A 15-year-old boy attending the Amerasian School in the city of Okinawa has received an official diploma from a Japanese junior high, even though his school is not recognized by the local board of education.
Ricky Agarijo received his diploma from Okinawa's municipal Misato Junior High School after his attendance at the Amerasian School was recognized under a special arrangement as equivalent to studying at a Japanese public junior high school.
"I would like to thank the principal for giving me the diploma," Agarijo said after receiving the certificate from Misato Principal Soken Nagahama earlier this week. "I want to study hard at a high school in the United States and then come back to Okinawa."
The Amerasian School in Okinawa is a private institution that conducts classes in English, with lessons in Japanese provided twice a week.