My last Japanese school Graduation Ceremony（小学校 卒業式）

Question of the vlog at the bottom...

**Permission granted by this shogakko for posting on my page**

From September of last year thru to July of this year, it was going to be a year of "lasts" for me.

I've had my last Sports Day, my last Culture Festival, and now my last graduation ceremony. (at least as an ALT in this town/school)

Last year I went to 5 graduation ceremonies - one at a high school, both my Jr High schools and two elementary schools.

This year I went to four: two high schools, only one of my Jr High schools (the ceremonies were on the same day!! argghhhh), and one of my elementary schools.

So this was my last graduation ceremony as a JET.

The ceremony themselves can be a bit boring when you've seen it all before, but shogakko (elementary school) ceremonies tend to be a bit more lively since the kids are much more involved. There's this great call-and-response section where the younger kids yell in unison at the graduates - things like "Thank you" and "good luck." And then the graduating kids take turns yelling out thanks and messages to their teachers and family, etc. It's really cool.
And this school is small enough that each kid gets his name read out as he gets his diploma, and then he walks off the stage and into the audience and hands the piece of paper to one of his parents - some tearing up. It's a really nice ceremony.

and then the fun part for me is the "sayonara line" where the whole student body and all the faculty line up to clap and cheer as the graduates and their parents walk out of the school. Then we take pictures and hug and say goodbye, but at least for me I know I'll be seeing them again in a few weeks as they become my new class of 7th graders.

Question of the vlog - when you moved from 6th grade to 7th grade - did you change schools? if so, did you have a graduation ceremony?

Enjoy!
-Jason

Category:

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Tags:

• Jason
• vlog
• Shimane
• Japan
• JET
• Program
• ALT
• elementary
• school
• 小学校
• 卒業式

[toho36]

One thing I didn't wonder as a student but now I do is what do teachers feel staying or being left behind at the school every year.

[myargonauts]

Some homeroom teachers here, at both elementary and Jr High level, become very involved in their students' lives - so you'll see them crying at graduation. And for me it's a little different, since I've known the kids for so long - longer than all of their other teachers since I straddle two schools.

[TheWhitey]

That's the thing I fear most about joing JET is having to say goodbye at the end.

[myargonauts]

yeah - it's never fun, but one way to think about it is that it will only be sad if you had a great time while you were a JET, so it'll be worth it.

[tailwhoop]

To answer your question:

My school runs a bit different, Elementary school ended in 5th grade for me. And yes, when I moved from 5th to 6th, I did have a graduation ceremony, a total of, I believe, 200-400 students went to the graduation. It starts out with 3 students that won for best written speeches, then the band plays whatever they want. Mostly just "Pomp and Circumstances" of course, then we walked to get our diplomas. Which raises the question, Does Japan's schools play the piece too?

[myargonauts]

some schools do play it while the graduates file past the kocho sensei to get their diplomas. And I once heard it as the kids filed in to take their seats, but at this graduation at an elementary school, they didn't use it.

[Daaxter123]

That auditorium and music reminded of Angel Beats.

[frankieleeO]

The music is so sad. It makes me want to cry. xP

[MeriiKiyo]

The emotion evoked from graduation is something that's deterred me from teaching.. but I don't think I can ignore the calling, even if I cry like a baby in front of everyone.

[u2backontop1]

thanks for uploading ,,aaa m i spent 7 years in japan and now im gratuated from high school now ..japanese graduation is a kind of different from western sides .. our graduation was totaly same type place like in this vid but chair was big lol. it reminds me high school my memories.

[Jinxie228]

My niece graduated last year from 6th grade and now goes to the Jr./Sr. High school, 7th thru 12th all in one building. Her graduation was different, they let them pick a theme and it was Hippie week..it was different.

[Graehaus]

Wow, what a change.. I would be blubbering, if it was I. to see your students grow, what an honour.

[7elmig]

Peace!

[ivan351]

wow, yea its a good thing that theyre graduating but sad at the same time that this is it.

good luck though and take it easy