On New Year’s Day,
I went to visit Kan’ei-ji Temple. I’m a graduate of Kan’ei-ji Kindergarten. I just found the script for the valedictory speech I gave at my graduation ceremony!
I remember so clearly how, since I was asked to recite it from memory, I skipped a sentence during the actual speech and had to frantically change the order ^^;

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Closing Remarks

　Thank you very much to everyone who came today to celebrate our graduation.
Today marks our farewell to our teachers, the bus drivers, and all the children in the middle and lower elementary classes.
　Thank you very much for taking care of us for so long.
　Now, with our hearts full of many, many happy memories, we are graduating from Kan’ei-ji Kindergarten.

　Ever since we first stepped into the garden, where cherry blossom petals lie waiting like snow, we’ve been learning new things every single day through fun games and enjoyable activities—and that’s how we’ve grown so much.

　The sweet tea poured over the Buddha statue, which was surrounded by flowers, tasted a little sweet but had a strange flavor.
We’d been looking forward to the sleepover at daycare, but then there was a loud clap of thunder, which startled us.We all ran back into the room, but our teacher told us several funny stories, and the dinner we all ate together was so delicious that we even had seconds.
　In the fall, we went home every day with our pockets full of acorns from Acorn Mountain and yellow ginkgo leaves.
　At the sports day, lots of moms and dads came to watch, and we ran with all our might.
On our first pear-picking field trip, we picked out lots of big, beautiful pears and compared them with each other.
　We practiced very hard every single day leading up to the dance recital, wearing our beautiful, sparkling costumes, so we received lots of applause, which made us very happy.

　A tree that blooms with white flowers in spring.
A tree whose leaves turn yellow and red in fall.
A tree that yields plenty of acorns and ginkgo nuts.
　Surrounded by all kinds of trees, where we could even play in the mud—we will never, ever forget this kindergarten.

　To everyone in the Middle Kindergarten Class: Even after we graduate, please play happily with the new friends who join us at this wonderful kindergarten.
Teacher, thank you so much for all the fun memories.
　Even after we start elementary school, we’ll come back to visit sometimes. When we do, let’s play together, okay?

　Well then, take care. Goodbye.

　The 57th Graduation Ceremony　

　Nanako Ishido