卒業式: A Junior High goodbye

After three years of Junior High School, the last of mandatory education as stated by the Land of the Rising Sun, one must make the decision as to whether to continue on to high school through entrance exams, or become a member of society. The last month of school, February-March, is full of late night studying and examinations. After that comes a sigh of relief from the third year students (read ninth graders) as they relax until their graduation.

Graduations in Japan are very formal events, with teachers wearing black suits (white tie preferred) or traditional Japanese hakama in muted colors and students in standard school uniform. There are various speeches made by the principle, the PTA president, the class president, the student representative of the second year students, as well as guest speakers. There is a ceremonial way of bowing as diplomas are collected across the stage, two students at a time, as the Principle (wearing pristine white gloves and coat tails) gives the appropriate salutations. The event ends with singing, from the whole school to just the third year students.

(Here, students are practicing for the main event)

The third year students then return to their classrooms where they spent the last year learning and receive a sendoff-address from their homeroom teacher. Parents crowd the rooms and try to take as many photographs as possible.

Afterward, they march outside and leave the school gates as the rest of the student body cheers for them. 

It is really quite poetic, especially when students cry during the singing; the men shoving their fists into their eyes in an attempt to remain collected while the girls hide themselves with their hands or handkerchiefs. (These girls stopped me on my bike ride how and asked me for a photo :D)