In Japan, there is a traditional celebration called the “13th Birthday Celebration.”

It is a warm and meaningful custom in which we give thanks for the healthy growth of children who have reached the age of 13 in the traditional Japanese counting system (12 years old by Western age), and pray for their wisdom and good health in the years to come.

At AMICUS, this “13th Birthday Celebration” has been planned and organized mainly by parents, and it has been passed down as one of our school’s cherished traditions. This year, the event was held on Tuesday, January 20.

Among all the performances, the one that truly energized the venue was the “Naruto Dance.”

Thanks to a kind invitation from the parents, I was given the opportunity to join them and dance as well.

A practice session was arranged on Friday of the previous week, and I took part. It was then that I realized for the first time just how challenging this dance actually was. Having little sense of rhythm to begin with, I recorded the parents’ dance on my smartphone and practiced repeatedly over the weekend while watching the video. Since I would be dancing in front of the children, I wanted to prepare as well as I possibly could.

On the day of the event, I waited for my turn with my heart pounding. Whether I managed to stay perfectly on beat or not, I was relieved to make it through the entire dance.

The next day, several children came up to me and said, “Your Naruto dance was really good! (That’s what my mom said. ( Haha.)”  Hearing this made me smile, and it became a very happy memory for me.

Although I began by talking about the performances, the “13th Birthday Celebration” is also an important milestone marking the completion of one full 12-year zodiac cycle and the beginning of the next 13-year journey. For parents, seeing how much their children have grown must have been a deeply moving and meaningful moment.

In the next 12 years, many important milestones await these children, including entering junior high school, high school entrance exams, and university entrance exams. Beyond that lies their future as members of society.

Although it may be difficult for the same group to gather again at the next 13-year milestone, I sincerely hope—together with our parents—that each child will continue to grow in good health and in their own unique way, carrying the memories of this special day in their hearts.

Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who thoughtfully planned and organized this wonderful “13th Birthday Celebration.”

It was truly an unforgettable day, not only for the children, but also for all of us teachers.

Ken Oshiro, Headmaster