Being from Southern California with its mild climate, I've never been much of a fan of Japan's beloved four seasons. I could do without the summer heat, fall typhoons and winter ice. But it's spring I dread the most — though this has nothing to do with the weather.
I welcome warmer temperatures and cherry blossoms as much as the next man, but spring is the time of year when most sixth-graders in my English classes stop coming because they will be too busy with school clubs when they start junior high in April.
The economic hit I take during this annual exodus is tough, and it’s sad to say goodbye to kids I’ve watched grow up. But the worst part is the feeling that I've lost the chance to help these youngsters become competent English speakers, equipped with a useful skill they would have for the rest of their lives.