Class of 2008

This morning 199 graduates completed their formal education at Oigawa Koko. The ceremony was similar to my own (eek, nearly 10 years ago!) but there were a few differences. First, let me explain that in Japan, it seems teachers play a much larger part in their students' lives than in the US. Teachers often carry the role of a parent as well as educator. So after 3 years of high school, during which students faced really big decisions about relationships, courses to study, and what to pursue after high school, the bond between student & teacher is usually extremely strong.

Now, onto today's ceremony: the school band played as the students walked to their seats by homeroom. Then each homeroom teacher stood off to one side & announced the students' names from his/her respective class. As their name was called, the student said, "HAI," stood up, and bowed slightly to the principal who stood behind a big podium on the stage. When the entire class had been announced, the class sat down again. My school has 5 homerooms of seniors. We began with Homeroom 31 today & went in numerical order to 35. The teacher for 31 is one of the strictest, most intense, and respected teachers on staff. He's tough, but students know he cares for them; they voted him their favorite teacher this year. When he stood up to announce his students' names, there was silence for a long while because he choked up with tears. He finally began calling each student by name and the other homeroom teachers followed until all 199 students had been recognized for their achievement. The principal gave a speech, a member of the student body spoke (which also drew tears from most mothers & almost all the teachers & students), music played, the all-male cheer team performed & led the senior class in a big cheer for the teachers. It was heart-warming to see how much the teachers mean to the students & that the students were willing to express their gratitude in such a outward way.

At the end, for the recession, the teachers made a tunnel of sorts & applauded the graduates as they walked through & back to their classrooms, where they did a variety of things like giving flowers & thank-you speeches to their teacher, singing, cheering, signing yearbooks, & taking photos! I walked around for a couple hours doing much of the same :)

Here's a few snapshots of the day

The procession (the students sitting are the underclassmen)

The principal

Students standing as their name was called

Seniors thanking the teachers

Graduates walking out (crying) as the teachers applaud

Homeroom 32 singing a favorite song for their teacher after the ceremony

"Peace, love, and yearbooks"