School Music

At the start of each school day, the singing voices of children fill the hallways. It is one of the greatest things to listen to in the morning, when I’ve just arrived at work and I’m already thinking about what I’ll do when I get home. Work mornings here are actually not at all bad (after the waking up part is through with, of course). Everyone loudly greets each other with “Ohayou-gozaimasu” (“good morning”), and there’s the singing in the background. Very energizing!

“Cuteness” is highly valued in Japanese culture. The songs I hear every morning fit easily into that category. Most mornings the kids sing the song for Oyama-shi. I need to acquire the words sometime so I can understand their singing. I’ve also heard various other songs, including “It’s a Small World” and the My Neighbor Totoro theme song – “Arukou! Arukou! Watasi wa genki!” The Totoro song is by far the cutest to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=braBYpiVLFE&feature=related

To match the post subject, I'd like to think they're singing here

. =)

On Wednesday the 11^th, Ooya Higashi Elementary had a ‘Welcome to School’ ceremony assembly for the 1^st graders. During the assembly, the 1^st graders stood up and they all sang the Totoro song together. Definitely cute! Then they marched under flower arches as one of the teachers played the song on the piano. It was fun to watch. It makes me want to learn the rest of the words to the song.

On another cuteness side note, all the kids come to school wearing yellow hats, and on rainy days, almost all have matching yellow umbrellas. Yellow is definitely a happy color. :)

Now that I know the students sing various songs as school begins, I find myself hoping to hear them singing the freaking adorable theme to Ponyo at some point!