Yesterday both my oldest and my youngest daughters had their 入学式 (School Entrance Ceremony).
My oldest daughter began 高等学校 (High School (10th grade)) and my youngest daughter began 中学校 (Junior High School (7th grade)).
(My second daughter is now a 中学校三年生 (Jr. High 9th grader)…her last year of 中学校 (Junior High School)).
Since two of my daughters had their 入学式 (School Entrance Ceremonies) on the same day, my wife went with our youngest daughter and I went with our oldest daughter.
I can’t believe how fast they’re growing up!
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On a different note, here are a few photos that I meant to add to my blog before but never got around to it. Taken from various places around Tokyo at various times this past year:
Tokyo Tower illuminated for New Years 2009.
Tokyo Tower illuminated with "2009" for New Years.
An extremely large doll display for ひな祭 (Doll Festival).
Over a hundred of Torii Gates at 根津神社 (Nezu Shrine).
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About twelve days ago at 六本木ヒルズ (Roppongi Hills), an artist named Yanobe Kenji displayed his 7.2 meter (23.6 feet) tall robot called “Giant Torayan“.
He bills Giant Torayan as
…the ultimate child’s weapon, as it sings, dances, breathes fire, and follows only those orders given by children.
The fire-breathing "Giant Torayan".
Click here to visit the “Giant Toryan” website.
Tokyo Five 
Congratulations to your daughters’ School Entrance Ceremonies. I wish schools over here would do the same for their students too as to make the beginning of their school year a bit meaningful. The photo of that tower is amazing! But I must say my favorite has to be the Doll Festival.
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>Congratulations to your daughters
Thank you.
>I wish schools over here would do the same for their students too as to make the beginning of their school year a bit meaningful.
Yes, it’s nice.
In Japan, Pre-schools, Elementary Schools, Jr. High Schools, High Schools, and Colleges all have Entrance Ceremonies and Graduations.
(So, with three kids, my wife and I have been to many of these ceremonies over the years!)
But in America, there’s only High School and College Graduation Ceremonies. That’s all.
>The photo of that tower is amazing!
Thank you. It’s the Tokyo Tower.
>But I must say my favorite has to be the Doll Festival.
It was a huge display! Many dolls!
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Was it only for the one day? We looked for it on Sunday, but couldn’t find it 😦
I love, love, love Roppongi Hills! I could wander around there all day!
I wish more American schools started JH in 7th grade, and HS in 10th! I think 9th grade is too young to be mixing with all those older HS kids, especially in the horrible U.S. schools!
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>Was it only for the one day?
Do you mean the “Giant Torayan” robot?
Yes, I believe it was at Roppongi Hills only the one day.
>I love, love, love Roppongi Hills!
Really?? That place is so not my style!
>I wish more American schools started JH in 7th grade, and HS in 10th!
Yeah, I agree. It’s better that way. (I went to school in America when I was a kid with the regular U.S. system…Grades 1-5, then 6-8, then 9-12. In Japan, it’s done grades 1-6, then 7-9 (but called JHS 1-3), then 10-12 (but called SHS 10-12)).
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Yes, the Giant Torayan” robot was only there for a day at the Roppongi Hills arena near Mori Garden. It was part of the Roppongi Art Event which ran overnight on Saturday and finished at dawn on Sunday.
I actually saw it in person when it breathed fire, but I was too slow to take a picture. I do have a few picture (without the fire though).
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bartman905…
Did you put your pictures of it on your blog?
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tokyo5
> Did you put your pictures of it on your blog?
I did put pictures on my Facebook picture album (I know you don’t use FB). I’ll write a future blog post on the recent Roppongi Art Event with some of the pictures I took – just be patient as I am very slow in my old age 😉
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>I’ll write a future blog post on the recent Roppongi Art Event with some of the pictures I took – just be patient as I am very slow in my old age
OK, I look forward to reading it and seeing your photos.
BTW, does your son go to Japanese school?
Did he just begin a new school-year?
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Was it sunny day yesterday in Tokyo?
It must be the memorial day for your daughters and you. Congratulations!
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>Congratulations!
Thank you.
Yes, it was beautiful weather yesterday.
Wasn’t it sunny where you live?
It’s a very nice day today, too.
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