New School Year Ceremony

As you can see, it doesn't last long. The cheery blossom petals are already falling like snowflakes and starting the dreaded mush. This photo was taken on my walk to the station after work with my iPhone.

Today was the first real day at school with all of the students in the 2nd and 3rd grades of Junior High and High School. They found out their new "Home Room" teacher and their subject teachers for the new year, as well as having a welcoming ceremony (始業式　しぎょうしき). At this ceremony, just like in Australia, the principal gives words of inspiration and encouragement to all of the students and introduces the new staff members. There were quite a few of us this year and we all had to individually give a short speech to the assembly. I had to also do the same at the Junior High School ceremony as well.

However, this was not the only event of the day. We also made the students prepare for the "New School Year Ceremony" (入学式　にゅうがくしき) for the 1st year students arriving the following day (tomorrow). This was very fascinating to watch. From around 1:30pm until 3:00pm, all of the 2nd and 3rd year students doing club activities (e.g. afternoon sports or martial arts) at the high school had to prepare absolutely everything for the ceremony. The only task they did not complete was the plastic-cover over the surface of the main gymnasium. Someone had carefully calculated the exact number of rows and columns of chairs needed for the attendants, and the placement of them within the hall. So, the floor had long lengths of string stuck to them to guide the organisers of where the chairs should go. The students (boys and girls) then all chipped in and grabbed the collapsible chairs and carefully measured an equal distance between the chair in front and the chair behind. When I say "carefully", I mean tape measure and perfectly straight rows and columns. It did not concern them how long this took, they were absolutely focused on ensuring they could see every chair directly in line with the one in front and behind.

One of the teachers asked if we do this type of organisation in Australia. Well, in my experience, the school that I was at was fortunate to have fantastic maintenance staff who took care of many things behind the scenes. The Japanese teacher then joked around about how "perfect" they tried to make the rows and columns, and that it obviously was a bit too much. "However," he said, "it gives Japanese people a good feeling seeing perfectly organised seating and leaves a good impression on the guests". I would love to know if this is common throughout the rest of the country, as I am in quite a rural setting and people love to hold on to the traditions and old belongings here.

The "New School Year Ceremony" (入学式　にゅうがくしき) starts tomorrow. I will try to blog about it in due course as well.

If you have any questions, please tweet me @Stakemjomia