Entrance Ceremony

As you already know, Japan's pretty big on the ceremonies. Not always fancy or very long, but ceremonies are plentiful indeed. Why, just the day before the entrance ceremony for the new first years, there was the introduction of new teachers ceremony and the new semester ceremony for second and third years. These were two separate ceremonies held right after one another, and occupying a grand total of 45 minutes. Could they be combined with each other and perhaps with the entrance ceremony, you ask? Of course not!

The entrance ceremony was a lot like the graduation ceremony. Parents, mostly mothers in suits with a few kimono-clad ladies and several men in the mix, came, took off their shoes, and put on school slippers before entering the gym and sitting down. The older students filed in first, and once everyone was in place, the first years entered to the sound of applause. I stood by the door of the gym, welcoming parents and smiling at students, especially nervous-looking first years. Then I filed in with the last few teachers, and we sat to the side of the students.

The ceremony began with the national anthem and then progressed to a variety of speeches: the principal, head of the PTA, representative of the BOE, etc., all spoke. Representatives from the elementary and high schools were also present and spoke a few words each, as at the graduation ceremony. One of the third year students got up and gave a speech on behalf of all of the upperclassmen, called existing students 存在性, sonzaisei, in Japanese, welcoming the new students 新入生, shinnyusei. Then we all sang the school song, and the first years filed out, followed by the older students. Parents of the new students stuck around and were introduced to various school officials, but I left at that point (some other teachers did, too!).

I have to say that my favorite part of the whole ceremony came before it even started. There was a dress rehearsal that morning for the second and third years, and it focused primarily on bowing properly and singing the school song. The students were repeatedly commanded to stand up, bow, and sit down, and after each set of three actions, the teachers in charge would make comments like, "Some of the second year girls were a bit slow to get up that time, let's do it again." Other reprimands included, "Third years, you're not bowing deep enough!" "Too slow again!?!" "Remember, the first years will look up to you!" The administrator in charge must have said "Kiritsu!" "Rei!" and "Chakuseki!" at least twenty times each.

Now, this may sound ridiculous to you, and I admit I think it's a little much, but I have to say, when it gets to the actual ceremony and about 500 students stand up in complete unison, it looks really cool. Equally fascinating to watch was the one third year student who made the speech, who walked to and from the stage in military fashion, executing four gorgeous bows: to the visiting representatives, the teachers, the Japanese flag on the stage, and finally to the audience. He achieved the same grace and flawless perpendicular turns on the way back, and again, it seems excessive, but it looks very good. Don't worry: he had to practice it, too.

Practicing the school song was equally rigorous but more amusing, as the music teacher kept stopping the students and making fun of their mistakes. He teased the second year girls for staring avidly at the lyrics, which are conveniently posted on a huge sign in the gym. He imitated everyone taking a gigantic and clearly audible breath at the beginning of the song before admonishing us not to do so. He made us practice the ending a few times, as it's a little different from the rest of the song, and his instruction paid off at the ceremony. I have to say I kind of began to wish we too had school songs and could sing them with pride at ceremonies.

I promise that my next post will NOT be about a ceremony!