Figure 1.--Here the children at the Dakimashita primary school are participating in the welcoming ceremony for the beginning students starting school in 2009. |
|
There are a number of interesting ceremonies at Japanese schools. Our information is incomplete at this time, but we have begun to collect some basic information. A ceremony of considerable importance is when children begin primary schools. This is certainly a major even in the life of every Japanese child. Some of these ceremonies involving the children dressing up rather than wearing regular every=day school clothes. Many parents buy a suit for the occassion which afterwards is often rarely worn. There is also a ceremony when a child graduates from primary school. Boys at uniform schools wear their best uniforms, in some cases blazers. Interestingly the dress up uniforms commonly include sneakers. We are not sure how boys at non-uniform schoold dress for this occassion. The children receive a graduation certificate. The boys may receive flowers. Hopefully our Japanese readers will know more about important primary school ceremonies. These are the ones we know about so far.
Getting in to the right school is very important to Japanese children and their parents. If the children get into the appropriate elementary feeder school they can avoid the exam hell that so affects the childhood of many Japanese children. It can also ensure entrance into prestigious universities, assuring job offers from Japan's largest corporations. Thus it is critical that the children and parents make a good impression at school interviews. Department schools offer guidance on how the children and their parents should dress. There are even fairs with different stores offering fashion advice. One of the most critical factors on whic most stores agree is that the boys should wear conservative suits or blazers with short pants.
Parents like to take portaits of their children on the first day of school. Here economics is afactor. It is modt common in the wealthier countries. This is especially common for the children beginning the first grade of primary school. They are not slways the first graders, but these are most common. There are of course school portaits. Here we are talking about snapshots the paternts take or stuidio portaits the parents have taken. This convention varies from country to country. It seems more common in Germany than any other country, but we see quite a few in America as well. We have not found all that many in Japan, but we have found a few. Sone if the children where svhool uniforms. Others wears syits abnd dresses bought special for the first dty.
A ceremony of considerable importance is when children begin primary schools. The ceremony is held in April when school begins which coincides with spring in Japan. This is certainly a major event in the life of every Japanese child. Many parents buy a suit for the occassion which afterwards is often rarely worn. Japanese schools have special ceremony for the new children beginning school. I don't know a great deal about the ceremony at this time, but I believe the older students welcome the new children to their school. The new children commonly dress up in suits. The styles of the suits have varied over time. Another factor here is wether or not the school had a uniform. Often the parents or at least the mothers are present in the audience. Often an older student is assigned to help the new student learn about the school. Hopefully our Japanese readers will tell us more sabout the ceremonies involved.
There is also a ceremony when a child graduates from primary school. Graduation ceremonies are held in March at the end of the school year and the last month of winter. Boys at uniform schools wear their best uniforms, in some cases blazers. Not all schools had blazers and often the blazers were not worn on a normal school day. Here regulations varied from school to school. We are not sure how boys at non-uniform schoold dress for this occassion. The children receive a graduation certificate which might be given out in fancy holders. The boys here are from a Tokyo primary school in 2000 (figure 1). The boys and girls may also receive flowers.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Style Pages
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Lederhosen]
[Kneesocks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals]
Navigate theHBC School Country Pages:
[Return to the Main Japanese School Ceremony Page]
[Return to the Main Japanese Primary School Page]
[Return to the Main Japanese School Uniform Page]
[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC School Section:
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
