【Letter/ Do you remember?】 Graduation Ceremony Series

Hey everyone, come on, take your seats! Stop fooling around, Omura! I said take your seat! Yes, everyone, that was a wonderful graduation ceremony. I was very moved. When you all started singing the school anthem, I remembered these past three years, and—hey, Omura! I am talking about being moved. You don't need to move around to match that. But listen, Omura, please listen. Everyone, Omura often moves around even during class, and I have cautioned him about it from time to time. I think everyone in this classroom knows that. And I thought about it. I observed. Why does Omura move around? I sat and imagined. Omura had emotions. Of course, everyone has emotions. But Omura's emotions are the kind that come out. They are emotions that take shape and manifest in big ways through some kind of action. As a result, I was able to realize that Omura was expressing his emotions and facing them by moving his body. Listen, I will write the word for 'class' (jugyo) in kanji. 'Juryo' (to bestow/teach). This represents the teacher bestowing education and examples of how to live upon you all. And I was trying to force a way of life on the moving Omura by telling him not to move. I was a fool. I was so ashamed of myself, I didn't know what to do. Omura was taking classes, gaining knowledge, and he was having such a wonderful time being there with you all that he couldn't help but move around. I had a flash of inspiration. As just one option, I thought, couldn't Omura live in a place other than Japan? I thought that perhaps Omura could live more vibrantly in a culture where people dance and sing when they are happy. I talked to Omura. I asked him, first, why don't you study Japanese and history, and then tell me what you learned in English? That's what we talked about. Listen, everyone. Omura is hopeless at math. But he grew by leaps and bounds in Japanese, history, and English. He learned many words. Words have depth and variety, and Omura speaks very beautiful Japanese. He speaks beautiful English. Omura, you have really grown up. You have become wonderful. The Omura of today lives by expressing his emotions in various ways. And when he is happy, he can dance and sing. Omura, please live your life happily. And please express that joy, and continue to share that joy with many people.

Yes, the word 'live' came up in our conversation. When you all first enrolled, that epidemic started spreading around the world, and we have lived every day wearing masks and limiting contact. I think it was a very stressful three years. I feel very regretful that I couldn't let you experience what you should have been able to experience more of during these three years. But there is no point in feeling regret here. That is also a fact. So today, I would like to make this my final lesson to you all by talking about living. Hey, Omura, sit down! Yes, well, first I wrote the word 'live' (ikiru) in large letters on the blackboard. Let's look at the character 'sei' (life). What kind of kanji is this? Let's start by imagining that.

Yes, Sugizaki! Please tell me the moment when you think, 'Ah, I'm so happy, I'm alive.' Yes, yes, yes everyone, we have received an answer from Sugizaki that the moment she feels the happiness of being alive is when she is eating snacks and lounging around! That is certainly happiness. I love that too. After work, I go home, take a bath, and eat dinner while drinking a beer. When I finish eating, I doze off while watching TV. It's the ultimate happiness. Listen, this was just last week. Sugizaki ate a lot of food at a hamburger chain. And I suppose she got sleepy, because she actually started dozing off in the shop. And she was woken up by a staff member. It's a very Sugizaki-like incident. It's the same as at school. It's exactly the same as Sugizaki in the fifth period after finishing her meal. Listen, Sugizaki, I know everything! But you know, everyone, sleeping is really important. While you sleep, your body limits unnecessary actions and tries to recover from fatigue. Cells are reborn. Your mind becomes clear. Everyone, Sugizaki's smile is a very beautiful smile. She eats well, laughs well, and sleeps well. She is full of energy, and that smile changes the people who see it into smiling people too. Sugizaki, please cherish that smile. That smile has a special power. It's like a treasure. I really like that about you, Sugizaki.

Then let's look at this kanji 'sei' (life) again. Sonoda, how does it look to you? 'Haeru' (to grow/sprout)? Sonoda, I am asking how the kanji was formed. Not how to read it. Kojima, how about you, Kojima? 'Haeru'? Yes, everyone, the word 'haeru' came from both of you. Listen, everyone, it is true that I, who used to boast about my long hair, seem to have lost some volume over these three years. And I have been teased about it repeatedly. Listen, Sonoda, Kojima. I think you heard the term 'impermanence' (shogyo mujo) in Japanese class. Nothing lasts forever. That's fine. Everything will eventually change its form and continue to exist. Listen, everyone, Sonoda was watching adult videos on his smartphone the other day. And his parents found out. Of course, you are at that age, so I understand you are interested. I was the same. But now Sonoda's smartphone has parental controls set, so you can no longer watch adult videos. Nothing lasts forever. Listen, Sonoda, you can't hide anything from me. Kojima, Kojima was in love with a girl in the next class. But before graduation, he confessed and was soundly rejected. Listen, Kojima, I know everything! But you know, Sonoda, Kojima. I said that nothing lasts forever and things keep changing their form. Without exception, you will also keep changing. Listen, you can watch adult videos again when you become an adult. But by then, you might not have such a strong interest as you do now. Because from now on, Sonoda will continue to change at a greater speed than you do now. The adult videos you watched every day might decrease to five times a week. Your body will grow larger and you will become more robust. You will leave behind wonderful results in your beloved judo. Kojima has a very calm heart. He is also showing wonderful activity in tennis. From now on, you will advance to high school and leave behind even better results in both tennis and academics. Both of you will keep changing. You will see scenery different from now, and you will surely become bigger and more wonderful adults than me. You will no longer tease me about my hair. Hey, Sanada! Are you saying that both of them will become taller than me and it will be even easier to tease me about my hair? Stop it, hey, don't laugh, hey! Well, you know, I am happy. I am happy that today is the day.

Then Shintani, how does the kanji 'sei' (life) for 'ikiru' (to live) look to you? 'Cow' (ushi) and 'soil' (tsuchi). Yes, there is a cow on the soil. It looks like that, that is Shintani's answer. Yes, Sugizaki, how do you feel after hearing Shintani's answer, did you feel anything? Yes, when it eats, it lies down, that's right, when a cow eats, it sits down on the soil or grass and gradually lies down. Yes, that is what it means to live. Thanks to Shintani and Sugizaki, one form has now become visible. In other words, to live is to eat and digest it, it is a very simple thing. It is to eat life and connect your own life. To connect life efficiently, you lie down and concentrate on digestion. Shintani has a wonderful sensibility with a lot of humor. Even your current answer is very charming and I am moved. Shintani, please continue to polish that sensibility. That is my request to you. You will surely become a person who can support the backs of many people. At that time, that humorous sensibility will come to life. Shintani, you have always warmed the hearts of this class, haven't you? Thank you. I really love that sensibility of yours so much I can't help it.

But there was one time when Shintani said it was painful. This story was just between me and Shintani, but when I asked if I could share a part of it here today, I received permission, so I will tell it here now.

Shintani's gender has complex aspects. As puberty approached, that worry grew larger. Due to hormones, the body born as male shows male characteristics, and the body born as female shows female characteristics, each appearing prominently. Amidst that, Shintani worried, suffered, and shed tears. Everyone, Shintani will live as a female student from high school. I think you all somehow knew even if you didn't say it out loud. Shintani, I cannot imagine how great that worry is. But there is something I can do here now. This might be meddling. But I believe. I believe that everyone here, each and every one of you, wishes for you to live happily. So that you can live with your head held high without losing time worrying about unnecessary things, I will do one more piece of meddling now. Ms. Shintani, let's all call her that. You know, it feels a bit distant to wait until high school. It's now, please live as a woman from now on. Hey, everyone, right? Shintani, please graduate as a female student. Listen, on the count of three, I'm going to call your name with all the love I have!

One, two!

Alright, Shintani! Please live with your head held high! That smile is the best! Of course, you all are the best too.

Well, the final lesson is coming to an end. Please bear with me for just a little longer. Here, let's look at the character 'tsurai' (painful) that came up earlier. Karasawa, how is this made? Yes, it's a character that stands on top of ten. Then what meaning does this character 'ten' (ju) have? Yes, the number ten. Karasawa, then what kind of number is ten? Yes, ten from one to ten. Yes, that is a wonderful answer. That's right, the word 'ten' has the meaning of a fulfilled state. Wait, it's a strange story that it's painful even though it's fulfilled. Then what does it mean to be fulfilled? Karasawa, how about it, can you see anything? Yes, it is made by combining the characters for water, grass, and both. Thank you. I am happy to receive this answer from Karasawa. Being the class representative is not just for show. You know, when Karasawa became the class representative, my heart trembled. The way you represented something was so fitting, as if your previous life was a warlord or something. Karasawa, continue to nurture that calm heart, and cherish your qualities as a bright and powerful leader. You know, just imagining Karasawa like that makes me excited.

Then what meaning do these characters for water, grass, and both have? You understand water and grass, right? The water you are drinking and the grass growing in that schoolyard. Hey, Sanada, don't react to 'grow'! Hey, Omura, don't run! Just a little more! Yes, this word 'both' (ryo), since we don't have time, I will give the answer! This is a state where two things that are paired are in one set. Words like 'both' or 'both poles'. Water nurtures grass, grass takes root in the earth, and soil filters water. It is a perfect cycle. This state is a fulfilled state. The state of ten from one to ten. In that cycle, the cow also eats grass to its heart's content, is fulfilled, and sleeps. And it defecates. That becomes nutrients for the soil again, becomes grass, and becomes water. It is alive. Everyone, do you understand? The state of standing on top of this fulfilled thing is the kanji for 'painful'. I see, one can also think that it feels painful because it is fulfilled. But I don't want to capture the word 'painful' with such words. Somehow, 'painful' sounds like being spoiled, and I don't like it. Then how can we capture this character for 'painful' positively? For example, how about this interpretation? This 'ten' is a fulfilled thing, and yet we continue to change as we live. 'Stand'. This also means to set off from a certain point. There are things we wish for and things we don't. Even so, as long as we are alive, we continue to change. No matter how fulfilled something is, we will definitely leave it. We sometimes feel this state as 'painful', and I have felt that many times.

I am feeling painful now. The three years I spent with you all were fulfilled and truly wonderful. That is precisely why it is painful. Even so, I believe that a world where you graduate from this place toward the life each of you desires is much brighter than spending another three years in this place. That is why I can celebrate your graduation like this. Live to the fullest, laugh, eat, sleep, hey Shintani, 'defecate' is not needed. I was trying to wrap it up nicely. Well, whatever, defecate, and please spend your days like that. The graduation ceremony was wonderful. You all looked truly wonderful. And this was the first time I had such a fun graduation day. Hey, everyone! I'm going to play music at a high volume now! Won't you dance! Do you remember! It's that song we listened to at the school festival after being freed from the epidemic! Here we go!

Ready, set, go!

[Complete]