1.
company entrance ceremony; joining-company ceremony
A formal ceremony held by Japanese companies, typically on April 1st, to welcome new employees who are joining the company.
入社式に出席する。
I'll attend the company entrance ceremony.
四月一日に入社式が行われた。
The company entrance ceremony was held on April 1st.
入社式では社長から新入社員への訓示があった。
At the company entrance ceremony, the president gave an address to the new employees.
A distinctly Japanese corporate tradition. Nearly all large companies hold this ceremony on April 1st, the start of the Japanese fiscal year. New employees typically wear dark suits and attend together as a cohort (同期). The ceremony usually includes speeches by executives, an oath by a representative of the new hires, and group photos. Smaller companies may have simpler versions or skip the ceremony entirely.