Spring in Japan: Why Many People Choose to “Debut” in a New Life
Life in Japan – Issue 019
This article is part of the Life in Japan series, published on Saturdays. Unlike the in-depth Tuesday features, this series shares observations from everyday life and the atmosphere of Japan as it is today.
Through seasonal moments, small changes in society, and ordinary scenes from daily life, these essays aim to convey the feeling of living in Japan right now.
This week in Japan felt like a week when emotions quietly shifted.
On March 11, Japan marked the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Moments of silence were held in many places across the country. When this day arrives each year, it feels as if not only the news, but even the atmosphere of the streets grows a little quieter. For many people in Japan, March is a time to remember the past.
At the same time, March is the season of graduation. Schools hold ceremonies, and students say goodbye to friends and teachers as they prepare to move on to new places. It is a curious season when happiness and sadness exist at the same time.
Soon after that, a new season begins. In Japan, most schools and companies start their new year in April. For this reason, the period from March to April is a time when many people experience major changes. Some graduate from high school and move on to university or vocational school, while others begin their first jobs. For people of all generations, this transition marks a season of significant change.
A new school. A new job. A new town.
Amid these changes, there is a word often used in Japan: “debut.” In Japan, people say “high school debut,” “university debut,” or “working-adult debut.”
Originally, “debut” refers to a performer appearing on stage for the first time. In everyday Japanese, however, it has a slightly different meaning: changing your appearance or style when entering a new environment to start as a different version of yourself.
The sociologist Takayoshi Doi explains in his book Children Who Become / Are Made into Characters that in Japanese schools, people are often recognized as certain “characters.” Within a group, impressions form—the cheerful one, the quiet one, etc. Once these images settle, it is not easy to change them because of the expectations of those around you.
However, when the environment changes, those characters are reset. In a place where no one knows your past, you can begin again.
You can see this in Japanese cities during this season. Spring is the busiest time for hair salons because many people want to change their image before starting a new chapter. Household surveys also show that spending on clothing increases in March and April.
However, “debut” is not always positive. Sometimes people say, “He had a high school debut,” in a teasing or sarcastic way, pointing out someone who suddenly changed their personality.
I had a friend in high school who was described this way. In middle school, she was a quiet girl who wore thick glasses. But in high school, she switched to contact lenses, began wearing makeup, and became very energetic. Someone who knew her in middle school laughed and said, “That’s quite a high school debut.”
In his book The Study of Air, the critic Yamamoto Shichihei explains that in Japan, an invisible pressure called “Kuuki” (the air) influences people’s behavior. The tendency to avoid standing out is one expression of that.
Looking back, many of my friends from childhood stayed with me through middle and high school. Because of that, I feel I had few chances to make a “debut.” Even if I wanted to change, too many people already knew who I was.
Even without trying to change, a new environment can naturally change your position. Sometimes I imagine that if I had gone to a high school where no one knew me, I might have become a slightly different version of myself.
From March to April, many people in Japan move on to new places. In those changes, they might feel a desire to try a new self. In Japan, we call this small act of courage a “debut.”
In your country, when people start a new school or job, do they also try to become a different version of themselves? I would love to hear about the culture in your country as well.
—Written by Sumire
Interesting! I definitely do feel the "debut" energy during this transitionary period. It's many feelings all put together. Thanks for introducing the book 'The Study of Air', I'd like to learn more. It's something that Japanese language learners will need to understand outside of textbooks and classrooms!