Parting Ceremony

離任式　Parting ceremony


March 29, 2012

So today is one of the most dreaded days in my Japanese school life. Every year at this time (end of March) some of the teachers get transferred. I list this in the passive tense because they do not choose this uncertain fate, rather it is "bestowed" upon them. Japan does a lot of things different from America and this is certainly one of them. There can be good reasons and bad reasons behind this mandatory job change the most obvious of which being changing the people you are working with - because I can imagine there are times when you either want the change or dread it. Regardless, as what I like to consider a cousin to the normal sibling relationship shared by the teachers, last year I was caught completely off guard pertaining to this big event. This time around, however, I was ready for it.

Let me try to summarize this experience for you, because if you have never been involved in it, it can be quite confusing and - for the teachers being transferred - scary. Basically the school year over here runs from April to March (year round schooling is how we refer to it in America, however the students do get long breaks in-between each trimester, much the same as our summer and winter vacation) as do virtually all businesses and government operations. Due to this system, March is a very busy time for the country while year-end summaries are completed, pay-roll updates and bonuses are distributed, and jobs are finished up. Think tax time?

The banquet at the going away party...

Anyway, teachers are no exception to this system on account of education follows the same pattern. So, while the students are getting ready to graduate to the next level of schooling, teachers too must prepare for the new school year and prep themselves in case they are transferred. Every job over here is like this (or so I have been told). The big bosses at the top of the food chain have the freedom to redistribute their employees as they feel necessary, and the underlings have little to no say in this matter.


So to summarize, the end of March means teacher rotation, which means lots of drinking and oddly enough, gifts. To signal the end of the school year (and just about everything else) there is a big enkai, the end of which is followed by an announcement about who will be leaving our lovely establishment (last year the teachers had not even been told privately before the announcement was made and thus this year they tried to tactfully inform each teacher prior to the rest of the staff finding out) and which school or public office they are being transferred to. Those who have the (mis)fortune [depends on the party I guess] to be transferred are then huddled into meetings all day the next day (and perhaps those following) in between the time they are given to collect everything out of their desks and classrooms. It is a fast process and caught me completely off guard the first time it took place.

I don't get it - they get forced to transfer and I get gifts?!

You see, when the 'old' teachers leave, they give everyone in the office something special (usually a food item) and we are expected to provide something for them in return. Then on the their last day, we go out drinking again to celebrate them. Needless to say, I was caught completely off guard and missed this entirely last time. Determined not to make the same mistake, I spent the whole weekend prior to this day baking so I wouldn't look a fool. In return I actually got a lot of really cool presents. It was really sweet.


 Once we were out with the old, it was time to welcome in the new. In a matter of days the teachers switch out and suddenly there is a whole new crop of names to remember and people to place in vacated desks. This perhaps would not be such a problem if you only had one school - but I have nine. This means that although I am only intimately connected to my junior high school, the other eight elementary schools also undergo this change. Basically the first two months of the new semester are a big adventure for me since I never know which teacher I will be working with, or which school they ended up at (assuming they are still at one of mine). Just something that keeps me on my toes! Haha.

Banquet for the new teachers

New teachers come in and within days (and lots and lots of meetings), desks, sports clubs, school counsel and inter-school activities as well as subject and grade level teachers have been decided. It is quite the flourish of activity. Basically the ALT (me) becomes all but forgotten (which isn't really a problem because who wants to go to all those meetings anyway?!) and once everything is settled down a bit and the welcome party is planned (yes, more drinking) my existence is recognized again. Man I am glad I was prepared with a good book and lots of studying material this time around. ;-) Well, hope you enjoyed a little dip into some more strange but intriguing cultural tidbits! Love.