I was wondering if any of you could help me out with some information for a
fanfic I'm writing.

1)  What are the traditional Japanese funeral rites?  Are these anything at
all like their Chinese counterparts?

2)  What are some predominant universities in Japan?

3)  If a student fails high school, what are their options from that point?

4)  How exactly does the juku work?

5)  Is there a graduation ceremony for high school in Japan, and if so,
what's it like?

I would really appreciate any answers that anyone can give me.

Thanks,
Eric-kun

Eri

Alright:

1)I'm not so sure about this one, but I think that the funeral rites are
like this, I think.  Their picture is hung on the wall, incense candle are
burnt and the family spends some time in meditation reliving the deceased's
life and remembering happy memories.  I'm not sure about what happens next.
Sorry.

2) Tokyo University, Kokoku University, University of Japan.  I hope that's
enough.

3)Students don't fail high school.  If they fall far enough behind, the are
just bumbed ahead to the next level anyway.  Only with parental consent
(which is not usually given) can the school expell the student. This is
vary rare.  Most students like that usually go to a lower-class institution
nad get menial jobs for the rest of their lives.

4)I assume that your asking about the "cram school".  All it is a drop-in
school that a student goes to if they need help or wish to go ahead.  Most
parents force their children to attend the juku, and that usually bogs them
down with homework.  I think that to go to the juku, you need to make an
appiontment, but I'm not sure about that.  You could sign up for regular
classes in the juku, and you would be expected to show up.  Some juku's are
even in the same high school, but is after hours.

5)This is just a shot in the dark, becuase I seem to remember this from a
book, but all the graduation cermony is, is a regular assembly with friends
and family attending, recognition given for completing the high school,
etc.  blab blab blab.  I assume the rest you can guess at.

I hope this helps.

Cory Holmes
gholmes@awinc.van.hookup.net