12 Photos from an Okinawa High School Graduation

It's Really a Solemn Occasion

 

 

These youngsters have just completed 12 grueling years in the Japanese educational system.

There has to be some sort of formal program to mark this special event.

Meet the 2016 graduating class of Ginoza High School.

The boys and girls in black uniforms, sit before the stage on folding chairs.

From a position on the balcony, above them, everyone looks the same.

Ceremonies kicked off, with an excellent pianist, playing the school's theme song.

No important event, can be held in Japan, without letting dignitaries give speeches.

A note was made.  Shorter speeches, got the loudest applause.

Many speeches, had the parents and students (me included) yawning.

The principal and his assistant bestow diplomas in a very formal manner.

There are actually five or six steps involved in this process.

Each of those boys, bows a few times, going up, receiving the diploma and, leaving the stage.

Each student's name is announced over the loudspeaker system for the presentation.

It's a good thing, I could head the names being pronounced.

All the girls in their black skirts look almost identical and, I had to shoot one special one.

Leaving the stage, with their diplomas, the students, bow to their teachers.

Here's Marin, my granddaughter, giving a most respectful bow !

Now for the Light Side of the Event

After all the diplomas are passed out, it's the student's turn to make presentations.

They give flowers and gifts, along with short speeches, to their teachers.

It's quite an emotional event involving smiles, tears and laughter, as you can see.

Things get a little wild when the graduates are let outside the school doors.

They get all decorated-up with streamers, balloons, strings of candy, flowers and, whatnot's. 

It appears, the more popular a student is, the more junk they get streaming from their body.

Hawaiian leis, candy bars, toys, DVDs and all kinds of decorations are thrown on the students.

 After enduring about three hours of formalities, these kids are ready for some fun.

Stepping out in the street at the front of Ginoza High School, I took this parting shot.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2016.

And, hurrah for the parents and teachers, who got them there !

Checkout the Xmas Lighting on this House !

2 GIFs Had to Be Made

 

 

 

 

 

There was a time, I used to climb up on the roof and hang some decorations.

But, I got tired of going to all that trouble.

The last Christmas season, I did it was probably over 10 years ago.

The wife agreed, I just had to do the roof and, she'd handle the yard and front porch.

Well, she had some lights leftover and came up on the roof, to add to mine.

And, I told her, "The more crap, you put up here, the more, I'll have to take down in January."

Plus, all those lights, add expenses to the electric bill.  Humbug !

She softened me up by, saying, she would take all the lights down at the end of the season.

Well, as quick as New Years, rolled around, I yanked my lights off the top of the house.

Don't tell anybody but, I also threw them in the trashcan.

A couple of years later, the wife, asked me, when, I'm gonna cut my beard.

So, I told her, I would, as soon as, she finishes taking down her Last Century light-bulbs.

These Lights in Nago Got Me Thinking

 

 

 

People are flocking to the place to take pictures. 

After, I shot some photos, I walked over to the house, smothered in Christmas stuff.

The elderly woman, standing there, said she did all the decorating herself.

It took her a week.  And, she has a humongous electric bill from all her efforts.

While, I was standing there, talking, some real cute girls showed up.

Heck.  

There's nothing wrong with a $400 dollar electric bill, when stuff like that happens.

Maybe, I should buy some new lights.

And, see if the wife, feels like hanging them all over the place, again !

Tanabata Party or Typhoon Party -- Which Will It Be ?

Little Typhoon Neoguri

 

 

There's a storm brewing out there in the west Pacific.

Some sources, say Okinawa may get whacked.

It is also, Tanabata Festival time.

The seventh day of the seventh month is when the stars line up a certain way.

Tanabata or, the Star Festival is popular throughout Asia.

The Milky Way separates two stars, who happen to be lovers.

And, they only get a chance to come together, at this time of the year.

In the past, I have visited Tanabata Festivals day and night to take photos.

The decorations are wishes for good fortune and happiness.

This sweetheart from Nanjo City used to decorate her property for Tanabata.

We stopped by last week to see how she was doing.

All the decorations were gone. But, she gave us a map to where she donated them.

They are down in Urasoe City, somewhere.

The map showed the location and pointed out No Parking, available.

So, that's my excuse to not, go to the city. Hah !

Fumiko Nakamoto, happens to be more important, to me, than all those decorations.

It was good to see her, alive and well. She remembers me and, she has free parking, too.

What a darling. 

Tanabata in Northern Okinawa

Up in the Kunagimi territory, we do things a bit differently.

We may not have all the fancy trimmings city folks have but, we still celebrate.

Tonight, I will be heading out to a Tanabata event.

Finding one of my favorite subjects at night, is always a challenge.


There's no way to capture these rascals motionless, without using a flash.

 When you yell, "Get up against the wall" they act a little nervous.

Then, when you say, "Spread your wings wide, like a little angel" the smile, goes away.

This is a technique, I need to work on. Huh ?

 Tanabata Festival on the Weekend

 

They couldn't have planned this one better, as far as I'm concerned.

Going to Ginoza Village with the cameras, tonight will be a pleasure.

Not sure if the event is inside a building or, outdoors, I'll carry a flash.

And, when I'm done shooting, it'll be Tanabata Partytime.


Keep an eye on this typhoon.

We may just have to schedule a Typhoon Party, too !

In Japan It's Tanabata---Tonight Is a Special Night !

Call it the Star Festival

 

It almost slipped my mind, this year.  July 7th, is Tanabata.

On Okinawa it isn't one of those festivals where everyone goes to celebrate and party.

Only one house, that I know of, goes hog wild decorating for the event.

A sweetheart of a gal named, Nakamoto, in Nanjo City, hangs up all these decorations.

She has been decorating her yard with all these bright colors for over 20 years.

The star festival comes from a Chinese legend.

It seems, this young couple (We'll call them stars) fell in love.

 They got fooling around, too much and forgot to do their jobs.

 So, the big guy in the sky separated them.

He stuck them on opposite ends of the Milky Way, astronomically speaking.

That way, they could only get to see each other, once a year.

Some people decorate for the event, others, just look up at the stars.

Tanabata, meaning the night of the seventh, you should look up there.

Tonight is the only night of the year those two wayward stars get together.

See if you can catch them fooling around !

MORE ABOUT TANABATA


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