Graduating high school is a ritual that marks the start of the transition into the adulthood. For both American and Japanese cultures, graduating opens up many new paths for young adults to take. The Japanese graduation ceremony is much like the American one in that there are a set of actions that need to be performed before the ceremony can be completed. Diplomas are given and received, there are speeches from authority figures such as principles and mayors, and there is uniform attire that the students must don (in this case the school uniform). Pictures are taken, celebratory dinners are had.


While the act of graduating is a ritual for a rite of passage, it is not necessarily the rite of passage into adulthood as much as it into becoming a high school graduate. However, becoming a high school graduate is taking a step towards adulthood. While they still cannot legally drink or vote, they are now held more responsible for their actions and future choices. This follows the myth that adults can be held responsibility for their actions without their parents having to apologize for their mistakes or take responsibility. Many high school graduates are not yet able to support themselves so their parents continue to aid them in things such as rent and some living expenses. Because of the lack of completely self-sufficiency, another myth that marks adulthood, fresh graduates are probably not yet considered adults but rather young adults, or adults-to-be.


Once a person has graduated high school that normally take one of two paths: continuing their schooling or obtaining a full-time job. Continued schooling takes one of three forms: a four-year university, a junior college (two years), or technical/professional school. Many people take this route so that they can get more advanced full-time jobs in the future. While going to college, many students will take on part time jobs. This is a new experience because, surprisingly, high school students are not allowed to get part-time jobs even though the legal age to get a job is sixteen. Another change that happens when people go to university is moving away from home. It is common for people from outer prefectures to go to a university in a more urban prefecture. As a result, commuting is too complicated and inefficient so moving away from home and into town is much more reasonable. Unlike American colleges, Japanese universities do not provide housing for their students so the students need to find their own housing. In these situations, rent is usually provided by the student's parents and living expenses such as cellphone bills, train fares, and food are paid for by the student's part-time jobs.


Going straight into the work force is not as common as going to school, but it does happen. Office jobs are unobtainable without a high school degree, so the graduates will go into public work. This entails work such as police officers, fire fighters, and city hall workers. By getting a full-time job, it is common for the graduates to move out of their parent's house and sustain themselves.


A symbol for the significance of graduating high school can be the high school diploma or degree. It is the proof of a person's completion of the first milestone into adulthood. Without a diploma, a person may not be able to get a job since they would have no proof of graduating from high school. The diploma represents the hard work given in three years to achieve their current level of responsibility and growth.

Works Cited:
http://gaijinexplorer.blogspot.com/2010/03/japanese-high-school-graduation.html
Toshiki Takeuchi

    I think taht High schol graduation is an important period of becoming adult. After high school, usually, people decide their future. People become an adult gradually through the  high school graduation. American and Japanese high school graduation are kind of similar. However, there are some differences in America and Japan.
    First, I'll talk about graduation ceremony in America. Unlike Japanese graduation ceremony, American students wear cap and gown. According to Jacqui, cap and gown are symbol for accmplishment. I think so, too. It could be a symbol of graduation. Wearing cap and gown has meaning that you finish the studying and you can go to the next place. Throwing cap also could be a symbol. It means that I finish the school life and I am free from obligation. So, cap and gown could be a symbol of graduation. Also, speakers make speeches. speakers are president of high school, princiole, dean, or scholarship representatives. The meanings of these speeches are different depends on who makes. I think taht these speeches make graduate students feel becoming adult, independing from parents. I think that these speeches that the authority person such as pricipal or dean could be a myth. For students, thier speech teach them what they should do in the future. So, the speech is a lesson for students and students believe what the authority people say. So, speech could be a myth.  After ceremony, students get pictures taken with family, friends and teachers. Then, go to dinner with family and have parties taht invite friends and family. Sometimes they invite teachers, too. People have fun time with friends and families.
    After high school, in America, usually people go to college, go into the work force, or take a break year. Going to collesge and going into the work force are similar to Japan. I am interested in "Break Year". Break yaear is to choose not to go to school or work for a year. In Japan, there is not break year, which means that before graduation form high school, you have to decide what they wants to do in the future. Also, during summer vacation, some American studens get a part time jobs to pay their tuition.
    I think that graduation high school is a beginning of becoming adult. For example, after high school, some people start to live by onesef to go to university. Peple are required to do everything by themselves. It's a kind of independing from parents, but not completely because university students still need helping by parents. Going to university makes people be aware of being adult. However, people who get a job after high school is more becoming adult than people who go to university. They can earn money without helping by parents. Therefore, the time of becoming adult is different by each person. I am sure that graduation high school is a ritual. It happens in spesific time and has some stirict order. There are some symbols and myths related to graduation. Also, obviously, it changes the people's status. I think graduation high school is a ritual that beginning of becoming adult.

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation
Jacqui Arakaki