New Documentary Explores Education In 'The Making of a Japanese'

For Ema Ryan Yamazaki, the creative drive that led to her new documentary came in an unusual way: She was complimented for being on time.

Yamazaki is in her 30s. Bubbly and friendly, she recounts why she set out to film "The Making of a Japanese."

The documentary follows students and teachers at Tsukado Elementary School in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. And it offers a window into Japan's education system.

Over the span of a year, she filmed for 150 days with 700 hours of footage, capturing classroom scenes along with children taking roles of responsibility and working together.

Precisely these holistic experiences, Yamazaki says, trained her to be responsible. And yes, to be on time.

"When I was in my 20s working in New York, people would often say to me: 'You are so on time, hard-working, such a team player,'" recounts the director. She continues, saying, "But in my mind, I thought 'I am just Japanese.'"

*Ema Ryan Yamazaki sits for an interview with JAPAN Forward in Tokyo. (©JAPAN Forward)*

About the Documentary

In the film's first few minutes, a girl practices with her mother how to respond to the daily class attendance call. "Hai! (yes!)" she says loudly as she trains for the impending start of the school year.

It's intimate moments like these that are shown in the 90-minute film. A sixth-grade boy named Kihara practices for hours to succeed at rope jumping for the school sports day.

First-grader, Ayame, faces disappointment when she is scolded for not practicing her instrument. However, she later delivers a strong performance in a school concert. (This latter story was featured in the New York Times' Op-Doc 'Instruments of a Beating Heart).

It's a moving portrayal. We find ourselves cheering when Ayame correctly hits that beat and Kihara jumps at the right rhythm after all those hours of practice.

"I became really emotional," said a Japanese student Hiroko Nakagawa, who saw the film at a screening and discussion event at Center for Global Education, the University of Tokyo (hereinafter referred to as "UTokyo GlobE.") "I resonated with their experiences."

Initial film showings left many people weeping, recounts Yamazaki. "I didn't know I was making such a tearjerker," says the director almost surprised.

*"The Making of a Japanese" by Ema Ryan Yamazaki. (©Cineric Creative / NHK / Pystymetsä / Point du Jour)*

Education Through Small Rituals

Among the interwoven stories, the documentary examines the daily rituals of a Japanese school and their educational value.

An initial scene shows a teacher explaining to first-graders the correct way to sweep the floor. "This is the space where you will be spending time, it's important to be responsible and keep it clean," she says.

When a child arrives five minutes late for class, a teacher reprimands saying, "When someone arrives late, it undermines the unity of the class."

Older students mentor younger children, imparting a lesson in empathy and collaboration. Children are taught to be neat and take responsibility whether they are serving lunch or storing their gym shoes.

The rituals can appear precise to the point of ludicrousness. Namely, when three boys are shown "grading" the neatness of classmates' gym shoes. "This one is so messy, big X for him," a boy says scathingly.

*Director Ema Ryan Yamazaki, during the filming of "The Making of a Japanese." (©Cineric Creative / NHK / Pystymetsä / Point du Jour)*

A Japanese School During COVID-19

Yamazaki started filming in 2021, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Viewers learn of canceled school trips, children wearing masks religiously, and school lunches in silence.

"I decided to go ahead because I felt that COVID was accentuating the values of different countries," recalls the director. "I was hearing these debates in the West about how kids would function in a school wearing masks. But I was seeing it every day [in Japan]."

The documentary also highlights the resilience of children, even in difficult times.

"Kids are kids, they don't always know what they are missing, but they still know how to have fun," reflects Yamazaki.

*Behind the scenes of"The Making of a Japanese" by Ema Ryan Yamazaki. (©Cineric Creative / NHK / Pystymetsä / Point du Jour)*

Restraint Vs Creativity

Throughout the film, Yamazaki plays with the idea: what is the balance between having rules and cultivating individuality?

Dr Hiroshi Sugita, a leading expert in non-academic activities in elementary schools, sums up the key role of educators in the film. "Japan's collectivist strength and harmony are envied by other countries. But we must be aware this is a double-edged sword."

Sugita goes on to point out that if there is a recent trend of bashing online, educators also have a responsibility.

To elaborate, Yamazaki explains. "It's a fine line. There's being responsible for keeping your shoes tidy. But [that could lead] to outing people for not doing the task well."

More than the negative impacts of strict teaching, however, what comes through the film is the commitment of teachers to their craft.

In one scene, a teacher arrives at school at 6 AM. Teachers share their fear of being too strict while also encouraging creativity in their students. "I feel like I'm always on a balance beam," says one teacher, discussing the challenge of balancing discipline and creativity in the classroom.

*Students at the University of Tokyo attend a screening and discussion event of 'The Making of a Japanese' organized by UTokyo GlobE, (courtesy of UTokyo GlobE)*

Lessons Learned

After all this time filming, Yamazaki says she believes the teacher's commitment is a key part of the story she wants to share.

“Japanese schools continue to receive press mainly focusing on teachers being over worked. And it's true. But I think the public needs to see teachers as humans, not just as subjects of negative headlines. There's a lot of effort put in building up the confidence of kids," explains the director.

From Yamazaki's perspective, the holistic teaching of school as if it were a "small society" can set them up for life.

"I think for younger kids learning that there are restrictions in life, and working within that system is better. Becoming more free can come later. What is valued is how you fit in within the group."

Ultimately, says Yamazaki, "That's why you get such young kids caring so deeply for others. The level of care I saw between young children during my filming is on another level."

French graduate student Amael Cognacq was among the students at the University of Tokyo attend a screening and discussion event of 'The Making of a Japanese' organized by UTokyo GlobE. (©JAPAN Forward

International Reception

The documentary has been screened internationally, including in the United States, Egypt, Greece, and Finland, where it exceeded expectations. Starting from just one cinema, the showing period went on for four months in twenty theaters.

"Finland is often touted as a beacon for the world [in education], but there was a huge amount of interest. There is the idea that freedom in schools might have gone too far," she recalls.

Therefore, argues Yamazaki, "I think the Japanese have so little awareness of how special parts of the system are." Thoughtfully, she adds, "I just would like for these themes to be debated."

French graduate student Amael Cognacq, who participated at the event at UTokyo GlobE, said he would be recommending the film to his educator family members. "I was really moved by how students are pushed to improve themselves. I don't think we do enough of that in schools where I come from."

Quite apart from hints on education, Yamazaki says the film gives valuable insight into the workings of Japanese society. The reason why Japanese football fans pick up their trash after a game seems a little less mysterious.

Yamazaki, who has British and Japanese heritage, plans to continue exploring Japanese society through film and her unique perspective. She previously worked on Koshien: Field of Dreams (2019), a documentary about Japan's famous high school baseball tournament.

Going forward, the director says she wants to continue investigating Japanese society. What's next? Perhaps looking at a typical Japanese company, she suggests. "What should we keep among our traditions and our unique way of doing things, and what should be changed? These are questions I'm endlessly interested in," says Yamazaki.