Handmade shoe and apron bags made by the author.
April in Japan brings with it warmer temperatures, cherry blossoms, and the beginning of a new school year.
Children who are entering first grade, which is the first year of elementary school here, have a lot to prepare. Many of the items are the same as what school children in the rest of the world need: pencils, erasers, a pencil box, notebooks. But some are peculiar, if not to Japan, than at least to earthquake prone regions.
Take for instance the 防災頭巾 (bousaizukin) or emergency, cushion-y headgear—that doubles as a seat cushion most of the time—which children keep on their desk chairs to use in case of an earthquake. Then there is the obligatory ランドセル, randoseru, a hard-backed leather backpack that every elementary child in the country somehow manages to purchase, in spite of the daunting price tag. (I checked this year, and the cheapest one I found was $200 US.)
randoseru
Purchasing the randoseru has become a sort of rite of passage. It is featured in several songs about starting first grade. Yes, there are even songs about it! It is that big of a deal. One line that comes to mind goes something like this, “when the cherry petals fall like rain then I will have a shiny new randoseru.”
But another rite of passage requires waiting for the mothers of these 一年生, first graders. Because the gym clothes, indoor shoes, and apron a student wears when distributing school lunch (yes, the kids are in charge of doing this,) need bags to go in. And even though it is not always required, most of the time, mothers make these at home.
It is cathartic, in a way, the hours spent with the steady soft tap of the sewing machine, as the 春一番, first wind of spring, blows the winter away and brings spring into the home and heart. You choose a color and fabric you know your child will like; adjust the straps according to their size, perhaps with a little room to grow, and you reflect on just how it came to be that the little baby who suckled at your breast is now old enough to be flung upon the big, scary world beyond your control.
On the first day of school, there is a formal Entrance Ceremony. Children wear blazers and white-collared shirts, neckties and short pants for boys, fluffy skirts and bows around the neck for girls. Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa, everyone dresses up and comes to school for the big occasion. Without fail, there will be a cherry tree and a sign adorned with calligraphy at the gate, a picture perfect setting ready and waiting for the new entrants.
The ceremony itself is long and yawn-inducing but the intention behind it, of ushering these young beings from the world of infancy into that of childhood, is sweet and dear. The children stand, scared to death and suddenly seeming so very, very small, on that large stage while the world around them acknowledges that now, at last, they are big boys and girls.
How do you celebrate your children’s debut into the world of formal education?
The image used in this post is credited to the author.
Melanie,
I love reading your stories from Japan. I spent a summer in Japan as a foreign exchange student when I was in high school. I remember the kids cleaning the school! There were so many interesting differences!
Love this post, and I look forward to sharing it with my daughter!
Jen 🙂
Melanie,
I am enjoying hearing about all of your new experiences In Japan. I’m looking forward to more!
I celebrated it by freaking out! The first couple of weeks of Japanese elementary school is hard. You’re right though, sewing up the bags was what I enjoyed most. Shark and pirate theme here!
Thanks for the comments! My son started first grade just a few weeks after the big earthquake two years ago. It was such a emotional time, on so many levels. My daughter is starting next year, and she is already checking out all the different randoseru. She chooses a different color every other day! Hopefully this time around there will be much less drama.
I really enjoyed your post and learning about the preparations for first grade in Japan. My oldest is in first grade now, and while we got some similar supplies, he got to pick out his own backpack at the store.
I love the formal welcome ceremony you have. We don’t have anything like that. Our first graders are gradually brought in over a few days (first for a one on one meeting with their teacher, next day with just half the class while parents can stay, then finally starting full time on their own).
I thought this was fascinating! I have fond memories of the first day of school, and LOVED school supply shopping – all those bright new crayons and tape and pens, each thing new and my very own. Our traditions, and this is probably typical, was to have a new “back to school” outfit.
Thank you for sharing this! My almost 4-year old will start school in September, so I’m always looking for school stories! Good luck- and when I’ll get there, I’ll share our story as well!
I really enjoyed the story, Melanie! You have a way of making the ‘ordinary’ sounds interesting 🙂 Though I live in Asia (Singapore), I realise I know so little about Japanese culture. But through your posts, I’m learning so much. Keep them coming!
I love rituals and ceremonies – so lovely to hear about this one. 😀