Anime-Source.Com - School Daze Comedies

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Opening & Graduation Ceremonies

In April, on the first day of a new semester, the freshman
class (ichinensei) is ceremoniously inducted into their new
school.

Grades are divided up as the following:
Elementary: 1-6
Middle School: 7-9
High School: 10-12

The Japanese school system loves to hold ceremonies.
They hold many and make a big deal out of each.

Graduation for the sannensei (seniors of both junior high and
high school), naturally, is just as big.

Students, their families and neighborhood dignitaries attend
to see the graduating class take their final bow.

The graduating class will sing a final song, usually either
"Aogeba Toutoshi" or "Hotaru no Hikari"

Special awards are given out. Report cards and diplomas
are handed out afterwards in homeroom.

There are lots of tears shed.

Although once it's over, it's freedom for summer break!

In and Around the Campus

Every homeroom has a class representative. They are basically the teacher's assistant, charged with tasks such as leading the class in the morning greeting, moderating discussions, passing out and collecting work assignments, and sometimes even maintaining control of the class' behavior. In some schools, they attend meetings with other class representatives to have board meetings on school-wide matters.

Class... rise.... bow.... be seated.

Any issues to discuss?

Students are responsible for keeping classes clean.

As well as other parts of the school.

There are no cafeterias, so during their 15-minute lunch
break, students eat whereever they can...

...including the roof. With the breaks so short, so it's usually
best to eat someplace not too far from the classroom.

Some schools have store shops were baked bread can be
bought.

And plenty of vending machines for soda, juice, and coffee.

Home economics seems to be a popular course of study.

It's an important skill to learn.

Some disputes are usually settled with bake-offs.

yeah, weird, I know.

A real photo of a japanese cooking class.

Another popular thing in anime is waitresses.

Seems that all cute girls become a waitress...

... in at least one episode, anyway.

Holidays, like Christmas, are usually featured. To a non-Christian nation like Japan though, it's more about the encouragement of economic growth than about religion. It's a very big date-night in which people use to go out to dinner and a movie. New Year's is actually a more major event. In fact, New Year's is a 3-day holiday in Japan that most everyone gets off from work. People are more likely to get a gift on New Year's than on Christmas... typically money to spend wisely in the upcoming year. A trip to the local shrine is the normal tradition, as a way to pray for good luck and good wealth. Ironically, medium-good fortune is what people hope for since karma dictates that if they get too much good luck in the beginning of the year, they will have more bad luck at the end of the year. It's all about balance.

Festivals, or "matsuri," are also celebratory annual events in Japan. Much similiar to carnivals we have in America and even to their own school culture festivals, matsuri happen yearly in honor of an occassion, usually something significant in nature or mythology (like the Tanabata Matsuri or "Starlight Festival" in the summer). Singing, dancing, and shrine visits are part of the events, but so are things like games (ring toss, balloon-fishing, goldfish-scooping, etc) and food (candy-apples, cotton candy, chocolate bananas, etc).

In most anime, a getaway to a nice beach-house will most
likely occur.

Usually the excuse is to go as a "study group," but the fun
distractions just outside usually make studying harder.

School trips might also be featured as another way of
showing the characters in a setting other than the school.

As are sleepovers... but that's more just male-fantasy on behalf of the animators.

Of course, let's not forget what all this studying is for:
Entrance exams!! In Japan, junior high school students need
to prepare for entrance exams just to get into high school.
In a lot of major cities, multiple schools are available as
choices, but students need to meet the school's
academic standards.

Students take what is called the "Center Exam," which is similar
to the SATs we have here, although some of the more
prestigious schools may require students to take additional
tests written by the school. When results are in, the school will
post the list of accepted students' ID numbers in front of their
campus.

The Second Button Tradition is old, but not completely unheard of these days. After graduating from school, students will offer (or take) the second highest button from their crush's uniform as a keepsake memento. Tsukasa Nishino from Ichigo 100% grabs Manaka-kun's second button when he leasts suspects it.

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