Hokuryu Town Hokuryu Junior High School 75th Graduation Ceremony - Mosaic Art to Celebrate Graduations

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

The 75th graduation ceremony for Hokuryu Town Hokuryu Junior High School was held on Saturday, March 12th from 9:40am.

Hokuryu Town Hokuryu Junior High School

Graduation ceremony venue (gymnasium)

This year, as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the scale and hours of the program were scaled down, but 13 graduates left the school where they had spent such precious time, carrying precious memories in their hearts.

Shine brightly into the future, friends of Kita Junior High School!

Mosaic art by all students

The gymnasium where the event was held was decorated with "mosaic art" made by all the students. Mosaic is an art form in which pieces are cut into small pieces and glued together to create a single picture.

The families who visited were captivated and drawn in by the breathtakingly beautiful works, gazing at them for some time.

Breaking new ground even in situations where it's not possible

Since it is not possible for the entire school to sing together, the idea was proposed by Mr. Tomonori Matsuno at a meeting where teachers shared ideas, with the aim of helping the students develop "the strength and vitality to forge new paths even in situations where singing together is not possible."

All 32 students put their heart and soul into creating one piece of work

The mosaic features the silhouettes of the graduates, their names, and sunflowers. The entire school, consisting of 32 students (10 first-year students, 9 second-year students, and 13 third-year students), worked on the project.

Each student was given two sheets of A3 paper, each with a small square section and a designated color for each square. The students colored each square (seven colors: black, purple, blue, light blue, green, red, and yellow, with white being left blank).
　

Original image

Mosaic Image

Color each square

Imagine what the picture would look like

The graduates' passionate feelings of joy, gratitude, hope, and determination

The students spent about two weeks coloring the paper without knowing what the finished product would look like. After that, they combined and pasted all 64 colored pieces of paper onto a backing, and their wonderful works were completed!

The work is filled with the current students' feelings of congratulations and gratitude for the graduates, as well as the graduates' passionate feelings of joy, gratitude, hope and determination.

Graduates' works: "Alcohol Dispenser" and "Seal Carving"

Additionally, graduate works such as an "alcohol dispenser" and "seal carving (carving names into stone)" will be on display.

An alcohol dispenser made in a technology class

Graduation commemorative "Seal Carving"

Hokuryu Town Hokuryu Junior High School 75th Graduation Ceremony

Graduates' entrance

Opening speech: Vice Principal Atsushi Sasaki

National anthem/school song

The national anthem and school song were not sung in unison, but rather listened to as they were played.

academic report

In order to shorten the ceremony time, academic reports, presentation of commemorative gifts, and introduction of guests were conducted in writing.

Congratulatory telegram presentation

It was posted in the aisle.

The congratulatory message was in writing.

Congratulatory speech by Mayor Yutaka Sano of Hokuryu Town

"Congratulations to all the graduates.

To all parents, congratulations on your children's graduation. We are sure you are all especially pleased to see your children grow big and strong both physically and mentally as they reach this important milestone of completing compulsory education. We offer our heartfelt congratulations.

Now, graduates, you have completed your compulsory education and will now begin to forge and walk your own paths.

Sometimes it may be fun, and other times it may be difficult and tough. When you are unsure of your own path, you may ask your parents or friends for help. In such cases, please do not hesitate to ask for help. You will surely receive great advice.

We are all looking forward to seeing your continued growth.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to the principal, staff, and local community for their hard work and efforts, and I would like to conclude my message by wishing all the graduates, who are about to take their next steps, even greater success.

March 12, 2022 Mayor of Hokuryu Town, Yutaka Sano

Hokuryu Town Board of Education Speech

"Congratulations to all the graduates. Since entering Hokuryu Junior High School in April 2019, you have worked diligently over the past three years in your studies, student council activities, club activities, school events, and more, and have been able to complete your entire educational curriculum. Your efforts over the past three years are evident in the brilliant appearance you have today.

To all parents, congratulations on your child's graduation. We imagine that the past three years have been filled with ups and downs as you have watched your child grow and gain new experiences. During this time of great change in mind and body, the warm support of your parents must have been the greatest encouragement for your child. We hope that you will continue to watch over their growth.

For the graduates, this year was also a year in which they took on new challenges, such as streaming videos of sunflowers they had cultivated around the world. At the school festival, third-year students took the lead in creating an atmosphere of having fun despite the coronavirus, and the sight of all the students working together as one to prepare for the festival was truly shining. Furthermore, during the school trip to Aomori Prefecture and Hakodate City, they were able to tour facilities, experience crafts, and engage in independent study with their irreplaceable friends, which will surely remain in their hearts as cherished memories of their junior high school life.

Today, you are graduating from junior high school, and the new life you are about to embark on will require you to take on more responsibility and awareness than ever before. You may also encounter various trials and difficulties, but I hope you will move forward with courage, making use of the strengths and qualities you have cultivated up to now.

I hope that in the future you will all play a major role in various roles in contributing to the peace and development of Hokuryu Town, Japan, and the world.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers and staff who have taught and guided us so kindly, to the parents and local community members who have provided great support and cooperation to our school's education, and this concludes my speech as Hokuryu Town Board of Education at the 75th Hokuryu Junior High School graduation ceremony.

March 12, 2020 Hokusei Town Board of Education”

Congratulatory speech by Mr. Tsuyoshi Michishita, Chairman of the Hokuryu Junior High School PTA

"Today, the bitterly cold weather has eased and we can feel the arrival of spring. On behalf of the parents of the students attending Hokuryu Junior High School's 75th graduation ceremony, I would like to offer a few congratulatory remarks.

Congratulations to all the graduates. And to the parents and families, congratulations to all the parents and families on your children's graduation.

As the PTA president and as a parent, I am very happy that you all were able to attend this graduation ceremony.

I'm sure that many things have happened to all of you graduates over the past three years. While there were days when you were excited about fun events, there were also days when you felt depressed and had to trudge to school. You may recall many precious moments, such as track meets, school festivals, overnight training sessions, the school trip to Aomori (though we didn't make it to Okinawa), the junior high school athletics association and the brass band competition, and the precious time you spent with your friends.

From a parent's perspective, it feels like the past three years have flown by, with my children having just started school the other day and now reaching the milestone of graduating today.

Now, to all the graduates, you will now be taking another step into a new world and a new society. Your life from now on will not be all easy, and you will likely encounter many difficulties. Even if you encounter anxious moments, I hope you will walk forward with pride and confidence, taking pride in the various experiences you have had in junior high school and as graduates of Hokuryu Junior High School.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the principal and all the teachers for respecting the children's individuality and providing fun, yet sometimes strict, guidance.

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the continued good health and success of all the graduates.

March 12, 2022, Hokuryu Junior High School PTA President Tsuyoshi Michishita

Graduation ceremony

As parents and current students looked on, the 13 graduates slowly walked up to the stage one by one and received their diplomas from Principal Kodama Tsuyoshi.

School Principal Speech: Principal Tsuyoshi Kodama

"On this beautiful day, when the harsh winter is coming to an end and the cold rain signals the arrival of spring, I congratulate all the third-year students who are graduating from Hokuryu Municipal Junior High School as the 75th graduating class. I offer my heartfelt congratulations.

Normally, graduation ceremonies are filled with heartfelt singing by the choir, but this year's ceremony has had to be scaled down. We sincerely apologize for this. I speak on behalf of the many people who wish to share their congratulations.

The graduation certificate you have now received is proof that you have taken on various challenges and grown through your studies, club activities, student council activities, and so on, and that you have successfully completed the last three and nine years of compulsory education.

However, we must not forget that we have not been able to grow to this point by our own efforts alone. We have been able to grow thanks to the support of the local community, teachers, seniors, friends, and many other people involved, and above all, the deep love of our parents' families.

I hope you will never forget to be grateful for that.

Although I have only known you for a short period of one year, I am truly grateful that you have faithfully inherited the traditions of your predecessors and built a calm and enjoyable school.

I believe that this is all thanks to the student council, who always led the school as a whole, the senior students who worked hard at daily track meets and school festival events, and the sunflower cultivation activities where they worked with a smile on their faces - all of the third-year students who demonstrated solid leadership in every situation and worked hard to make our school a better place. I would also like to say "thank you" to all of you.

To all of you, I would like to share two stories with you as you set off on your journey.

One is, "I want you to cherish your encounters."

You are about to embark on a journey into the wider world. Please cherish the many people you will meet, because doing so will help you take care of yourself. Being kind to others will in turn increase the number of people who will help you.

From now on, you may experience anxiety and frustration that you have never felt before. At times like these, the people around you will surely support you. It's okay! In the end, you have your family with you. Move forward with peace of mind.

The second is, "I want you to become someone who will create the future."

Society is undergoing dramatic change due to the coronavirus and the development of AI. It's precisely at times like these that we can no longer wait for something to be handed to us. I urge each and every one of us to think for ourselves, unite our strengths with our colleagues, and build an exciting new future.

I know you can do it, and I wish you all the best.

Now that we have reached the end of the year, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the parents who have poured their love and hard work into this program. I believe that you have made it this far. Your children have grown so well and are now graduating today.

"I would also like to express my gratitude for your understanding and cooperation in our school's education over the past three years. I look forward to your continued support in the future," said Principal Kodama in his precious words.

Farewell and farewell words

Farewell speech by current students, Anju Fujii

"Although the bitter cold still lingers, the arrival of spring is gradually felt, and the season for taking a new step has arrived here in Hokuryu Town. Today, on this auspicious day, congratulations to all of you graduating, who have completed all three years of junior high school life. All of us at the school offer our heartfelt congratulations.

Three years ago, you all entered Hokuryu Junior High School with a mixture of expectations and anxiety. Whether it was hot, cold, or snowy, you all came to this school every day, walking the same roads and looking at the same scenery as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

However, time flies, and now we are here at the graduation ceremony. Today is your last day at Hokuryu Junior High School as a student. I'm sure that each and every one of you is now reminiscing about your three years at junior high school.

Looking back on my memories, I remember seniors who spent every day with a smile on their faces, leading us through many activities, such as committee and club activities.

As we worked together, there were many examples we should emulate, such as how they would always kindly offer words of encouragement when we were in trouble, and how they would proactively take action on their own without being told to. What we learned together with our seniors during those irreplaceable days helped us grow greatly.

Last year, many events were canceled due to the impact of COVID-19, but this year we were able to hold a variety of events despite the restrictions. In the relay race at the track and field meet, everyone was tired in the final event, but they all passed the baton to each other and ran the whole distance, giving them a sense of accomplishment.

As group leaders, they patiently taught those of us who had no experience how to cultivate sunflowers. Thanks to the seniors, the work went smoothly and we were able to produce beautiful sunflowers.

At the school festival, they performed the classic "Hamlet," captivating the audience with their realistic acting and brilliant dialogue delivery.

At the postponed choir recital, the third-year students took the lead and, although they struggled with little practice, they all came together as one and delivered a wonderful chorus that filled the gymnasium.

From now on, the current first-year students will become second-year students and aim to be role models for the new first-year students, and the second-year students will become the oldest students and aim to lead the school, and will work hard to become people who are trusted by many people, just like their seniors.

Now, amidst hope and anxiety, you are each trying to take flight towards your dreams. At times, you may experience difficulties and hardships. When these times come, remember your junior high school days, believe in your friends and yourself, and keep moving forward.

The time to say goodbye is fast approaching. To all the graduates, please come back to this school from time to time after graduation. We look forward to seeing you again, our admired seniors.

Finally, on behalf of the current students, I would like to offer my heartfelt wishes to all the graduates for their future endeavors. Thank you very much.

March 12, 2020 Current Student Representative Anju Fujii”

Graduation speech: "Words of Departure" by Aoi Kosuge, representative of the graduating class

"The soft sunlight is shining down, and we can feel the arrival of spring. Thank you for holding this ceremony for us graduates today under these circumstances.

Before we knew it, three years had passed since we enrolled, and we are now graduating. Time has flown by so quickly.

Our class was lively, with each student's individuality shining through. I loved the atmosphere of this class and the everyday life. Of the memories I have with everyone, the ones that stick out most in my mind are the school festival and the school trip.

For the school festival, all the third-year students created a play called "Hamlet." We all worked together and put in a lot of effort, which gave us a great sense of accomplishment, and I was really happy that I was able to play the leading role to the fullest. We were able to give a performance that was unique to us, and it was a great finale to the school festival.

Although we were unable to go to Okinawa as planned on our school trip, we were able to enjoy Aomori and Hakodate to the fullest. We took planes and bullet trains, which we don't often take, ate a lot, and participated in hands-on activities, which were all valuable experiences. We also had a surprise for Mr. Hashimoto, walked around a lot during our independent study, and were able to learn while having fun by doing things on our own, making it a very fulfilling school trip.

I also gained a lot from club activities and was able to grow. During my three years of playing volleyball, there were times when things weren't going well, I was mentally weak, and I often cried. However, thanks to the encouragement and support of my teammates, I was able to overcome those times and gradually became stronger mentally.

Everyone on the team worked towards the same goal, worked hard together, and was able to grow as people. I also gained confidence in myself and truly felt that volleyball was fun. Through club activities, I was able to grow both physically and mentally, and I learned not only about technique but also about important things as a person, such as the importance of teammates, the right attitude to tackle things, and self-confidence.

In addition to this, we participated in various other events and activities, and took on new challenges, creating many memories of both difficult and fun times, and helping us grow together.

However, we could not have achieved this alone. We were only able to do so thanks to the teachers who guided us in classes and club activities, and the parents who supported and watched over us every day. We are truly grateful.

Through these three years, I have come to realize that things that I take for granted are not necessarily so, and I have decided to cherish gratitude for even the smallest of things. Once again, I would like to thank all the teachers and parents for everything they have done.

And to all the first and second year students, thank you for everything you have done so far. From now on, as seniors and the school's top students, I hope you will continue to liven up Hokuryu Town and Hokuryu Junior High School. To that end, please work hard at everything you do, including your studies, events, and club activities. And I hope you will all continue to grow together and create a positive atmosphere in our school.

Finally, I would like to mention the third graders who I have known since kindergarten. Each and every student in this class truly shines, and it was a wonderful class to be around. I know that this is a kind class where students help each other when they are in trouble and care for each other.

I am proud to be a part of this class, and I am truly glad that all of us are members of this class. We made mistakes at times, but we all joined forces, turned them into a great strength, and overcame them together.

Starting in April, each of us will be taking a new step forward, and we will no longer be able to spend time together as a group of 13 as we have done until now. We will be sad, but we will remain the best of friends. Although we will be going our separate ways, we want to continue moving forward, facing the future based on our experiences so far.

March 12, 2022: Representative of the 75th Graduation Class, Aoi Kosuge

Closing remarks

Graduates leave

The graduation commemorative work "Hokuryu Emaki" on display in the hallway

"The Glorious Trail" on display

To all the graduates who are leaving for a new world, holding tightly in their hearts the precious trust that has been woven deep together over the precious 15 years of sharing joys and sorrows, helping and supporting each other, I send my boundless love, gratitude and prayers to you all...

Other photos

Photos (94 photos) from the 75th Graduation Ceremony of Hokuryu Town Hokuryu Junior High School in 2021 are here >>

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◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi