First day of school in Japan

Having now experienced our son’s first day of school in both the UK and Japan, there are some important differences that it is worth writing about. And, perhaps, some important lessons for education officials in the UK to learn about how to make the day more special for parents and children alike.

Our son Joe, or Kenta as his Japanese friends know him, started school for the first time this week at the Japanese shogaku, junior school, just out the back of our house in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo. Now all of us have experienced a ‘first day’ in the UK and in Japan, there are obvious and important differences that we all noticed - especially Kenta.

The arrival: Japan does things differently. Sometimes the level of organisation can be enfuriating. At other times the social or personal obligations - giri - can be tedious at best, expensive and tedious at worse. But, I don’t imagine any country with strong traditions has made its journey from the old days to the consumer-driven new days without a few odd twists and turns. Kenta’s outfit for his first day - a pinstripe black suit of jacket, knee-length shorts, smart shirt and tie - was not cheap. It wasn’t really expensive either but I don’t see him wearing it every weekend so as far as perceived value for money goes, maybe not great. But, he looked a Million Yen wearing it. Result.

As for the pomp of the day, huge. We all turned up to the school and calmly queued up with the rest of the first-day parents and children to, wait for it, take our kid’s picture at the front gate of the school. No mad scramble of stressed parents all waiting to dump their kids and get to work or get back home. No bun-fight or stress to try shooting the picture at the same time as everyone else and to try and avoid getting loads of other kids or parents in the frame. We queued, we chatted to other parents, we took our photo, we went inside the school. Nice, social, calm. Lovely.

The greeting: Once inside the gates, we queued again - a short one this time - to have Joe registered for his first time. He got a specially printed name badge pinned on by a girl in the last year of her time at the school and then the same girl mentor lead Kenta off, helped him change out of his shoes, showed him where to store his outdoor shoes and then took him up to his classroom to meet his teacher and classmates. A great moment for each child; one for the trust and respect she has in chaperoning the little chap, the other for knowing that he has one of his elders to help him on his way.

The formalities: Whilst Kenta was being familiarised with his classroom and classmates, us parents went off to the assembly hall which was dressed up more like something you would see at a University graduation ceremony in the UK than the first day of school for a group of six year-olds. I was impressed. A few minutes later the pianist struck up with the “Hey lets go..” theme from Miyazaki’s film “My Neighbour Totoro” [one of my favourites incidentally] and all the new kids were clapped into the room by assembled parents and staff. I nearly cried.

Call me an emotional light-weight, but at this point I was not only pining for my favourite Japanese animation film but also beginning to feel short-changed by our son’s the first day at school back in Wales. Which was, it has to be said, a whole different affair entirely: turn up, drop the kids off, pretty normal day for them too.

Anyway, getting back to here in Japan. Once all the kids had sat down we were addressed by the headmaster who, incidentally, spent longer talking in polite and welcoming tones to the kids than to us. Then various staff spoke and lastly we had some introductions to the assembled local councillors and education officials. That done, we met each of thr first year teachers in turn. I couldn’t understand all of what was being said, but it sure was impressive, welcoming and suitably ceremonial given that this was the first day of a whole new life for our child.

The welcoming kids: Next came the filing in, assembling and welcome from the kids who had were starting their second year; i.e. last year’s equivalent of what was now our little boy and his peers. They sang songs, illustrated by paintings they had made specially for the occasion and each had a part in shouting out a welcome - and some advice - for the new-starters. Not sure how many of you will have experienced your child starting school in the UK recently but, by now, the UK welcome was now dropping even farther behind that which was happening in front of us here in Japan.

The welcome to the classroom: Once the assembly hall formalities were done, parents trapsed off up to their child’s classroom where the kids were already waiting for us. All their new school gear was laid out on the table and the teacher welcomed us and went through everything our children had been issued with on their first day. Including, on the more high-tech front, a GPS receiver and alarm that - in the event of some unwelcome stranger-danger - they pull a toggle on, immediately linking them to an operator at the school who would make sure they are OK and be able to locate them to within five metres. It must be said at this point that with the cameradery, group walking to school and mentoring from seniors, such stranger-danger is rare. But, there is a piece of gear that helps in emergencies. Bullying can be problem in Japanese schools. Not sure how the GPS handles that, but bullying in school is for another article.

The Police: What? The Police? Yes. All the while we had been inside the school, a local contingent of Police and officials had been setting up in the playground. As we left the building - formalities all now complete - we were met by the headmaster again, who pointed out the road-crossing demonstration - complete with simulated zebra-crossings, traffic lights and such like - which he asked all the children to take part in. This was then taken a step further out on the road with the Police controlling the real crossing and showing the kids some safety tricks. On the other side of the playground the Police had parked their cars and motorcylcles, which the kids could sit in and on. Once they had finished out on the road with the safety demo, the two mounted Police and their horses came back into the school grounds and each child got a ride around the playground on a horse. More photo opportunities ensued and Kenta - as his little sister Shoko had come along for the event - was given a special treat of a few more laps [his sister in parallel on the other horse] and the two Police officers formed the pair up alongside each other for a brother-sister horsey photo. Superb.

The days after: Day One accomplished, the rest of the week is being spent on a gradually increasing programme of work and hours at school. Kenta goes for mornings all this first week, doing various new things every day, and gradually building up confidence and awareness of the school.

The reality?: Despite this fanfare of his start to school, let’s not be blind to some of the realities of Japanese education. It is hard. The hours are long, very long, and weekends are involved too. The pressure on kids to perform is immense and not just from school. Parents can drive their children to insanity and patricide with the pressure of day school, evening and weekend cramming schools, etc etc.

Individuality, whilst being encouraged far more now, is still less encouraged than back in the UK. The group is often more important than the individual. But, we are many years down the road from that old maxim of Japanese education; “the nail that sticks out must be hammered down”.

Kenta, despite being only half-Japanese, has been welcomed. We shall see how that develops. I am sure that being different would be difficult at any school in any country [it was - occasionally - difficult for him in the UK]. But, by his own admission he is happier here than he was in Wales. That must - so far - count for something and is certainly an admission from him that makes us feel we made the right move in coming 6500 miles from what had been our home before.

Lessons for the UK?: Many I think. But the main one for me would be to celebrate the importance of that first day of a child’s new life outside of the home better. Put your back into making it a little more of an event for both parents and kids alike. Welcome your young folk into their new life. Make them feel like they are part of something special. They might even respect you a little more….. who knows?