Is it cruel to face a living thing seriously?
Happy New Year, Sir.
Happy New Year. Have a good year.
February
51 days until graduation
Care for her at school.
Ask a younger grade to adopt her.
Bring her to the zoo.
Have Mr. Hoshi's next class take over.
Send her to the meat center.
The place where meat is made.
Return her to the farm.
Eat her after all.
Find someone who'll adopt her.
There are no other particular changes.
Ask me later about the minutiae
of your official trip.
That's all.
Any other questions?
Fine. That's all, then.
Excuse me.
Yes
I have a request to make.
Is that all right?
Go ahead.
If any of you end up teaching 5th or 6th graders next year,
would you be willing to take over caring for the pig?
You can't be serious.
I thought you were going to eat it.
You have to kill it first, you know.
Don't force it on us
because it's become a nuisance.
Mr. Hoshi, I told you in the beginning.
You didn't have to raise and eat
an animal to teach
a lesson about eating living things
Other teachers have managed
with textbooks.
Because that wasn't enough,
so many kids today don't get what eating really means.
Mr. Hoshi.
It's all right to request support,
but shouldn't the kids be thoroughly discussing
what they want to do?
I've encouraged my students to do so.
I've avoided guiding them towards a conclusion, and trust that...
Everyone in Yuhigaoka Elementary,
Grade 6 Class 2 has a request.
We graduate in 1 month and 8 days.
So we're looking for a class that will adopt P-chan.
We've been discussing what to do with her after graduation
and came up with the idea that another class adopt her.
Most of our class agrees that P-chan
should remain in this school.
So we're looking for a class that will adopt her.
Is there a class that's willing to do so?
We'll explain a little about P-chan.
Some of us have ridden on her.
P-chan loves tomatoes.
P-chan loves to be brushed.
P-chan pees for a really long time.
Taking care of P-chan takes a lot of hard work.
But it's fun being with her.
Is there a class willing to adopt her?
If you can help us,
please let us know b... b... by February 27th.
Thank you very much.
Thank you...
(20 days until graduation)
(Find a class willing to adopt her)
We'll have to think of something else.
Mr. Hoshi, look.
Hey, look...
They're here for us, right?
Ms. Ikezawa, hello.
My students want to adopt P-chan.
Good
No, wait, everyone.
Hey, be quiet.
Thank you, but I was hoping for 5th graders.
I don't think 3rd graders could handle...
Let them, Mr. Hoshi.
P-chan, not over there.
She likes it when we do this.
Are you okay?
Over here, P-chan. No!
Are you okay?
No, I can't do it.
No, it stinks.
I can't do it.
Why?
It's okay. You just take this...
I can't do it.
Push, push
P-chan, stop
P-chan, go
P-chan
Oh no, she's fallen down.
Don't do that.
It's impossible.
Those 3rd graders couldn't even use the brushes.
We were the same at first.
I don't see a problem if we teach them how to do it better.
But we did and it didn't work.
Sayuka. Quiet, everyone.
But P-chan's so big now
I think it's dangerous to let 3rd graders near her.
Okay, Nanoka.
When they become 5th graders,
their classes will be shuffled.
When it's their turn to graduate,
they'll have to face this problem like us.
So what?
Then they can worry about it like we did.
Why?
That sounds like you're abandoning her.
You're just avoiding responsibility.
Okay, Minori.
The people wanting to eat her
are the irresponsible ones.
Why?
Raise your hand to speak.
Yuma.
We're not irresponsible. You are.
Responsibility means to eat her as meat.
Runa.
That means turning her into meat.
That's responsibility?
How can you be so heartless?
Saying heartless doesn't solve anything.
That's so mean.
Even if the 3rd graders took over,
if they end up making her into meat anyway,
then it'd be more responsible if we did it.
Responsibility means to keep her.
What you're saying
is like euthanizing a pet.
Kill P-chan?
Raise your hand. Raise your hand to speak.
You've only got 7 more days.
What will you do?
We'll take a vote.
Those in favor of the 3rd graders taking over.
13.
Those in favor of sending her to the meat center.
13.
What now, Mr. Hoshi?
I'm not sure.
Then you should kill P-chan and cook her and then eat her.
That's responsibility.
Don't make the center do it.
By ourselves?
Making the center do it is irresponsible.
Wait, wait, listen.
Listen.
We all love P-chan, right?
Don't we?
We love her,
so we should decide.
Don't make the 3rd graders do it.
All right, all right.
Quiet down!
Cool it.
Raise your hand if you want to speak.
If we don't ask the 3rd graders,
then we should care for her until she dies.
Hey Azuki.
If you want to speak, do it properly.
Since we began raising her in the first place,
we should be seeing her through
to the end of her life.
That's the owner's responsibility.
But seeing her life through to the end
doesn't mean to make it end like some of you are saying.
Those 3rd graders can't handle P-chan.
So let's teach them how to take care of her again.
It's only a week until graduation.
There's no time.
You're killing her for lack of time?
I'll teach them even after I graduate.
Okay, Mr. Hoshi?
Hold on.
You're veering off topic.
This isn't just one person's problem.
What if they get hurt?
Who'll take responsibility?
We make sure they don't get hurt.
They're willing,
so why not just let them?
Mr. Hoshi, what did you think about the 3rd graders?
To be completely honest with you,
I thought it would be too dangerous for them to handle.
So you prefer the meat center?
That's not the point right now.
This class raised P-chan,
so this class must decide.
Instead of killing P-chan for your convenience,
why not consider
letting her live longer?
She's still growing.
Kids won't be able to handle her.
If P-chan were served in front of me,
I'd eat her.
But it's not like I'll starve if I don't eat P-chan.
Then you'll never eat pork again??
Sure.
Eating only vegetables isn't enough.
Why are you laughing?
Be serious, everybody.
P-chan's going to die someday.
So it's okay to kill her now?
That's not what I meant
Pigs usually become meat in 6 months,
so she's had a full life.
So it's okay to kill her?
So it's okay to eat her?
How can you say that?
Killing and eating aren't the same.
What's the difference?
Killing is just robbing life.
Eating means we inherit the animal's life.
P-chan's our classmate.
How can you talk about eating her?
It's hard, but we have to decide.
We raised her, so we can't just leave her behind.
How can you say that?
We have no choice.
We're graduating soon.
So it's okay to kill her?
Don't you want her to live?
To tell you the truth,
I want her to live, too.
You don't have to eat her.
But even if we leave her behind,
it's just procrastination.
We're the ones who raised her,
so we have a responsibility to end it.
Mr. Hoshi.
Who decides the length of life?
Well,
I don't think anybody can.
But we're talking about the length
of P-chan's life right now.
Honestly, I want
the 3rd graders to adopt her, too.
But we began raising her,
so it's our responsibility to see her to the end.
And when the 3rd graders graduate,
I don't want them to feel anxiety and pain like this.
If the 3rd graders agonize over this matter
and she ends up being eaten by them,
then I'd rather we eat her instead.
When Mr. Hoshi brought her in April,
she was still this small.
We did firecrackers together
and held the sports day together.
Now she's grown
and the 3rd graders are willing to adopt her.
That's what our year was like.
If P-chan lives another year,
then the 3rd graders can have their turn to enjoy her.
When the current 3rd graders become 4th graders
they might be nice to P-chan
for another year like us.
I want the 3rd graders to see what pigs are like,
and to see what P-chan is like,
so I want them to adopt her.
What if the 3rd graders can't handle her,
and P-chan ends up being eaten right away,
if she disappears,
then it'll be so sad.
So let's see her life through to the end together.
What if we think of it as graduation, not killing?
That's sad, too.
You're all sad to part with P-chan, right?
Well, P-chan probably
feels the same way about us, too.
So we should all graduate
from this school together.
But she'd be gone if we send her off,
and besides, I'd never eat her anyway.
If we send her to the meat center,
we'll never see her again.
Things that can be touched
are less important than what remains in our hearts,
the memories in our hearts
that can't be seen or touched.
If we send her off,
there'll be no more new memories,
but if the 3rd graders adopt her,
we could still make new memories.
Even if they adopt her
and we come see her sometimes,
if she's killed or sent off without our knowledge,
we won't remember anything,
and we'll just bear a grudge against
the person who made the decision.
We might remember P-chan,
but we'll never get to really see her,
so I'm against sending her to the meat center.
You can eat other pigs, right?
Not that I think it's unfair or anything
to not be able to eat just P-chan,
but we don't want to eat her
because we raised her, right?
For the people working at the farm who raise pigs,
the pigs they ship out
feel like pets to them, too, right?
We all love P-chan.
It was a lot of hard work,
but there were lots of fun and happy times, too.
Sending P-chan off to the meat center
and eating her as meat
is just so terrible and sad.
I could never do it.
But you say that you'd come see her from time to time,
but P-chan would feel sad when we're not here.
If we could come every day,
it'd be okay to leave her,
but P-chan would feel sad, too,
so I'm against leaving her with the 3rd graders.
I want P-chan
to keep living for a day
or even for a second longer.
(6 days until graduation)
Everybody in Grade 6 Class 2!
P-chan's gone!
P-chan's disappeared!
We're going?
P-chan!
Nowhere.
Why the meat center?
What?
Why are you on their side?
I do feel sorry for P-chan.
Don't kill her.
I want her to live, too.
Then why? Your vote could...
P-chan!
Don't you want her to live?
Her life has a purpose.
What purpose?
To be eaten by people.
That's just your convenience.
Sumire!
She's not over here.
We'll go this way, so you go that way.
Okay, see you.
P-chan.
Hidenobu.
What?
She's not here.
Kazuya.
Did you find her?
No.
Shinya.
What are you doing?
Sorry.
I'm thirsty.
Hey, it's a fight.
You're right.
I don't feel relieved!
You don't want to kill her, either!
Stop it.
He's relieved that P-chan disappeared.
P-chan should determine her own life.
Yuma, stop it.
Why is P-chan alive?
Is she alive just to be eaten?
You, too.
Why are you alive?
Everybody!
We found her!
Hurry!
Where?
That way!
Everybody...
That way!
P-chan.
Stop it!
Don't use a net!
You'll break her leg!
Let go of her!
Stop it!
Don't take her!
Stop it!
P-chan.
Let go of her!
She's our pig!
I'm sorry about the trouble.
What are you going to do with her?
So you won't eat her and that's it?
I'll make the kids choose
between the meat center
or leaving her with the 3rd graders.
Wait a minute.
What about you?
You're just trying to avoid responsibility.
Yes, perhaps I should have guided them towards a conclusion.
But I think they benefited from the lesson
because there was no answer.
You're right.
The lesson was a precious one.
It was never a matter of success or failure.
The purpose was to think about life.
But no matter what the kids decide,
the final decision should be yours, Mr. Hoshi.
That's your responsibility as a teacher.
(3 days until graduation)
No other opinions?
We promised to decide before graduation.
Is this all?
After thinking so hard,
this is the best you can do?
Only 3 more days.
Just 3 days.
Rikiya.
I want to vote again.
Rikiya suggested we take another vote.
What do you think?
I agree.
No matter what the result turns out to be,
will that be this class's final decision?
Yes.
Leave her with the 3rd graders
Send her to the meat center
Leave her with the 3rd graders
Send her to the meat center
Leave her with the 3rd graders
Send her to the meat center
Leave her with the 3rd graders
Send her to the meat center
Leave her with the 3rd graders
Send her to the meat center
Mr. Hoshi hasn't voted.
This is our class's problem,
so your vote should count, too.
Mr. Hoshi.
Oh, hello.
May I have a word?
Yes.
The principal gave me permission,
so I'd like my class to officially adopt P-chan.
My class will become 4th graders,
so I'm sure they'll manage.
I've drawn up a lesson plan
to explain to their parents as well.
Could you look over it?
Thank you very much.
See you tomorrow.
Thank you.
I'm glad it's so nice out today.
I thought it would be best
to make this final speech in front of P-chan.
I've made up my mind.
I've decided
to send P-chan to the meat center.
This is my...
This is our class's final vote.
Throughout this entire year,
you really made such a great effort.
When I first brought P-chan to the class,
when I suggested we raise her,
I felt really uneasy, to tell the truth.
I thought you might say things like,
she smells or too much hassle.
I thought you might reject her.
But you worked so much harder
than I ever expected you to.
And in rain
or wind
you always cared for her.
I really understand how each of you feels about P-chan.
You all really...
You did so well.
Thank you.
There's something we have to say to you.
We know we asked you to take care of P-chan
and feel really sorry about having to say this, but...
We discussed this in our class and decided
that P-chan should go somewhere else.
Why can't we have P-chan?
Why can't we take care of her?
We wanted to raise her, too.
We're very sorry.
But we all thought hard about this.
We thought hard and decided.
We apologize.
We're very sorry.
So I'm not good enough?
Oh, no, it's not that at all.
I really appreciated your offer. I'm sorry.
It's all right.
The kids thought hard and
put in more effort than I expected.
It was time they were relieved of the burden.
They've done more than enough.
As their teacher,
I made the final decision.
Hana, come on!
Hana!
Congratulations on your graduation
There are times when kind words don't mean a thing
There are times when you have to fight on your own
When you overcome hard times,
you'll see the light
And then you'll be a better person than you are now
When tomorrow comes
And the sky becomes clear
Like yourself
and start walking again
Smile again, smile again
Don't look down
Smile again, smile again
Smile for me
Smile again, smile again
I like the many sides you have
Smile again, smile again
Don't look down
Smile again, smile again
Smile for me
Smile again, smile again
I like the many sides you have
Move aside to let them work.
P-chan.
Let's each hold a tomato to give to P-chan.
P-chan.
P-chan, here.
P-chan!