Good bye and Good Luck San Nen Sei

Recently, my San nen sei (3rd year) students graduated from Junior high school. In Japan the school year actually begins at the start of April, so therefore the end of the school year is the end of March. The kids have about 2 weeks off for their spring vacation, which is chocked with homework and then its back to school. They do however have a long summer vacation in August.


Experiencing the lead up to and then the actual graduation was an interesting process in itself. All Junior High Schools around Ashikaga and I suspect around Japan were having their graduations on the same day. So I had heard varying degrees of how different schools were preparing for their graduation. Here's how my school prepared.


My final classes for the 3rd year students occurred about a week before the graduation. As it was my final classes with them, the students presented myself and the English teacher with some parents. Others ALT's had reported receiving flowers, little notes or nothing from many of their classes. My 3-1 class gave me a letter that was written by one of the girls in the class. Incidentally, it was one of the bad girls, who would never pay attention in class, constantly talk or look at herself in a mirror. Anyway, she started off my writing the letter to me with Dear Tung, however she quickly forgot the purpose of writing it to me and rather writing a letter about me, saying that she enjoyed my classes, sometimes seeing me at the local supermarket and how cool I looked initially. At least it was in English right!


My 3-2 class, who were my best class and seemed to be genuinely interested in learning English, put together a little story for me that they had hand made. It was the story of Momotarou, they drew the pictures themselves and included the story in hiragana, which I can read.

Here's the cover of Momotarou. I have no idea what the story is about but it seems to be about a small naked boy stuck in a giant peach and old people and a demon???

A little bit of their handy work. Pretty cool present I think and nice personal touch from them.

The week leading to graduation was full of rehearsals, mostly for the 3rd year students. The graduation was being conducted in the gym so they had to practice coming in and then going out of the gym properly. They had to practice bowing in unison, anyone that was slightly out ... forced everyone else to do it again and again til they got it right. They had to practice walking a pre-determined course to collect their graduation certificates and bow to the right people. They had to practice saying "Hai" in a loud voice when hearing their name called. They had to practice accepting their certificates with first their left hand, then followed by their right hand, bow ... turn to the left and then step off with the right foot first. They had to practice singing the national anthem, school anthem and another song. Just watching all of this left me exhausted.

While watching, I thought back to when I graduated high school as we don't have junior high school in Australia, and for the life of me could not remember graduation at all. All I could remember was that we did not have to go through endless practices of bowing and strict procedures of accepting our certificates. I could only remember my Uni graduation and even then we did not have rehearsals for anything. Just walk up the stage when you are called, try not to trip and fall, collect your certificate and then walk off.

The Tuesday afternoon before graduation, the 1st and 2nd graders put together games and a final performance for the 3rd graders to participate and enjoy. Games included a food tasting game, Shiritori (where they make up new words with a letter they choose), blindfolded drawing game and then some singing and dancing. It was yet another interesting cultural experience that I enjoyed and thought very different to our schools at home.

Finally, the day came, March 7th 2008. We were greeted to a day of bright sunshine and not a crowdy day as it had previously been. I was dressed by best in my suit and tie, one of the few occasions that I would be wearing a suit at school. The gym was set-up a week in advance, flowers were delivered. The school was spotlessly clean due to the copious amounts of cleaning that the students were doing the previous day.

This is the setup in the gym for Ichu's school graduation. Some other schools had their students collecting their certificates from the stage. My school took a unique approach and could do it this way because we had a smaller number of students. Our student, walked on the red carpet around to the middle table to collect their certificates.

The Japanese flag on the left, Ashikaga flag on the right and Ichu's flag on the stand.

Some of the flowers on display.

Flowers down the rows

The walk down the vinyl red carpet!

Final preparation for the 1st and 2nd graders.

The graduation was scheduled to begin at 10am. So before that, all the 1st and 2nd graders were in the gym and sitting, the parents then came in followed by all the dignitaries including government officials, members of the board of education and parents teachers association members.

As 10am ticked by, the entrance music began and in came firstly, 3-1 class followed by 3-2 class.

3-1 class entered

Then 3-2 class enters. Their Homeroom teacher, Miss Kobayashi, dressed in a Kimono. Many mothers also dressed in Kimonos.

As the graduating class got to their seats, so began the first of many bows for the day. This first bow was done according to a key on the piano. Clang, bow down, clang, come up ... and yes they even practised this during the week. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, which sounds pretty grim if you've ever heard it. Then the collecting of the certificates began.

3-1 class were first, remember first the left hand, then the right hand, bow, fold the certificate in half, turn to the left and step off the right foot first! I forgot to tell you previously but the way students look at school is taken very seriously. There can be no colouring in their hair, no gel, wax, mousse or hair products of any sorts and no make-up. If there is evidence of this, students are marched into the teachers room, any hair products or make-up is washed off. Coloured hair can be spray painted black and in serious situations, their hair can even be cut. So basically, students can sleep in class and be animals, but they can't have hair wax! Go figure!

This was the school captain accepting his graduation certificate. He was later to make a departing speech to his school, teachers and classmates where he became very emotional and touched his classmates and some of the audience.

An example of the bowing after accepting their certificate

After collecting their certificates, they placed them in a tray which would be given to the last person when they left.

While watching the students collect their certificates, a feeling came over me that only parents and teachers could have in regards to these students. It was a feeling of proudness and hope. Proud of the fact that I played a small part in shaping the futures of some of these kids, and I mean only a small part as I had only known them for about 6 months. The teachers must have felt 10 fold what I was feeling as in Japan, teachers basically take on the surrogate parent role to these students. The students spend so much time at school, that they get involved in their lives during school and sometimes out of school, kicking them out of video arcades on occasions. Also hope, that they may do sometime meaningful and something fulfilling in their futures and lives. I don't know if I will experience these feeling again until I actually become a parent.

After the certificates were all given out, the singing of the school anthem was belted out. Then some crazy long speeches from some important people. More bowing, more speeches and we finally came to the end. The 3rd graders had one final song to sing. At this point many of the students were crying after the school captains speech and the realisation that their Junior high school days were at an end and that they would be separated from some of their friends that they had known for 3 years or more.

Their final song to the audience.

After their song, the music was queued for the 3rd graders to leave the gym for the final time. With tears streaming down their faces, the students followed their homeroom teachers around the red carpet and then out the door. As the sound of clapping slowly dissipates, the graduation ceremony comes to an end.

The third 3rd graders disappeared into their classrooms for one final goodbye to their homeroom teachers.

3-2 class posing for last photos


3-1 class and me

All the 1st and 2nd graders and teachers then made two lines and farewelled the graduating class for the final time.

3-2 class lead by their homeroom teacher

Some final pictures with my boys. I really will miss some of them.

Myself and Kobayashi sensei. Incidentally, she is also the English elective class.

After the students left, the 1st and 2nd graders could also go home but were due back at school at about 3.30 to practice their club activities ... those poor kids. The teachers had a special lunch for the day. We all sat in the Principal's office and enjoyed our meals, reflecting back on the days events.

Reflecting myself on the day, even though there seemed to be a great deal of effort and fuss put into graduation, I thought that it is at least an occasion that many of these students will never forget. I mean, I couldn't even remember what happened on my high school graduation. This was especially evident when my teacher asked me whether graduation was the same in Australia. I had to tell her that I couldn't remember as it was a long time ago. Her response was, why not, as she could even remember her graduation, and she is in her 40's. Just goes to show that our graduations aren't very special or I just have a bad memory. Anyway, I have remembered my graduation dinner for PEGS but still can't remember how I got my certificate ... hmmm


The formalities didn't end there though. On the following Monday night I was to have an Enkai (party) with some of the 3rd year parents and the teachers. It was all very formal, and set up at the classiest hotel in Ashikaga (The New Miyako Hotel). Dinner was great and lots of Japanese that I didn't understand. We had an impromptu quiz and even a game of junken (hammers, scissors, paper). At certain points in the night, parents would walk around and speak with all the teachers and filling up their drinks. Many of them tried to talk to me. Even at the insistence that I only knew very little Japanese, they still forged ahead with speaking Japanese to me. The 3rd year teachers were given special attention with many thank-you's thrown at them. This dinner lasted about 2 hours, but was followed by an after party which I was dragged to. It was another long 2hrs at the after party of hardly understanding anything. Oh well, at least the food and booze was free.

The flowers I received from the graduation dinner.

Valentines for him and White day for her

I've previously posted pictures of some of the ALT boards that I've put together, most noticeably, the Christmas board. In an attempt to provide the students with a little bit of Australian culture and my culture for that fact. My English teacher and Vice principal constantly urges me to do something with the English board so the kids can look at. This suggestion by them quickly becomes an order, followed by constant reminders everyday, if there is nothing on the board for a while. So February was a good month to put things up.



Australia Day was the end of January, so it was my first board for the year. Here's what I put together. I think I made most of it up. Basically, what I told the kids was the Australia Day was very important to Australians as it marked the first ships to arrive in Australia in 1776 (or something like that - had to look this one up). I think its also a lie that most people in Australia think this is an important day, most people are just happy that its a public holiday I think. I then launched into the fact that as it is really hot during this time, that many people have BBQ's. I also included food that Australians typically eat, like meat pies and lamington (a bit limited I know, but the kids will believe anything I say). This was followed by a wheelbarrow race that Australians loved to participate in (I got most of my pictures off Google images and the wheelbarrow one was funny). I think the kids will be disappointed if they ever come to Australia and find that no one actually does wheelbarrow races. Finally, I told them one interesting fact about the Australian Coat of Arms and why we have a Kangaroo and Emu on there and not say a Koala. Kangaroo's and Emu's can only move forward, they can't actually go backwards, unless they turn around. So this represents Australia as a nation only moving forward and never going backwards. This fact elicited joy and excitement from my !st and 3rd graders, however my 2nd graders, just stared at me blankly ... as they do most of the time.


Next up was the Lunar New Year or "Tet" in Vietnamese, which was on February 7th this year. I didn't make up quite as many stories this time. I did make by myself, the fake firecrackers to the left there. In ancient times in Japan, they also celebrated the lunar new year, but they don't anymore and just celebrate the one western new year. Here, I talked about what Vietnamese people wore, ate and did during this time. I also brought in some red packets complete with Aussie coins to give as prizes. They have the red packets in Japan too and children are given them during the western new year.

Valentine's Day was the next to come. My board here looks pretty flashy, but I have to admit that most of the materials was left behind by the last ALT. Valentines Day in Japan operates a little differently to the rest of the world. Gifts are not given to girlfriends or female admires, rather they are given to boys and boyfriends, usually in the form of chocolates. Many times people will just give gifts to a friend. There doesn't seem to be a whole romantic vibe about Valentines Day in Japan. Most of the stores, don't even have a really big display. Alas, I did not receive anything from anyone. We did get to have chocolate mousse for lunch that day though.

Now, you girls must be wondering "no fair", when do we get stuff. Well the marketing genius' in Japan have come up with "White Day" where people who received gifts on Valentines Day reciprocate three fold. There is a Japanese word for this "sanbai gaeshi" (literally "thrice in return") to describe the generally recited rule that the return gift should two to three times the cost of the Valentine's gift. Sheesh, men still get boned! Apparently Korea and Taiwan are also in on this commercial windfall. Anyway as the poster says, March 14th is White Day - should be known as "Boys don't accept any gifts on Valentine's Day as you will be poor on White Day Day".

Here's a White day display in a local supermarket ... believe me, its much larger than the Valentine's Day display.

Last minute shopping, but some boys!

Well, onto my next board, which will be Easter!

The night of the Samurai

On the 3rd of February 2008, I got to be part of one coolest things I have been involved in since being here in Japan and probably in my life so far. It was the night where we got to dress up as Samurai warriors and march down the main street of Ashikaga to celebrate the the coming of Spring. It was an honour just to be involved in this ancient tradition that the people of Ashikaga have been doing for some time. To be asked to be involved was awesome in itself, as not everyone can participate. This is one of the perks that working with the city office grants us, involvement with most community events.

The coming of spring according to the old Japanese calender begins at the start of February, and is called Setsubun. So many places around Japan have Setsubun festivals to celebrate. Ashikaga, celebrates in their unique way with a procession of Japanese Samurai marching onto Benaji Temple. Even though, it was to celebrate the coming of spring, let me tell you that February is not the best month to visit Japan ... and there was nothing spring about it. February, I was told is the coldest month in Ashikaga, and I can attest to that as I had to ride through snow blizzards, rain and gale forced winds. Anyway enough of depressing February.

Arriving back into Ashikaga from Tokyo at about 12 (see previous post about Tokyo), we were greeted to a white Ashikaga, as it had been snowing the previous night and most of the morning. Fortunately, the snow had stopped and the sun had come out ... giving us hope that there would be fine weather for the nights parade. We were scheduled to meet at the BOE (Board of Education) at 4.30, an extremely early time when considering the parade did not start til about 7 or 8. I trundled out of my apartment to meet the lads, the sunny sky at this point had disappeared and been replaced with a grey dreary one and light drizzle. No, problem I said, if it stays like this, it should still be fine.

So we met up, then escorted by some of the city employees from the international section to a local pre-school around the corner. Once inside the changing area, we realised why we had to be there so early ... dressing up as a Samurai would not be as simple as slapping on some armour. If anyone has worn a proper kimono, they would know the intricate process involved in putting one on. They had a few costume fitters to help everyone in the parade and that was about 100 people, so we had to wait our turn.

This was the box with all the Samurai gear we had to put on. There's a lot of it.

Here we are waiting around for our costume fitters. The white robe was the easy part, so I got it on first. You'll also notice that Clarence and John and have little white patches on their chest. Those are the little heat packs that are meant to keep you warm once in contact with your body. We also has some stuck onto our feet, back and basically anywhere that you wanted to keep warm.

Alright, my turn to get fitted. First was the sash around the white robe.

Then, we had this cool looking MC Hammer pants.

Pants are on, and you'll notice that his strapped on some shin guards for me too. Samurai's must have kicked each other in the shins alot while fighting ... wonder if any of them feigned injury by rolling around on the ground. You'll also notice the straw sandals I was wearing. Earlier in the night, we were given the option of wearing our normal shoes or sandals. We wanted the full samurai effect and went for the sandals. Unfortunately the sandals are one size for everyone, and my toes were hanging over the front already. The other thing was that it was made out of straw, as we soon found out that it doesn't mix well with a wet ground.

These were these really cool arm armour pieces that were being strapped on.

A bit of posing with the arm armour. Notice the large slits down the side of the pants. Very hand for putting things in.

Then came the armour, pretty heavy after you've walked all night in them too. Two of my 2nd grader kids are in the background.

Then it came time for my weapons. The big sword first followed by the smaller sword, which actually didn't come out of its sheath. Almost finished!

Finally, the helmet and we were ready to go! Unfortunately, the sword was not real! Looks real but sounded wooden when clashed with another sword.

Some preliminary posing going on.

The ALT boys are done up and ready to kill some bad guys or hit the local night club!

This is Catherine in the female warrior outfit with one of the older men in a cooler outfit, obviously of a higher rank due to the size of his helmet. Notice how overjoyed he is to be participating.

Some of the others participants in cool costumes. Again, bigger flashier helmet ... more important you are.

Once we were all dressed, we got into our horses headed for the battlegrounds. There's no smoking on this horse!

We figured out that we were some sort of flag bearer in the parade and these flags would be attached to out backs. So if we ever got lost, we could find each other easily. Also in war times, flag bearers were probably one of the first soldiers to die in battle ... sucks! I am also led to believe that the symbol on these flags, represents the Ashikaga Shogun tribe of the time.

John, getting his game face on ... ready to scare children, women and old people!

I had neglected to tell you that after about 2hrs of dressing, the light drizzle outside had now turned into a shower and getting heavier. We were bussed to a meeting point on the main road. Due to the rain, we were forced to wear garbage bags over ourselves, which sort of took away from the fierce attitude we were displaying as samurai. Due to the heavy rain, sandals were now totally wet and drenched even before the parade started. The heat packs in our socks must have stopped working after becoming waterlogged. Despite the freezing conditions, we soldiered on and went on our parade. We couldn't let our fans down.

The lady warriors marching. The while spots on the picture are ... yes, it was also snowing, as if it wasn't cold enough. We were told that this was the first time that it has ever snowed during the Yoroi Yoroi parade (Samurai parade).

The older dudes posing for some pics!

While marching, we all had to be in a strict order and that couldn't be messed up as there is one point where they announce your name and pose at a photo point. My principle was there to snap some pictures of me.

Mike and John trying to look BADASSSSS!

Wahhh! did I scare you!

This dude even got to have a gun ... no fair!

We were routinely stopped by the locals, who had braved the weather, to have pictures taken.

With barely any feeling left in my feet and contemplating weather I would have to have them amputated, we finally arrived at Benaji Temple. Once we were all lined up on the steps of the temple, we were given boxes of soy beans to throw at the adoring crowd. It is said that if you catch and eat the beans, then it will bring you luck in the coming year and cast away any demons! So many people used whatever they had to catch them, including, plastic bags, hats, umbrellas turned upside down. Kid's also got to dress up and there's a group of them to the left of the picture.

This is what the soy beans looked like that we threw at the crowd.

Lots of photos takers, news crews, paper crews. John was standing in front of a news crew, so he kept throwing the beans into their camera. Just looked for the flags, if you can't see me.

Here's a closer view where you might be able to see me.

After the throwing of the beans, we all marched to the back of the temple to a bonfire and started chanting and raising our swords. And then it was over.

We hung around a bit to sign autographs and do TV interviews. This was my big moment in the sun, I was going to make it on Japanese TV ... try not to mess up my lines. In essence they just asked me what I thought of the parade and I answered in English that it was a lot of fun. And then in Japanese ... "tanoshikatta desu". We were all asked the same question. One funny moment was when they asked him what he though of the parade. For some reason, he thought they were asking him where he was from, he looked straight down the camera and yelled "America" ... needless to say, we all laughed pretty hard. We got a copy of the news reel on NHK, but only Mike got on. However, there was one of all of us raising our swords. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to put the clip on the blog.

One final hurrah, raising our swords in unison for the camera and then, it was truly over.

All the participants were then invited to have a meal in one of the old houses at Benaji temple. So we had sticky rice, some tenpura, soup, little fishies, seaweed and some root vegies.

The samurai after a long nights work! Kampai!

We also got a souvenir arrow to take away with us.

So ends one of the greatest experiences in my life and I doubt that I will ever forget it too.