JapanNewbie

SHIKISHI

Posted on 04. Sep, 2006 @ 3:18 am by harvey in Culture, Society Views: 220

SHIKISHI

I’m sure MANY English teachers in Japan know about this little piece of Japanese culture.

The SHIKISHI 色紙。

The Shikishi is a card usually given to people at farewell parties（送別会）. The card will have the recipients name in the center, surrounded by kind words, and farewell messages from all their friends.

Giving and receiving these Shikishi is a really big deal in Japan. I have never formally taught English in Japan, but I would imagine that foreign teachers would receive them on their last day of school from students almost without fail.

Here is one I received from my office peeps after I recently quit. （なつかしい！）

Here is another I received from my guitar classmates. (I’m learning classical guitar! In case ya didn’t know!)

I have also heard that the SHIKISHI may be given at graduation… But otherwise other than at farewell parties it is rarely used.

SHIKISHI are very similar to a simple farewell card back in the States, but something about the fact that the Shikishi is completely blank until the friends begin writting, and that it is on stiff cardboard so it can be displayed easily long term makes it special.

Surprisingly, JLIST has these Shikishi for sale! They have one shaped as a soccer ball, and another specifically for baby celebrations. I have never seen these for sale in the states before. It would be cool to get one and surprise a Japanese friend living abroad, by having a bunch of gaijin sign it and prsent it as a going away present or something.
なんで色紙知ってんの！？

Is what they would say. Yup.

- Harvey