Goodbye to you

So the other day graduation came and went and I have no idea what hit me or what happened.

The 高3年生 (3rd year seniors or Year 12 equivalent for those playing in Australia) had their last classes at the end of January. For February, they take a sabbatical of sorts to study and prepare for their university entrance exams. They officially graduate from high school on the 1st of March. This date is fixed, regardless if it falls on a weekday or weekend. So this year it was a Sunday to which one of my teachers repeatedly complained mentioned throughout the day. The whole school did get the following Monday off; considering that I would have shown up to the graduation regardless if I got a compensatory day off or not, I thought it was a good deal.



But anyway. Before the day, there were the obligatory rehearsals and also a few pointers sent my way. "Japanese graduation ceremonies are sombre affairs", I was told. Noted.

"Don't wear a black tie because that's what you wear for funerals". Phew that was helpful since I was planning to wear a black tie! "Instead, wear a white tie, which is what Japanese wear for festive celebrations". Uh...white on white...? Good God, what would Carson Kressley think?!

"And bring some tissues. Everyone cries...even the male students and the teachers". And considering my track record, I guess especially this teacher.

Since it was such a long time ago (oh shut up), I can't really remember if I had an official graduation ceremony for high school or not (well, the school formal didn't count). So I wasn't really sure what to expect from the whole thing. But really, regardless if I knew what to expect or understood what was being said, I knew I would get into it.

(Soppy songs + girls crying + tradition + a new stage in life) x ~240 students = John 先生 getting emotional. It's science.



Whilst it was indeed a sombre event, the ceremony did have its moments: the students standing up when their name was called and responding with "はい!" (Yes!) with some more defiantly than others, the school captain delivering a speech in a way that empitomised the definition of "having balls" and the music chosen to make you cry. The music was clearly the main weapon in making people choke and/or tear up. From tried and tested methods such as the school song "空よ" being belted out for the last time, to 蛍の光　(Hotaru no hikaru, a Japanese version of Auld Lang Syne), you had to be made out of stone to not get caught up with the emotion. I feel victim to the last piece of weaponry; as the students left the hall in their homeroom groups, the school's brass band began to play SMAP's オレンジ. It's either the moment or the C to E chord change got me but got me it did.

In the end, it's hard not to get caught up with it all as the students go forth to university or begin their working lives. Some are off to study English (I've done my job then), medical-related subjects or humanities. One is even going to do a stint in the army which worries me more than it should. They leave with whatever dreams they have and become one step closer to achieving it. This is Japan, the nation where, if you go by the type of movies, dramas and music it produces or the heroes it celebrates, you can pull it off, regardless of how great the odds are. Failing that, just give it a good old bash because that's all that matters. But then, this is also Japan, the nation where "the nail that sticks up gets hammered down", where playing it safe is the only option and where workers work incredulous hours and have their souls sucked dry. From here on in, somewhere down the line these students with all their hopes and dreams, with all their energy and enthusiasm, with their shoulders relatively unburdened by the world, somewhere they will change and be brought down by the realities. I guess it is this that makes me the saddest.



So goodbye to you. Goodbye to everything that you knew.

Music In My Head: SMAP - オレンジ