Japan and the Graduation Ceremony

It’s that time of the year again, graduation season. My school’s teachers have been running around, holding endless meetings and making last minute adjustments in preparation for one of the most important events of the Japanese academic calendar. 

Like last year, the city’s education board has decided to limit the “potential risks” of a normal graduation ceremony in light of the COVID-19 situation. The result has been a heavily stripped, but no less slog of an event. The first and second graders will no longer attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, aside from the national and school anthems, there won’t be a final choral performance from the third grade. Even the traditional handing of flowers to graduates during their final school “march” has been scrapped. 

It’s The Small Things: Diet Coke in Japan

I like to indulge in a cold glass of fizzy soda once or twice a week, though my wife would rather I didn’t. And while I’m spoilt for choice here in Japan, I’m still partial to Coca Cola. 

Japan is the second biggest market in the world for The Coca Cola Company. They have more than 50 brands with over 850 products on store shelves and in vending machines; everything from canned coffee to alcoholic lemonade. But when it comes down to actual Coca Cola, there are three main varieties available; Coca Cola, Coke Zero and Coke Plus (Fiber).

But no Diet Coke, which happens to be my favourite.