Unique Japan

Graduation is a pinnacle moment in many societies, and Japan is no exception. While many students might be celebrating countless accomplishments, friendships, and great memories, there is one more important thing left to do for Japanese girls. They have to get a button!

For many middle and high school girls, graduation is the one and only time to express their affection for the opposite gender. Unfortunately, many of them are too shy to actually say how they feel, so this is what they do: they go up to a boy who they have a secret crush on, and ask for the second button from the top of his uniform. By keeping the button, they can also keep their sweet platonic feeling alive for a while even though they might not be able to see each other in the future.

The reason for specifying the second button is that it’s the closest to his heart. It might seem like a teenage-girly thing to say but it was such a big deal at the time. Many girls remember waiting for the boy after their graduation and being a nervous wreck when asking for the button.

For many, graduation represents closure of one’s school life. But for Japanese girls, it’s a different type of closure.

P.S. I personally have two buttons hidden somewhere, but don’t tell my husband.