Pomp & Circumstance, Beanies & Backpacks: 1st Grade in Japan

Added to my growing tally of Areas Where the Japanese Excel is the art of ceremony. True, I could have made that assumption based on our recent graduation experience, with its elegant speeches, music, and conference of PhD-quality diplomas upon the graduating kindergartners at the close of their academic experience at the yochien. Shouldn't I have guessed that the same careful attention would be given to the official commencement of their primary school studies?

None of it should have come as a surprise. Not the decorated hall, nor the procession of new First Graders into the venue, nor the welcome speech delivered by the tux-clad principal.

And why do I even raise an eyebrow anymore when the program goes on to include a concise and informative performance by the Second Graders, demonstrating the various things the younger students can expect in the coming year? Or when the students are ceremoniously introduced to their teacher who, prior to this point, has been seated by herself in another section? But raise an eyebrow, I did. The deliberate and careful consideration of each small piece made for a powerful and beautiful ceremony!

Pomp and circumstance complete, the parents joined their children in the classroom for a brief meeting and explanation of the numerous items awaiting the students on their desks. It's times like these when I really appreciate what Patrick does on a daily basis - the continuous trying to make sense of things. Fortunately, a middle-school teacher with some English proficiency quickly observed my utter confusion and promptly came to my aid. Lucky for me!

Number 27 of 35

We were then dismissed to the play yard for a formal class picture of students and parents. It was a beautiful spring day, with just enough of a breeze to encourage the cherry trees to dust us with the last of their petals. A confetti of good luck, perhaps?

Classes started bright and early the next morning. New First Graders know that their title comes with the responsibility of walking to school on their own. If you happen to be casually standing along the street in front of your apartment watching for cars, say, at 8:00 in the morning (not that I would know this, a-hem) you'll find the first graders easy to spot: pairs or trios of yellow-beanied, sleepy-headed 6-year-olds industriously winding their way to school and wearing backpacks that seem easily in excess of half their body weight. When Patrick returned this afternoon he observed that he "was carrying the world in that backpack". Right now his world includes a thorough variety of textbooks, everything from Japanese writing to math to science to music to art, among others. 

He's off to a good, if brief, start. With our return to the States set for mid-May, his days as a first grader are numbered. He'll be back in kindergarten before he knows it! :-)