Yesterday I attended the Mifumi Kindergarten graduation which was a very formal and teary event.20 years ago when my kids were in kindergarten, fathers rarely attended kindergarten functions. Child raising was the mothers' duty and fathers posed a daunting and domineering presence but did very little hands on care (except for bathing with children... For some reason that has always been the father's job.) At yesterday's ceremonies there were as many fathers there as mothers and everyone had their cameras and handkerchiefs out!
When my children were little I think Tetsu felt he HAD to attend these kindergarten and school ceremonies because he had this American wife who had different ideas about how both parents should participate in their children's activities. He went grudgingly and slightly embarrassed to the kindergarten and elementary ceremonies but he chickened out at Japanese Jr. high and high school graduation.
Kindergartens are private and so the 30 graduating children will be going off to different elementary schools around the city. I know they are proud to call themselves Mifumi graduates and if they are anything like my own children, will remember their kindergarten years with much fondness.
7 comments:
That is such a darling age!
Those kids are sooo cute!
ttfn :) Yuki
The pics are too cute. I can't believe it, full Kimono's and suits!!! You know here, everyone wears jeans and a tee shirt
Maybe you and Tetsu started the idea of father's attending graduation. The children look so cute!
That's such a strange tradition, to see the children dressed up for a formal occasion at such a young age. The only similar formal occasion in most children's lives in the UK schooling system is the Leaver's Assembly when they leave secondary school, where certificates and awards are made. Children who go to private schools may have a similar occasion when they leave their primary school. Most schools have special assemblies at different times of the school life, but no-one dresses up like that until they graduate from university.
I wonder if all the ceremony helps to aid family seriousness about education in Japan. Everyone is interested. I think America is too casual about education.
Thanks for the great information and pictues. Loved the scrappy quilt also.
At our preschool we have ONE cap and one gown...and the parents take turns putting it on the kids so they can take pictures of them in it when the year is done.
Looking back... isn't Tetsu happy he had the American wife making him go to the graduations when the kids were little?
They are so cute in those little caps and gowns!!!
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