Kadokawa Trust Fund For Publishing Business Promotion
Yanai Support Organization Agency for Cultural Affairs
A CineVoice Production
Executive Producer Naoki Yamazaki
Produced by Kiyoko Sakuma
Theme songs by Tsunku
Yukiyoshi Ozawa
Mirai Yamamoto
Risako Sugaya
Nobuo Yana
Kirin Kiki
Koji Yakusho
Directed by Hiroshi Sugawara
Main valve 1 okay Main valve 2 okay
Hey, Miwa
You turned down the salary position?
Yeah
Ah...
you don't even know whether it's day or night,
working in this place
That's not why
Then take the full time position
You get treated completely different
You get insurance, retirement, and bonuses
When a chance comes, take it. You'll never regret it
There's something else I want to do
If people could do what they wanted to do,
I'd be playing trumpet in New Orleans
It's not too late
No
You think?
Maybe in my next life
Think seriously about going full time
Alright
Just when I finally found somebody I enjoy working with...
When you come to your senses, I'll be waiting
Here. Use this
[ FIREFLIES : RIVER of LIGHT ]
The sea is wide and big
The moon rises and sets
Let's do the experiment
Here we go
Take some rolled up tissue, light it on fire
Put it in the flask Then the egg...
On my third examination
my wish to become a teacher came true
This traditional elementary school with 120 years of history
Inside this warm, wooden school
my life as a teacher began
One, two, three, write 'three'
write 'wheel'
write 'energy' and read my name
Leonardo De Caprio
That's not it
You read it, ' Brad Pitt'
Sensei ( Used as a title to address teachers or persons of authority )
Why do you have a foreigner's name?
You read that 'San rin gen'
There's no such name, idiot
He said his name's ' Brad Pitt'
Sorry. Sorry everybody
My real name is Hajime Miwa
I want to get along with all of you
We'll study very hard in school
but no homework
Aren't you happy about that?
Sensei, what do you eat?
I eat anything
Even snakes?
No, not snakes
Sensei, are you married?
No, still single
Sensei, why aren't you married?
Well because...
Sensei, don't you have a girlfriend?
Sensei's voice is sexy
Sensei's Japanese is weird
Okay. Quiet. I know it's weird
Now we're going to change seats
That's enough
Sit down, sit down
Knock it off
Vice Principal Hakeda
Mr. Miwa
Don't play around with your students
I wasn't trying to
You're setting a bad example
You'll lose their respect
You have to conduct yourself with dignity
Daisuke
You again
Go stand in the back
Do this again
I'll make you scrub the floors
Listen closely to your teacher
and study hard
How you begin is essential
Be a teacher
That's all I ask
I'm sorry
You made him mad
I'll make you scrub the floors
Cut it out
I'm busy
I don't want to run
That's just because you're fat
Let's play dodge ball
How about double march
No. Kick ball
Let's play board games
You don't play board games in gym class
Let's do them all
I already drew the line
Ready
Set
One, two, move together
one, two, one, two
Follow my count
Watch out
One, two, keep going
You're Hikari, right?
Don't you want to run?
Are you sick?
If not, you should run
Let's go
Sensei made her cry
He's picking on her
No, No, I didn't
It's your fault
You can't cry. You're a boy
Don't be a big baby
Okay. All done
You guy's go ahead, I'll be right there
Falling down's no fun
Be careful
Thank you so much
That's okay. Kids see blood and panic
They've never been hurt, never even killed a bug
Their parents are so overprotective
Sensei.
About Hikari Hoshi
The girl that came from Tokyo?
Yes
She doesn't really talk
Did you try to talk to her?
Yes. Kind of
Her home life's a bit chaotic
Could be something psychological
Emotional scars are the hardest to heal
Principal Hashimoto
Mr. Miwa
Would you mind threading this needle for me?
We can still use them if they're fixed
Just because the mats get torn
is no reason to throw them away
How are you doing?
The truth is, I'm struggling a bit
The first year is like that for every teacher
Children can be angels
or devils
You don't become a teacher just by passing a test
Becoming a teacher starts here
Do you mind threading this again?
Eight times six equals
what times eight?
Four times six equals six times four
When multiplying, change the order of the numbers
gives the same answer
So eight times six equals what times eight?
Sensei
I'd like you to give them homework
Their second grade teacher always did
At this level, I believe studying hard in school is enough
That's not enough
Now they barely study five days a week
Give them homework. Build their basic education
Sensei My son doesn't focus
Get him in the habit of studying
Sensei You might have two days off a week
But we don't
We can't watch them
Sensei
My child's never been hurt
But one day with you...
Since you're new, I'll tell you straight
Sensei, you don't watch them close enough
I'm sorry. I'll be more careful
Sensei You have to protect our children
That's a teacher's job
Sensei. You need to improve my son's concentration
Don't play favorites. Pay attention to my kid
Make them learn the details
Make sure my child leaves on time
She can't be late to her tutor's
You need to teach them manners
And discipline
Discipline?
My child can't even greet people correctly
And good living habits
I'll write this all down
First
My boy doesn't eat vegetables, all he eats is meat
My son needs to drink more milk
It's a myth that teachers are kings of the classroom
I didn't become a teacher to be a king
I became a teacher to work with 33 students
But behind them are 66 complaining parents
Sensei, welcome home
Yeah, I'm here
Won't you join me?
The hot water's great
Scented with oranges
You're scaring him, popping out naked like that
Sensei,
you don't have to be bashful here
Just be yourself
Thank you
Sensei, I'll wash your back
What? You don't wash my back
Then use it after us. It'll still be warm
Ok
Hajime's late
You could wake him up
When we get up, it's too early for him
He still acts like a student
I wonder when he'll get over that
He's a good guy
Everybody have your books?
Where are we going again?
Did you forget?
I just told you
Don't look too long
All you see now is the sun, but the stars are still up there
You can only see stars at night
That's only because the sun's so bright
I didn't know that
You don't know anything
Stars came from a big explosion
It's called the "Big Mac"
You dummy, It's the "Big Bang"
Right. One of the stars made was Earth
Earth is a star?
Yep, and we're born on earth,
so we're fragments of stars
You mean we're stars?
Yep
That's why you're a blockhead
I'm no blockhead
Stop fighting. We're all brothers and sisters of the stars
There's dead fish
Everyone be careful!
It's sad fish have to live in this dirty water
It'd be beautiful if fireflies
danced here
Fireflies?
Bugs whose butts light up
Oh, them. But I've never seen one
Me either
They blink
You talk like you're dreaming
Sensei's so romantic
Let's make them fly
Now wait a second
Are you serious?
Fireflies. Fireflies. Fireflies
Don't you know anything about fireflies?
Not really. I was raised in Tokyo
Aren't there any fireflies in Tokyo?
Nope
Why not?
It's hard for them to live in Tokyo
Where do they live?
I wonder where?
Why do fireflies light up?
I'm looking
You don't know anything
That's why I'm looking it up
Sensei's mad
I've learned fireflies are sensitive to their environment
In spring, larva need calm water
at a fixed temperature
In fall, the mature larva
must be stocked in a clean river
This difficult project would take a full year
No problem. Thank you
You're working hard
Hello?
I don't know what to do with these firefly larva
The rivers are too dirty to stock the fireflies
They would die
You'd really be helping me out
Thank you
It's a lot of work
I'll do my best
Are you raising turtles?
Thanks
No problem
They used to fly here a lot
Now there's not one
It'd be great to see them fly here again
I really appreciate it
It's cold
Of course, it's cold
Cold water is the fireflies' life
Are they really here?
If not, the fireflies will die
Why?
All they eat is snails
They're picky eaters
They should eat 30 different foods a day like my mom makes me
Found one
Just a rock
One, two. One, two
Keep moving together
Untie your feet and head back
This sucks
Everyone okay?
No more
Hikari
It's your turn
Come run with everyone
It's fun
Sensei
Ms. Nanami
Can I have a minute?
Sure
Don't push her, she'll cry again
She's fine
Kids with emotional troubles get upset and cause problems
What if she stops coming to school?
That's not her problem,
and as her teacher, I'll take responsibility
Kids are not that easy to figure out
Too many teachers can't take the pressure and quit
Bye, Mr. Miwa
See you
Any brothers?
Only child?
Just like me
Don't fall
I'm home
Hi
I'm Hajime, Hikari's teacher
Sensei, it's nice to meet you
You too
Sensei, is she causing you any trouble?
Not at all
That's good
Are you her grandmother?
No. I'm her mother's aunt
And her parents?
Hikari's mother died just before Hikari started school
Cancer
She was so looking forward to Hikari starting school
Hikari's father drank, took his hand to her
I took her when I couldn't stand it anymore
Really sad
It's too bad for her
And at my age...
Sensei, please take good care of her
I will
Seized
What do you think life is?
I want my life back
Shut up
Shut up ? You aren't human
You're not even a man
Your garbage
Shut up
When was in 6th grade, my parents got a divorce
My father was failing at work, and my mother picked up and left
My heart torn out, I stopped going to school
My teacher worried about me
My teacher came to cheer me up everyday
Hey, Hajime
Hungry?
I'll make dinner. We'll eat together
After dinner, homework
I brought a ton for you
You only have one mother
She's very important
Hating her doesn't solve the problem
You have to be strong yourself
No matter how hard things get
Never give up
Only you yourself
can make your dreams come true
You and
your mom and dad, your friends
everyone
are brothers and sisters of the stars
Got it, Hajime
He was the only one who didn't give up on me
Is the water ok?
It looks like Mothra ( A Godzilla type of monster larva )
It's cute
You said they were ugly
Cute things are cute, right teacher?
Sure
Fireflies eat snails bigger than their own body
They need lots of energy to grow
Want a bite?
It's still alive
Everybody doing okay?
So how are the firefly larva doing?
Think they'll fly?
It'd be great if they would
Do you like fireflies?
It's sad
The fireflies?
The snails
Why?
They get eaten
That's true
That is sad
But, Hikari, you eat meat and fish, right?
We have to take life from plants and animals to live
What about the snails?
Do they have to die?
Snails a...
Snails also eat things to live also
The fireflies will get big
and live for the snails
What about the fireflies' moms?
They lay their eggs and then die
How about we all try our best and
get them to fly
I bet they're beautiful, flashing like stars
Sensei
Yes
Sensei, I've heard you're raising fireflies?
Yes. There's so much to do
There is a lot to do
At school there's meetings, conferences, and on and on
Will they fly? Really?
I didn't know that much about fireflies
But we're going to work hard
Around here
there haven't been fireflies for over ten years
You'd have to change the environment
How can you do that?
It's going to be hard
All you're doing is building up their expectations
If it doesn't work out, you're going end up hurting the kids
I'm not sure what will happen
but we would like to try
Excuse me
Young teachers are so optimistic
Daisuke
Get out of the garden
Watch your fingers
I'll be right there
Firefly Life Cycle
Shota. Yushi. You're late
Let's start the children's environmental summit
Where to stock the Fireflies
We should put them in a clean river far away
Agreed
No way. These are our fireflies
I don't want to put them far away
All the rivers close by are dirty or concrete
They can't live there
Why are concrete rivers bad, Mr. Miwa?
In spring, to change into pupa, the larva dig into the mud
If the river's concrete, there's no mud for then to dig in
It's impossible, getting them to fly
Let's put them in the school's river
If we put them there, they'll die for sure
That's mean
The firefly massacre
Is it okay with you if our fireflies die?
Let's clean it up then
That dirty river
There is no way to clean up that river
It's your turn to feed the fireflies
Did you forget?
Are you going home?
I quit. Raising them is impossible
How do you know?
Shota's busy
He doesn't have time to play with bugs
There's no point in raising bugs
You came
Do you like fireflies?
Is it true you don't have a mom?
Did she die?
Do you miss her?
No
Really?
My mom's always on me to study,
but I'd miss her
I have the fireflies
If I skip my tutor, my mom will be mad
Sorry, I can't help. Bye bye
Mr. Miwa
Are the fireflies gonna fly?
Yeah
I saw them when was a boy
I chased them
Hundreds of fireflies
filling the air
I never thought would see it again
But,
I'm expecting
that you will surprise me
Don't expect too much
The kids will be happy if just one or two fly
Your students amaze me
One of your students is still taking care of the fireflies
Hikari
What's wrong?
Maybe they're sick
You said people and bugs, everyone
are brothers and sisters of the stars
I'm off
See you
He's headed out early today
He gathers snails before school
What's that for?
He's raising fireflies at school
Killifish are easier
He's starting to act like a real teacher
They had grown so big
I couldn't protect them
It's not your fault
But 'm the fireflies' mother
Here lies a firefly
I'm sure it will go to heaven
Did you know when the fireflies fly
you can meet the person you miss most of all
The fireflies bring them
Really?
They do
No way
No. It's true
Really? No, really?
Yeah, really
My grandma told me
Hikari
Mr. Miwa
I can't find her
I'll check the river
Hikari
Let's keep looking
Hikari
Are you okay?
What were you doing?
Getting more snails
Sure you're okay?
I can meet my mom
When the fireflies fly
they will bring her to me
I will make them fly
We will
I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused
Learning by doing is very important
but fireflies were not meant for school
It's too much for the children
What assurance do you have that they will fly?
If you fail, you have no idea of the harm to the children
Is this project a communication tool?
I wanted to have an environment where fireflies could fly
A good teacher does not just play with his students
A teacher's job is to educate
You must stop this project
And the fireflies?
What's more important, the fireflies or the children?
Give me back the fireflies
What?
Give me the fireflies
What fireflies?
The fireflies
Shut up
Give them back
I don't get you
Give me the fireflies
Shut up
Give them back
Shut up
Hikari. What's happening ?
Wait a sec.
What?
The fireflies...
Fireflies are worthless
They should die
You...
You guys...
have only scarred yourselves
Got it
Welcome home
Hi
You worked late today
You too
It's just me and the old man
Our son moved on
Oh, no, Hajime. You don't have to do that
It's the least I can do
Hajime
How about a drink?
Your summer homework is to study a little everyday
Okay
And
This summer, I will take care of the fireflies
You don't need to come to school
Why?
We even have a schedule
Everyone
I want everyone to focus on your summer homework
So that's what I've decided
Don't worry, I will take good care of the fireflies
Hikari
Sorry
was...
The fireflies...
the river...
What are you doing?
Sensei has the fireflies.
That's why they're gone
What are you doing?
Changing the water
Let's all do it
Our summer homework
There is no reason you have to do it alone
I wish they'd fly
Let's make them fly
I was embarrassed
It's not that children can't do things
They can do anything, because they're children
The children taught me that
The children decided to stock this river
to keep a close eye on their fireflies
Why do people throw this stuff away?
I don't get adults
We have to clean the sludge too
Water is the fireflies' life
Water will wash down and dirty it up again
Where does that water come from?
Upstream
Where's that?
The mountains
And
The water you use in your houses emptys into the river
Into this river?
I didn't know that
Yeah, Yudai
We have to be careful
You guys...
You can't do that
All that soap
will run into the river, and kill the fireflies
What are you doing?
Shut the door
Don't use so much conditioner, shampoo, and soap
The fireflies are gonna die
Then jump in
Come oh
My family are murderers
This summer, I raised fireflies with the children
I never noticed the environment around me
Then I opened my ears to the river's murmur,
the sound of the wind,
the bird songs,
the frogs' chorus,
and nature's whispering
But more than anything,
I noticed the importance of water,
not just for the fireflies,
but as the source of all life
What was the weather on August 5th?
Just put down sunny, sometimes cloudy with a little rain
The sunflowers are supposed to be observed
What are you going to do?
They're still seeds
If he'd only study as hard as on the fireflies
Dad, math drills
To become an adult
Study hard
All right. We're finished
What color?
Green
At this school
this dream of raising fireflies has gotten in the way
One class is not concentrating on their studies,
coming back without summer homework
Mr. Miwa
What do you think of this problem?
The firefly project has not hurt these students
They're more involved,
interested and independent
Mr. Miwa
Independence is all you have tried
One girl went missing first semester
The principal and I are responsible for what happens
I thought we resolved this
I've watched these kids raise the fireflies
and I bow on them
They have taught me a lot
I will never tell them to quit
I will take responsibility
If something happens
and the fireflies don't fly,
I will resign
I will be expecting that resignation
and hold you to it
We don't need these distractions in school
Sensei
Why are you quitting over these fireflies?
Wasn't your dream to be a teacher?
I am looking forward to seeing them fly
I want the kids to realize their dream
About what happened in the meeting
In fact,
one student in my class always skipped school
I didn't know what to do
But then he started showing up everyday
When I asked why he said,
"The fireflies are neat and fun."
And he started making friends
Why didn't you say that in the meeting?
I'm sorry, I didn't know how.
You were right about the fireflies
They're a miracle at work
Do you know why the fireflies light up?
You still don't know?
It's the boy and girl fireflies' love call
They're proposing
Northern fireflies blink slow
Southern ones go blink, blink, blink
River concreting project
What's it say?
They're going to do construction
Concrete the river
Then we can't stock the fireflies
They won't be able to live
After we cleaned it all up
What's going to happen?
What about the fireflies?
Is there any way to stop the construction?
No, it's already been decided
There is no record of flooding,
so why is it necessary?
That concreting project has been decided for years
The budget is funded,
there is nothing we can do
Does the budget decide the environment?
Isn't it supposed to protect the environment?
Yamaguchi Prefectural Office
Sign the petition to save the fireflies
Mr. Hakeda
Your deal with Hajime is off, right?
There is no way the fireflies can fly now
A deal's a deal
If Mr. Miwa stops the project,
he can save his job anytime
You idiot, Hajime
Please sign to save the fireflies
Sign to save the fireflies
What?
Why do have to do that?
Sign here
wonder if you guys would mind signing this petition?
What's it for?
Take a look
My son's teacher is trying to get fireflies to fly here again
Help him out
My son is trying to get fireflies flying
Would you sign please?
Sure
Thank you
Is this Ok?
Thank you
There it is
I can only take voters' signatures
What's a voter?
People that vote, adults
My parents signatures are there
Then fix it. I can't take it like this
Why is there no place for the fireflies to live?
If it's all concrete, all the bugs will die
Why now?
It was decided by adults
It's not a kids' problem
Now get out of here
Give us back the fireflies' home
Mr. Miwa
Do you understand your situation?
The construction won't stop
Let's make our deal disappear
Mr. Hakeda
I'm not afraid of losing my job
Whether the fireflies fly or not,
I won't throw these kids' dreams away
Excuse me
This river was concreted over thirty years ago
Because of that construction, there's no record of flooding
We can raise fireflies, and it's perfectly safe
Your previous construction created an environment
perfect for stocking the fireflies
Please stop the construction
It's the kids' dream
Okay. Let's run
Let's go
Come on
You too, Eriko
Come on
Ai
What's wrong with you guys?
Run with us
Let's go
Okay. Let's run
Ready
Set
I figured it out
What?
Why there are no fireflies in Tokyo
Why?
Yeah why?
It's too bright.
No one can see them light up
My little firefly doctor
I made up a firefly dance I'll show you
I laugh and cry
My heart filled with passion
make my wish today
Fireflies,
wonder what tomorrow will bring
When was a kid, we caught fireflies in mosquito nets
Fireflies are part of Japanese culture
They're even in the Genji story
Protecting that is the city's job
Okay. We'll wait until June 10th
If the fireflies don't fly, we'll begin construction
You will wait till next year?
Oh, thank you
Thank you
Postponed
Sensei. Take these with you
Thank you so much
You've been so kind
Come by anytime
We'll feed you great rice from our farm
Thank you
Sorry couldn't help more
The firefly teacher should worry about the fireflies
We'll worry about the farm
Thanks for everything
Are you sure this old place is okay?
It's perfect, I can go to the school anytime
You moved for the fireflies, didn't you?
Can I help?
It's okay. Thank you
What a great teacher
Come, fireflies, come
Sensei, the fireflies spend the winter in the river, right?
Of course
Worried?
Do you think they'll be cold?
Maybe very cold
But spring comes right after winter
The fireflies that do well will change into pupa
Fireflies light up even when they're larva
I saw it
If you really look close
They light up in the dirt, so they're not lonely
They have lots of friends too
If the fireflies aren't lonely without a mom,
then neither am I
If you aren't lonely, then neither am I
Right. We're all brothers and sisters of the stars
Very true
Definitely true
I hope they will fly soon
They'll do great
It's true.
Here too.
Yes.
Be careful. Slippery here.
Are they healthy?
Good luck
Get big and come back soon
The fireflies are washing away
Hikari.
Nature is absurd
Principal Hashimoto
The fireflies the children raised
survived at a rate fifteen times normal
They were so happy
Then they released them into nature,
and everything got washed away
After all their hard work
I don't think Hajime has given up just yet
Sensei.
Did you find any?
Not yet
They're here somewhere
I'm sure we will see them fly
Think they're still alive?
When they do fly, they only live one or two weeks
That's a short life
Will they fly?
Will they really fly?
They aren't anywhere
They aren't going to fly
They aren't anywhere
Quiet, or the fireflies won't fly
Let's go
Mom
You were always in my heart
Now
you're a real teacher
Mr. Hakeda
Fireflies