The Blue Bird
I try to find a place for myself
In the puddle of blades that I've spit out
Though I chased after you that day
The crying sky was the only thing that remained
The moon and stars have all gone silent
Alone, I try to make myself smaller
People say that one can become stronger
If one longs to protect something dear
The next stop is Higashigaoka Junior High School.
"Convenience Store Noguchi"
"We are going out of business."
The number of things that were in these hands
And the number of things I've tossed away
When I weighed them and saw the balance tip
"Higashigaoka Junior High School', When I weighed them and saw the balance tip
"Higashigaoka Junior High School"
"Higashigaoka Junior High School', I couldn't bring myself to add you on the scale
This weight on my back begins to feel pleasant
You gently stir things up inside me
Like a ray of light that spills from between the clouds
"Believe We Can Change" Like a ray of light that spills from between the clouds
"The Best Friends Campaign for a New Junior High" You gradually melt my heart of steel
Let's cross the rainbow bridge So that we, re not found
Go on, reach out to close the curtains
Like a ray of light that spills from between the clouds
"The Blue Bird Box" Like a ray of light that spills from between the clouds
"The Blue Bird Box',
You gradually melt my heart of steel
Good morning.
"Be considerate of others."
Did you send Mr. Takahashi a card?
He didn't write back.
He's still not coming this semester.
We've still got a sub?
Sucks, huh?
I wonder why?
You're late. You're on day duty today.
Sorry.
We're starting the third semester.
I greeted the students this morning,
and everyone seems to have repented what happened and is recovering.
9th graders have high school entrance exams.
To ensure that everyone is accepted'
and that all 7th and 8th graders move up to the next grade'
I hope that the faculty and students work together
to start a brand-new semester.
Next, Mr. Ishino, our guidance teacher.
Yes.
At the end of last semester,
"The Blue Bird Box" was decided on.
3 of them have been set up from today.
Once a week, the students in charge will check the content.
I'll oversee them with Ms. Shimazaki.
Next, I'll introduce the new substitute teacher
who'll fill in for Mr. Takahashi in Grade 8 Class 1.
The city board of education has...
Excuse me?
All rise.
Bow.
Sit down.
My name is Murauchi.
I'm filling in
for Mr. Takahashi until he returns.
I'm your new
substitute teacher.
How cowardly.
Trying to forget
is so cowardly.
What did he say?
I don't know.
What did he say?
I...
I stutter.
I can't speak very smoothly.
But...
I will speak earnestly.
So everyone please listen to me earnestly.
Listening earnestly to earnest words is only proper.
But you all failed to do so. That's why...
I'm here.
Mr. Sonobe.
Ms. Takagi.
Yes.
"Convenience Store Noguchi Junior High Branch"
This desk.
Where was it before?
The class rep. Ms. Hayakawa?
The third one by the windows.
Mr. Kobayashi and the others, move over.
Bring them over here.
Mr. Noguchi,
welcome back.
Sir,
Noguchi changed schools.
What's that for?
Some kind of penalty game?
Mr. Inoue.
This isn't a game.
If people are to live their lives in earnest
there's actually no such thing as playing games.
"Share your worries with us."
"Share your worries with us", A little more to the right?
"Share your worries with us."
What? This is fine.
See?
Well, okay.
Who made these, anyway?
Ishino, of course. He's all gung-ho.
Yeah.
Mr. Murauchi?
See you tomorrow.
All rise.
Bow.
Sit down.
Mr. Noguchi, good morning.
He drives me crazy.
Is he gonna do that every day?
Why do we have to endure such treatment?
We all totally repented' right?
Sure.
Forget it. He'll stop soon.
You in the front' speed up.
Watanuki, swing your arms.
Hey, you in the front' speed up.
You, re too slow.
Look where you're going.
Don't dawdle.
Keep up your pace.
Look, it's brown rice.
That's so like him.
"The prosperity of civilization"
"is deeply connected to the fact that almost 70 percent"
"of the entire country is covered in forest.,'
"Not just Japan",
"The entire Earth itself is sustained by forests."
Don't.
"P... pr... prospered."
"The forest is"
"the lifeline that protects civilization."
Here you go.
Um...
Never mind.
"I have lived in this country for ten years."
Okay, great.
"I have lived in this country for ten years."
This is the present perfect tense.
"Have" plus a past participle.
We've used past participles before.
What for, Mr. Yamamoto?
Passive voice.
That's correct.
Passive voice' "be" + past participle. "Have" for the present perfect tense.
Memorize this because you'll fail if you don't.
Now, the present perfect tense...
Hey.
The new teacher's strange, huh?
Oh yeah, your class has Murauchi, too.
Yeah. Isn't he awesome?
He stutters.
Not that.
He learned everyone's names in a day.
See you.
Good morning.
Mr. Noguchi, good morning.
Hey, what's this?
Give it back.
What's this?
Give it.
Whose e-mail...
Give it back!
Stop screaming.
Stop acting like an asshole.
What?
Shut up, Umeda.
You shut up.
You're Mr. Goody-goody, huh?
Where were we?
It's all right.
Mr. Murauchi, please come to the meeting room.
I heard you reinstated Noguchi's desk.
Some students' parents have been calling in to object.
The students are feeling uneasy too.
I thought you'd understood
about Tetsuya Noguchi's incident.
Dealing with the aftermath was tough.
Could you read through these?
We spoke with each student
in that class along with their parents' and made everyone
take almost a month to write these essays of reflection.
Things were finally settling down.
When you stir things up again' the entire school Is shaken.
And I really don't want the parents to get worked up again.
When Mr. Takahashi took time off from stress,
he was criticized for being irresponsible.
"Reflection Essays: Grade 8 Class 1"
"Reflection Essays: Grade 8 Class 1,' The parents were harsh.
"Press Coverage Scrapbook"
"8th grader attempts suicide."
"Student tries to hang himself."
"Extortion and bullying by entire class."
"School ignores bullying."
"Teacher ignores bullying."
"The entire class forced boy to shoplift."
That class seemed so normal.
Tetsuya Noguchi was a bit hyper' but a normal boy.
I thought that he was popular because he made people laugh.
But he was in so much pain.
I didn't realize it at all.
Neither did Mr. Takahashi nor the rest of the faculty.
"The store run by the boy's parents."
Sonobe.
Murauchi makes me sick.
Tormenting us like that.
He must love it.
Hey.
Were we really bullying Noguchi?
Yes we were.
Why else would he have done it?
But he was always laughing.
Whenever we told him to do it, he, d always joke around.
Yeah.
The first time, when I told him to get chocolate,
he brought a whole box of 30 or more.
When we said, "Wow!" he sort of looked happy.
I thought he didn't mind, so I got carried away.
But we never beat him up or threatened him.
Did we?
I don't remember.
Sonobe.
You did it once.
Potato chips?
I told you to, didn't I?
Let's just drop it.
Without that,
you would have been clean.
Damn! It was all over, but that sub had to bring it up again!
See you tomorrow.
"Shin-ichi Sonobe,'
Anything inside?
Yeah, there is.
But there shouldn't be, right?
I guess not.
We'll open "The Blue Bird Box" now.
Remember, this box might contain
your friends' distress, pain and
who knows what other serious matters.
Don't tell anybody about the content.
Understood?
Yes.
Let's open them' then.
Read it.
"What's 'The Blue Bird'?"
I don't think I have to explain' but this name
was taken from Maeterlinck's play.
Think about it.
Even if people are distressed or in pain'
if they could talk to somebody, they'd feel better.
You might not realize, but happiness Is nearby.
That's the meaning behind the name of this box.
So I hope anyone who feels distressed or oppressed
will let us know through this box.
I want you to make this clear to the others.
All right?
Yes.
Things like this...
How would he feel about this?
Someone who was almost bullied to death.
I mean, that blue bird escapes in the end' you know?
Don't you think Murauchi's cool?
He's my kind of teacher.
What do you like about him?
How he isn't very eloquent.
Stop following me.
You're the one following me.
The roof's off limits.
What's he doing?
Your new teacher. I hear he's... you know.
He's what?
He stutters, right?
Yeah, he stutters.
He's rehashing that incident, isn't he?
What's the school thinking?
The suicide note had names.
Why not just punish those kids?
2 out of the 3 are known, right?
I don't know.
I heard the third was your homeroom teacher.
He knew about the bullying but ignored it.
The school's responsible'
but his parents didn't have to publish the note.
It was probably retribution.
They moved here to start that store.
Something like that after only 2 years is rough.
Don't become involved in all this. Just study.
Next year is entrance exams.
"The parents release the suicide note!"
"The actual suicide note!"
"Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry."
"I've stolen from you. I can, t bear it.,'
"The only choice left for me is to die."
"Three students named in the suicide note."
"The ones who killed me are..."
"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. Good-bye."
Shut up and leave us alone. Sit down.
Stop it. You'll get us in trouble.
"You'll get us in trouble."
Sh... Shut up.
CI... Class representative.
Hurry up.
Ca... Carry it earnestly.
All rise.
Bow.
Sit down.
Who's on day duty today?
Ms. Chiba.
Mr. Tsunoda.
Good riddance!
See? He doesn't have the guts to get mad.
"Study hour due to M, M, Murauchi's exit."
Mr. Noguchi,
good morning.
Knock it off, Inoue!
Shove it.
Yeah, shove it, Umeda.
- You shut up. - Stay out of this.
Everyone just stop!
Okay then,
let's start class.
Give it here.
You have to
apologize to the old lady.
I'm sorry.
The rain's stopped. We lucked out.
I heard Inoue and Umeda almost clashed today.
The whole school's supposed to have repented'
so they better behave.
Noguchi named those two in his suicide note, right?
Who said that?
They were the only ones interrogated by the board of education.
I wonder who the third one was?
We've been receiving angry calls from parents
about Tetsuya Noguchi's desk.
Most of them demand that the desk be removed.
The other grades and classes are upset' too.
If anyone has anything to say,
please don't hesitate to speak up.
Mr. Murauchi.
It's true that we made some mistakes regarding that incident.
I'm sure you have your opinions' and we do respect them.
But what we should be considering now
is how we can restore normalcy and routine to this school
as quickly as possible.
I often liken schools to a ship.
The most important thing is to carry the students,
every last one of them,
safe and sound to the port called graduation.
Unfortunately, Tetsuya Noguchi
decided to disembark this ship called Higashigaoka Junior High.
But there are 356 other students still on board this ship.
We have a responsibility
to take them to their next destination.
I hope you understand.
What about the students who get seasick?
Mr. Noguchi didn't want to disembark.
There's no doubt about it.
His desk is necessary part of that classroom.
We made them rewrite those repeatedly.
No less than 5 pages.
To make sure that no complaints could be made'
ail the teachers checked them and made the kids revise them.
But with each revision, the students' true feelings seemed to fade.
The essays were identical.
"Be considerate." "Help each other."
"Be friendly.,' "A class that values friendship."
How did the kids feel when they were writing?
The essays were like exam answers.
Filled with "reflection," "regret," similar words like that.
What did we teach them by making them write those essays?
How does one go about teaching people something?
I didn't realize that Noguchi was being bullied.
But that's just an excuse. I just acted like I didn't notice.
Just once, I told Noguchi to bring me something.
Why did I do such a thing?
Why couldn't I stop the others?
I didn't have the courage.
I did something no person should ever do.
I, m so embarrassed.
I know that being sorry won't help,
but I truly feel that I did a terrible thing to Noguchi
and I regret what I did.
I feel that we must all work together
to make sure bullying never happens again.
Mr. Noguchi,
good morning.
Who are you e-mailing?
Give it back.
Stop doing that.
Sh... sh... shut up.
The Murauchi virus, huh?
Yeah, I caught it.
Cut it out! I thought you repented.
This class is full of bullies.
What?
You guys were the ones
bullying Noguchi!
Yeah. If you hadn't done that to him,
nothing would have happened!
So it's my fault?
It's all my fault?
You were doing it, tool
I know what you did to her.
You sent out e-mails to ignore her.
I knew about that.
You girls are all so sneaky.
The fact that you did it first won't change.
What?
Who began right after me?
You did it how many times?
Numbers don't matter.
Shut up.
You shouldn't have gotten carried away like that!
Stop it!
What's going on?
Do you still not understand?
What does this say?
Why is this poster on the wall?
Why did this happen?
Inoue.
Umeda.
Sonobe, you too?
All right.
Then everybody come to the counselling room.
Even the girls?
Of course!
This is the entire class' problem.
Mr. Ishino.
I'm sure they understand.
We considered punishing the students involved,
but since the 9th graders are facing exams, we've decided to
make that class write essays again
to make them formulate their feelings of reflection
so that they become more aware of how they act.
Over 5 sheets of paper each.
All the teachers will read them.
The students will revise them If need be.
Does that sound all right?
Why...
Why is it always over 5 pages?
How many do you think is appropriate' Ms. Shimazaki?
Mr. Murauchi, the manuscript paper is in the cabinet.
Good morning.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Wh..."When I realize I've spent whole days"
"before this ink stone,"
w..."with nothing better to do."
J..."jotting down at random"
"whatever thoughts that have entered my head"
wh..."what a strange, demented feeling it give me."
What's Murauchi doing here?
Let's get started.
We'll open them, then.
Same one. "What's, The Blue Bird'? '
Forget it. What's that?
"Is disliking someone bullying?"
"Or is it a matter of individual freedom?"
Don't.
Don't do that.
Clean that up.
Return the boxes and we'll do this again next week.
Mr. Ishino.
What, Sonobe?
Please answer that.
Does disliking someone equal bullying?
Did you write that?
No.
But I want to know. Please tell me.
Yes, it's bullying.
If everyone disliked someone and acted on it, that's bullying.
But what if I were alone?
What if I just thought so in my mind?
You can't hide your feelings forever.
Then others will start joining in.
Don't you dislike anybody?
No, I don't.
I couldn't be a teacher if I disliked students.
Not students.
Adults. You've never disliked anybody in your life?
Hey.
Did your class just learn to quibble?
No, that's not what...
Mr. Sonobe.
That's enough.
You're wrong.
Listen to Mr. Murauchi.
Think for yourself.
You're ail wrong.
Mr. Sonobe asked in earnest.
Earnest words must be heard in earnest.
Bullying doesn't happen when you dislike someone.
The number of people doesn't matter, either.
When you trample on someone
or hurt them
but you don't realize you're doing it
and you refuse to notice their pain'
that's bullying.
Um, let's discuss this problem next time...
I hate these boxes.
These things won't help anybody.
Sonobe, is this the right flavour chips you wanted?
Taking it took a lot of effort.
It was really tough.
Stop.
But it was your first order.
Can't screw that up.
Stop it.
Oh. You too, Sonobe?
Sir, why did you bring back Noguchi's desk?
Why do you talk to it every morning?
Because
Mr. Noguchi
wanted to stay in this class.
He wanted to be here. But he couldn't.
He really wanted to sit here
along with everybody.
So I'm going to keep calling his name.
You ail trampled on him.
You didn't notice the pain he felt.
That's how lightly you took him.
So I want to give him
the best attention in the class.
But he's not here anymore.
He'll never know what you do.
He's not here,
but you all are.
Are you trying to punish us?
It's punishment, right?
You won, t let us forget him as punishment.
No, you're wrong.
Then why?
It's responsibility.
But
we reflected and repented and apologized to Noguchi
and trying to start anew.
That's cowardly.
Starting over again is cowardly.
Mr. Noguchi will never forget you. He might
harbour a grudge, or hate you, or forgive you, I don't know,
but he will never forget you.
You ail did something unforgettable to him.
Then if you ail forgot about that, that's an act of cowardice.
You must never forget about him.
Don't ever forget what you did to him.
That's called responsibility.
An offense or not,
you must take responsibility for your actions.
Noguchi used to laugh.
He'd laugh and say,
"Don't make me do this",
"It's really no joke.,'
"Whoa, that's really hellish."
"This is the last time. No more encores."
"I'll just have to die now."
People are different.
There are those like me
who can't talk without getting stuck.
And those like Mr. Noguchi, who have to joke
to speak earnestly.
We used to read magazines together at his parents' store.
So he probably wanted me to help him.
But I laughed at him with the others.
Every time he joked,
I laughed at him.
When I told him to get potato chips'
he glanced at my face.
With such sad-looking eyes
he looked at me briefly.
I had noticed it.
It must have been my name on his note.
He must have written my name first for sure.
I just know it.
Don, t ever forget how you feel right now.
What you've repeated over and over in your heart.
Don't ever forget that feeling
for your own good.
Sir. If I do so
will I be able to become stronger?
You don't have to be strong.
People are all weak.
That's why you should
try to live earnestly.
Tell me something.
You and Umeda got along only when you were bullying Noguchi.
Yeah.
Yeah, I guess.
That's really despicable.
Yeah.
What? Did you say despicable?
Not just you.
Umeda. Me. We're all despicable.
Do you suppose he's made friends at his new school?
Of course.
There must be lots of guys better than us.
Yeah.
I'm so glad.
That he's alive.
I'm glad, too.
Really.
I found out.
About the third name on Noguchi's note.
My mom heard from a PTA official.
It said,
"And everybody else."
Sir, next isn't your class.
I asked to be switched.
This will be my final class with you.
Did he say final?
Yeah, he said final. Right?
Mr. Takahashi, who had taken some time off,
will return to school starting tomorrow.
So this will be my last day here.
I, d like you to write an essay in my last class.
Try to recall the essay of reflection that you wrote
end of last semester.
Recall what you wrote, and if you're satisfied with it
then you don't have to write anything.
Use this time to study.
Those of you who wish to rewrite it,
take some fresh paper
and write down how you feel now.
This time, it's not for the school.
Write this essay for yourself.
Okay, then.
Those of you who wish to rewrite it,
come get the manuscript paper.
I can only write a page, is that okay?
"Reflection Essay"
"Dear Noguchi,"
Dear Noguchi,
Your desk is still in this classroom.
It's to help us be aware of where you are or what you might be doing.
So that we never forget.
To recall what it was like when you sat there,
to wonder what it would be like if you were still here.
Noguchi.
I've never wanted to see someone and talk to him
as much as I do now.
Noguchi.
I'll never forget.
Those eyes of yours when you looked at me.
And that the blacked-out part of your note
should have included my name first.
I'll always, always remember that.
Noguchi, I know it's too late to do anything,
but this is the only thing I can do.
To never forget you.
That's my only option.
But even as I write this,
I still don't trust myself.
Because I, m so dishonest.
Because I'm so cowardly.
Mr. Takahashi will be returning to school, so
although his stay was brief,
today will be Mr. Murauchi's last day.
Give us a word, Mr. Murauchi...
Mr. Murauchi.
Ms. Shimazaki.
Teaching people something
isn't easily done.
Our job as teachers,
I think,
is to always be there for our students.
And if we're lucky,
then perhaps we might be able to convey something.
Mr. Murauchi.
Thank you for everything.
Me, too.
Thank you very much.
It's all right, you're not that weak
You don't need your right hand because it'll overflow
So let me stay here like this
A chrysalis that will flutter off someday
The morning sun rises and I tell you good-bye
Cars speed down the highway
Your smile still has a hint of childhood
Shadows of two people waving fall on the ground
Frantically pulling in the thread that won, t connect
I kept on knitting things that didn't suit me at all
It's all right, you're not that weak
You don't need your right hand because it'll overflow
So let me stay here like this
A chrysalis that will flutter off someday
Hiroshi ABE as MURAUCHI
Kanata HONGO as SONOBE
Taiga as INOUE
Tatsuya SUZUKI as UMEDA
Moe ARAI as HAYAKAWA
Tsugumi SHINOHARA as TAKAGI
Riho TAKAGI as CHIBA
Kazuya YAMAZAKI as NOGUCHI
Yuko ARAKI as KATAYAMA
Hajime INOUE as ISHINO
Hiroyuki KISHI as the Vice-principal
Osamu SHIGEMATSU as the Principal
Ayumi ITO as SHIMAZAKI
Executive Producers: Kazumi KAWASHIRO, Michiaki ENDO
Produced by Shohei KOTAKI, Satoshi KOHNO
Original Story by Kiyoshi SHIGEMATSU ("The Biue Bird" published by Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.)
Screenplay: Kenzaburo IIDA, Yasuo HASEGAWA
Theme Song by Maki-chang: Opening Theme "Hagane-no-kokoro"
Closing Theme "SANAGI - The Blue Bird version" Vap, inc.
Cooperated by YAMAHA MUSIC ARTIST, INC.
Production Company: BANDAI VISUAL, CO., LTD., NICHIGAKUDO, DESTINY
Director: Kenji NAKANISHI
English subtitles: Mia ISOZAKI
(C)2008 "The blue bird" Production committee