Boot Camp

The Japanese constitution drawn up in the wake of WWII or ‘The War’ as it is here renounced war forever. There is a movement within the country to get rid of that clause and it is sinisterly enough supported by America for the obvious reasons. Despite the official policy there are still some very military undertones to the way things are done here. School is obviously where I’ve seen it most – lots of bowing of course but it’s the precise way it’s done and the way everybody conforms and falls in line. They expect to and are expected to.

Every class begins with the nensei (class rep) going up the top and shouting (in a voice that would be painful for a banshee to listen to) the relevant order which the rest of the class responds to with a cat wailed ‘I humbly thank you for condescending to teach me’ (I’m paraphrasing). They then all bow and in most bowing instances in Japan the parties bow to each other (and then get caught up in a frenzy of bowing to each other which threatens to never end) but in school the pupils bow to the teacher who does not bow back.

Every morning at precisely 8.05 all the teachers get up and bow to the Kocho sensei (principal) before the morning meeting begins. The school’s opening ceremony and our earthquake evacuation drill were both executed with military precision. Each class knew which exit and in what order they were to enter and exit from. One of the teachers issues orders which roughly correspond with “Attention” and “At ease”.

When I was in school we had assemblies and lined up in our classes but it was all the casual wander in when you’re ready (and late if you’re Rachel) with people standing about and chatting (or sitting on your arse and trying to sleep if you’re Rachel). It may have been a Catholic girls school but I’m happy it wasn’t boot camp.

I got the military undertones straight away but it was the traditional military style dance performance that the boys do that really confirmed it for me. School here is a mini boot camp.