind the giant case.)

Finally I settled on turning beet red and walking quickly back to my desk after depositing my bento. Then the class leaders came in and gave little speeches to the teachers. Later one of my coworkers apologized for not warning me about the meeting. The Vice Principle seemed to be staring at me like I was insane, and my coworker could see me turn red from across the room, but they hopefully just filed it under “What is that crazy white girl doing now?”

Our school also had a number of news crews and journalists present to take pictures. This doesn’t happen at every school, but my school is quite famous for baseball, and one of the graduating students was actually recently drafted to play professionally–the number 1 Draft Pick, apparently. As a result, attendance at the graduation was apparently up this year, and everyone wanted their picture with the future star/hometown hero—even the teachers! I didn’t take a picture with him, but he seems like a sweet kid and is always polite and well-mannered.

So that was my first Japanese Graduation Ceremony. The air was electric, and as the students walked out bawling it was easy to get caught up in their emotions and feel a bit choked up. And I don’t even teach any 3^rd years! I’m sure next year when classes that I’ve taught and gotten to know graduate, I’ll be crying as well. And two years from now when my baby first years, the first grade I’ll have taught every class of graduates? Waterworks, for sure.

What’s graduation like in your area? Similar, or different?