Pomp and Circumstance

The Japanese school year goes from April till March. Therefore the time has come to say goodbye to my 3-nen-sei. They graduated on Saturday.

The 3-nen-sei teachers wore kimono. A couple of the mothers wore kimono as well.

The ceremony was remarkably similar to American graduation ceremonies (right down to forcing me to endure "Pomp and Circumstance" during the processional) despite the assurances from several coworkers that Japanese graduation ceremonies would be very different. Actually, during rehearsals, several teachers asked "You don't have graduation ceremonies in America, do you?" However, the ceremony was sufficiently Japanized by adding lots and lots of bowing.

The principal read off every. single. diploma when awarding them. Several officials gave speeches. One graduate gave a speech, as well as one 2-nen-sei. I gather that they were very moving speeches because quite a few graduates as well as some teachers were crying. Then the graduates all got on stage and sang a song.

On stage for their song