e-Mag: April event in Japan

Nyushashiki ???
Most companies hold entrance ceremony for their freshman employees. After, or sometimes before the entrance ceremony, these new employees are required to go though a series of training sessions that often run for more than a month. During the training sessions, such information as general operations of the company, personal health management, and etiquette in the business world is given to the young men and women, who have just graduated from school.

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School System in Japan ???????
In Japan, education is highly valued. Although nine required for all Japanese children, more than 95 of 100 students go on the high school level. Many parents want their children to get a university or college diploma, so university entrance examinations are very competitive. There are 507 four-year universities and colleges and 593 two-year junior colleges; about 230 of those are public schools. Colleges and universities are concentrated in the Tokyo area, 161 of 507 four-year colleges and universities and 143 of 593 two-year junior colleges were in the Tokyo area in 1990.

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O-hanami ???
The cherry blossom is designated the “national flower” of Japan. Since ancient times, the most loved flower in Japan has been the cherry blossom. It has appeared in many literary works, and the cherry blossom design has been extremely popular for almost anything in Japanese life.
As the proverb says, “Hana yori dango” (Better to eat sweat dumplings than to view the flowers), people enjoy eating and drinking under cherry trees and have fun at o-hanami.

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Sakura ???
After close observation of the trees at 120 designated locations all over Japan, the Meteorological Agency releases a forecast and makes an official announcement when the cherry trees bloom. The line connecting points where cherry trees are forecast blossom front. Even in today’s busy life, the Japanese talk about cherry blossoms in their daily conversation at this time of year, and they go out to view and enjoy the cherry flowers.

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Professional Baseball Games. ???????
Baseball is widely played and very popular in Japan. The game was first introduced to the Japanese in 1873; it was enjoy as a students’ sport until 1937, when the first professional baseball teams were formed. The professional baseball games became especially popular after World War ?, the period when the influence of American culture has been strong in many phases of Japanese life. Today, there are two leagues in professional baseball, the Central League and the Pacific League, each having six teams. The Japan Series is held at the end of each year’s baseball season with the winners of each league competing. Each year, more than 20,000,000 go to baseball stadium to watch progames.