新入学式 Entrance Ceremony

Tokugawa Ieyasu came to my School's Entrance Ceremony!!

徳川家康が私の入学式に来ました！

Ok, if you know your history than you'll know that that's impossible.
But the actor who played Tokugawa Ieyasu in an NHK Drama, Tsugawa Masahiko, did come and speak to us.

I had watched the drama and really liked his acting, so I was surprised and honored to see that he had come to the ceremony.

それはもちろん無理ですが、ＮＨＫの徳川三代というドラマに徳川家康の訳を演じた津川雅彦さんは実に入学式にお越しくださいました。実はそのドラマ、私も好きで、津川さんは尊敬している男優ですので、驚きました。

I wasn't expecting much coming into this ceremony, because in America I don't think I've ever had an entrance ceremony, so I didn't really get what the point was, and I have to say it was a little weird hearing Canon playing in the background despite the fact that it's not a graduation ceremony.

アメリカにはこういう入学式はないと思うんで、正直に言うと別にいらないじゃないかと自分思ったんですが、実は意外と感動しました。

But I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed. The ceremony started with introductions of the principal and teachers, and the principal gave an interesting speech which was followed by words of encouragement from a few other teachers as well as some famous graduates and people related to the school including Tsugawa Masahiko, who I mentioned earlier. And there was even a recorded message sent to us from the Principal of Columbia University Chicago (<-My home town).

最初に学校のスタフの紹介してから、校長からのスピーチがありました。そして、先述べた津川さんや他の有名な卒業生や学校と関係のある方からの一言を頂きました。

Then the second half started off with a graduate from the school talking about his recent work arranging the Resident Evil theme song. Which was promptly followed by a live concert style performance of the song.

そして、バイオハザードのティムソングをアレンジした卒業生からの一言が終わったら、ライブで演奏してくださいました。

I was sitting in the very front next to the left speakers and I could feel every beat course through my body. As the girls next to me cringed at the loudness of it, I just sat an took in the moment like a sip of high quality wine. As I heard and felt the guitar riffs and watched the singer bathed in lights on the stage I could to tell that this was definitely not your average school function. Realizing the possibilities that are being laid out ahead of me I almost cried. Maybe it was joy, maybe it was excitement. Anticipation maybe? Whatever it was I felt something deep within. Something like what I felt just before I made the decision to come to Japan as a study abroad student four years ago. It's the feeling of change, and the feeling of possibility. It's the feeling of purpose.

スピーカの隣に座っていたので、その音楽は聞いたと言うより、本当に全体で感じたと言った方がいいかもしれません。その瞬間をワインを飲んでいるようにゆっくりと身につけました。これは普通の学校ではない、今日は普通の日ではない　と感じました。
興奮か喜びか何の気持ちか分からないですが、今日何かを感じました。何か、深くに。
四年前最初に日本に来ようと思った、その少し前の時の気分と同じです。変化と可能性の気分です。　目標という気分です。



X Japan sent us flowers!!

Marked by Sakura 桜のしるし

桜がきれいに咲いていますね。懐かしい。

The Cherry Blossoms are blooming. Their truly beautiful.

最初に日本に来た時にも桜が満開でした。

They were in full bloom when I first came to Japan as well.

今年の桜は私にとって、日本で過ごした三年間の印となります。

For me, this year's sakura represent a full 3 years spent in Japan.

日本に来るのは私の夢でした。そして叶いました。
去年、また新しい夢を追いかけようと決意して、漫画とイラストの専門学校を調べました

Coming to Japan was my dream, and now that dream is my reality.
A year ago, shortly after the sakura had bloomed I decided to chase another dream, and began researching art schools.

それから一年立って、今東京コミュニケーションアート専門学校を通うことになりました。
授業は来週から始まります。

A year later and now I'm set to start school at Tokyo Communication Art College next week.

教材は今日貰いました。

I picked up my supplies earlier today.



私の人生にはまた新しいチャプターが後もうすぐ開きます

A new chapter in my life is about to begin.

I'm excited and scared at the same time.
Luckily, that's a feeling I've gotten used to.

一番楽しい、一番苦しい時期になるかもしれません。興奮と恐怖を同時に感じるような不思議な気持ちですけど、望どおりです。