Dictators and yearbooks

At their high school graduation ceremony, the students receive yearbooks made of thick, glossy card, full of colour photographs of themselves and the staff. They’re as heavy as a giant world atlas and cost about the same amount. Inside, on the first page, is a humungous photographic portrait of the school Principal. Then, two slightly less humungous photos of the Vice Principals. Next, rather smaller photos of the teachers. Next, the smallest photos in the book - the students. I expressed my surprise over the rather large size of the Principal’s photo to one of the Japanese English teachers, and asked if it was because Japanese society was hierarchical in structure. He said, ‘Yes, the students’ photos are very, very small, because they are not important!’ Smiling, he continued, ‘This is Japanese society. Japanese society is like the societies of mediaeval Europe. It is a very bad country! We are not a democracy at all.’ He gave a big, booming laugh. Suddenly all these images of Chairman Mao plastering his face all over everything came to mind. Then Kim Jong II. I tried to imagine getting the urge to put portraits of myself all over people’s stuff and found that the idea just didn’t appeal. I wonder if the Queen minds having her face all over our spare change. I don’t suppose anybody has ever asked her. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting the Principal of my school on a par with Kim Jong II - I expect he just puts up with the oversized photo because that's his responsibility as the figurehead of the school, because that is just the way it is done here.
These gorgeous yearbooks cost around $150-200 each. Japanese parents are always forking out cash for these kinds of souvenirs, as well as the expensive school trips. The second year students go to Korea every year and stay in hotels, which makes my forth form school camp to Motatapu Island seem kind of lame in comparison. At the same time, Japanese people constantly cite the costs involved as a major deterrent to having children. No wonder the declining birthrate is such a serious problem in Japan. People can’t afford the yearbooks.