卒業おめでとう
It is currently March 1st in Japan. Every March 1st, every senior high school class graduates at the same time nationally. I've sent off 6 graduating classes in my time as a teacher in Japan, and every time the graduation ceremony is an emotional affair. Being back in the US, I often reflect on those years.
A month or two before the graduation, high school seniors decorate their classrooms with drawings that count down the days till their final class. Often these drawings will for example have a popular anime character holding up their fingers to match the date, or some other kind of drawing. In February, the seniors have the month off in preparation for their graduation and the day before graduation, everyone helps decorate the senior student's classrooms with red and white paper flowers. There are often also drawings on the chalkboard with messages of hope written on them. A popular drawing in recent years is that panel from One Piece where the Straw Hats are holding their arms in the air with the X on their wrists.
The graduation ceremony itself is often quite somber and muted until the end, where each class lines up one at a time in front of the parent's seating area and bow while thanking them loudly. One time, a kid yelled "MOM I WANT BEEF FOR DINNER!" during that. It's a moment that sticks with me because it's such a silly and youthful thing to do.
