Cherry Blossoms and New Students

As I said in another post, April is the beginning of the school year in Japan. Today we had the ceremony for new students. Sort of a reverse graduation ceremony. Only the new first-year students—equivalent to Grade 10 in Canada—and a handful of second- and third-year students who had duties assigned for the ceremony, came to school today.

I took quite a few pictures of the new students, but today I’m just going to show pictures of the sakura (cherry blossoms), which are at their most beautiful today.

The main entrance to the school, with new students and their parents:

The main entrance to the school, with new students and their parents

A mother and her son walking toward the reception table at the main entrance:

A mother and her son walking toward the reception table at the main entrance

The school courtyard, looking towards the student entrance:

The school courtyard, looking towards the student entrance

A view down the hill, showing the sakura-lined road that leads to the school:

A view down the hill, showing the sakura-lined road that leads to the school