“Japanese Children” as Seen in a Documentary—The Moving Experience of an Academy Award-Nominated Film in 23 Minutes: “Instruments of a Beating Heart (Documentary)”

Viewing Environment: YouTube


【Content】
A 23-minute edited version of the documentary film “Elementary,” which follows a first-grade class in a Japanese elementary school, now available on YouTube.


【Impressions】
“Six-year-olds are much the same everywhere in the world, but by the time they reach 12, Japanese children have become ‘Japanese.’” After reading these words from the film’s director, Ema Ryan Yamazaki, I felt that it might indeed be true. More than that, watching this film allowed me to deeply understand the meaning behind those words.

Above all, the children were incredibly cute, pure, and sparkling, and the film depicted a very gentle world. This work has garnered attention as an Academy Award-nominated documentary, and I watched it because this shortened version was released on YouTube.

The YouTube version follows a first-grade girl who participates in an audition to play the drums for a school concert and depicts her journey until she successfully performs on the big day. This girl was so earnest, and it was impressive how her emotions were expressed directly through her facial expressions and her entire body. When she didn't make the cut for the audition, she congratulated the other child who was chosen with a smile, but afterwards, tears welled up in her eyes due to her frustration. That sight tugged at my heartstrings. The gaze of the teachers and classmates watching over her was so kind that I, too, was overcome with emotion and finished watching with teary eyes.

For someone like me who grew up in the educational environment of the Showa era, surrounded by corporal punishment and verbal abuse, this was an entirely different world, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of culture shock.
My family member, who was watching with me, had been helping out with elementary school education through volunteer work until very recently, so I asked them about it. They told me, “This school isn't special; this is the kind of atmosphere that has become common in elementary education in recent years.”
While the flaws of the Japanese education system are often discussed, watching this documentary made me feel that there are certainly parts that are moving in a positive direction.

Even just the shortened YouTube version was a work that deeply moved my heart. It is a film I would definitely like many people to see.

https://youtu.be/DRW0auOiqm4?si=G9S0-RSMjXCJ1DyI