The Making of a Japanese
Season 8 Episode 6 | 1h 20m 39sVideo has Closed Captions
An intimate look at childhood in Japan through a year inside a Tokyo elementary school.
From the Oscar-nominated short comes the full-length feature The Making of a Japanese, an intimate portrait of childhood inside a Tokyo public school. Over the course of a year, 1st and 6th graders navigate daily routines and small dramas while learning discipline, empathy, and community, finding the balance between individualism and being respectful toward others.
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Wyncote Foundation.
The Making of a Japanese
Season 8 Episode 6 | 1h 20m 39sVideo has Closed Captions
From the Oscar-nominated short comes the full-length feature The Making of a Japanese, an intimate portrait of childhood inside a Tokyo public school. Over the course of a year, 1st and 6th graders navigate daily routines and small dramas while learning discipline, empathy, and community, finding the balance between individualism and being respectful toward others.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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(jump rope whipping) (footsteps approaching) (Boy speaking Japanese) (footsteps departing) YUTARO: YUTARO'S MOTHER: YUTARO: (dishes clinking) YUTARO'S MOTHER: (dishes clinking) YUTARO: (mother laughs, speaks Japanese) ♪ ♪ (man speaking Japanese) TEACHER: ♪ ♪ (quiet chatter) PRINCIPAL: (indistinct chatter) ♪ ♪ PRINCIPAL: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: (Mako chuckles) MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: KANATO'S MOTHER: KANATO'S FATHER (chuckling): KANATO'S MOTHER: (Kanato grunts, mother chuckles) FIRST GRADER: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (chalk scratching) (bird chirping) (children playing) YUTARO'S MOTHER: (Mako speaking Japanese, Yutaro grunts) YUTARO'S FATHER: MAKO: YUTARO: MAKO'S MOTHER: YUTARO: MAKO: YUTARO: STAFF: KANATO: YUTARO: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: YUTARO: MALE TEACHER: FEMALE TEACHER: (nearby piano playing, applause) YUTARO: (piano playing, applause continues) (piano ends) VICE PRINCIPAL: PRINCIPAL: FIRST GRADERS: VICE PRINCIPAL: (school anthem plays over speaker) (school bell chimes) (unlocks door) KIHARA: ENDO and KIHARA: ENDO: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: (playful screaming, chatter) KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: (indistinct chatter) (giggling) ENOMOTO: FIRST GRADERS: (school bell chimes) SIXTH GRADERS: (kids clamoring) SIXTH GRADER: (child crying) WATANABE: SIXTH GRADER: SIXTH GRADER: (grunting) MALE TEACHER: FIRST GRADERS: (pencil rattling) WATANABE: (Ayame responds) (Kento responds) (Haruka responds) (Yutaro responds) (children replying) (Yutaro babbling) (feet shuffle) ENDO: (children respond, Endo repeats) (Endo repeats) (children respond) ENDO: (children chuckling, murmuring) (children talking in background) (children laughing, talking) (children laugh, exclaim) (shouting) (porcelain shatters, students scream) (applauding) ENDO: (children talking and giggling) (laughing) JAN: (children talking loudly) WOMAN: ENDO: ENDO (laughing) and TEACHER: TEACHER: ENDO: (people talking in background) TEACHER: JAN: TEACHER: JAN: (all laughing) VICE PRINCIPAL: ♪ ♪ MIYAMOTO: STUDENT: (talking in background) MAKINO: AOYAMA: STUDENT: (students applauding) KATO: (students applauding) STUDENTS (together): STUDENT: (students talking in background) ENDO: ENDO and KATO: ENDO: KATO: ENDO: Mm, mm.
YANAGAWA: ENDO: YANAGAWA: ENDO: ENDO and YANAGAWA: YANAGAWA: STUDENT: ENDO: STUDENT: (applauding) (bird cawing) MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: Mm.
MAKO'S FATHER: MAKO: MAKO'S FATHER: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO and MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO (crying): MAKO'S MOTHER: (feet pounding) STUDENT: MAKO: FIRST GRADER: YUTARO: (sighing) (yelping) (kids talking in background) STUDENT 1: STUDENT 2: STUDENT 1: (both laugh) (students greeting) WATANABE: (repeats greeting) ♪ ♪ KIHARA: (continues over speaker): STUDENT: STUDENT: KIHARA (over intercom): STUDENT: STUDENT and YANAGAWA: (talking in background) (Yutaro speaks Japanese) WATANABE: (children talking in background) WATANABE: YUTARO: WATANABE: (Yutaro responds) (Watanabe laughs) WATANABE: (machine whirring) (Yutaro roaring) GIRL: (children talking in background) WATANABE: (people talking in background) STUDENT (teacher repeats): TEACHER: NANAKA: TEACHER: NANAKA: STUDENT: TEACHER: NANAKA: BOY: NANAKA: TEACHER: (music playing in background) (woman speaking on intercom) (Mako panting) YAMAMOTO: - Mm.
("Mickey Mouse March" playing) YAMAMOTO: (over intercom): (school anthem playing) (children singing on recording, Mako panting) KENTO: AYAME: (song continues on intercom) KENTO: (Kento murmuring) WATANABE: (song continues) AYAME: (song continues) - (groans) (sighs) (song continues) (dish shatters) WATANABE: Oh.
KENTO: Mm.
WATANABE: Hm?
KITABAYASHI: (students repeat) KITABAYASHI: (students talking softly) (music playing over intercom) KIHARA (over intercom): (alarm beeping) STUDENT: AUTOMATIC VOICE: (alarm chimes) (whirring sound plays on intercom) VICE PRINCIPAL: WATANABE: ENDO (shouting): PRINCIPAL (on microphone): (birds chirping) (birds chirping) (turnstile beeps) (sniffs) (second hand ticking) (second hand ticking) (robot vacuum chimes) (whirring) ♪ ♪ ENDO: (students respond) (students respond) YAMASAKI: ENDO: (students respond) (vacuum whirring) ENDO: (chuckling): (laughs) (laughs) Mm.
(children talking in background) (talking indistinctly) MARUYAMA: UTSUNOMIYA: MARUYAMA: UTSUNOMIYA: BOY and UTSUNOMIYA: UTSUNOMIYA: BOY: UTSUNOMIYA: MARUYAMA: (shutter clicks) (bells chiming) (shutter clicks) WATANABE: YUTARO AND GIRL (singing): BOY: KENTO: (shutter clicking) YUTARO: PRINCIPAL: SUGITA: (insects buzzing) YUTARO'S MOTHER: (Yutaro grunts) (mother chuckles softly) (Yutaro and mother speaking in background) ♪ ♪ (Yutaro grunts, groans) YUTARO: (laughing, groaning) (mother yelps, Yutaro laughs) YUTARO'S MOTHER: (both speaking Japanese) (mother exclaims, Yutaro giggles) (Yutaro exclaiming, playfully groaning) (giggles) TEACHER: (men speaking Japanese) TEACHER: (man replies) (school bell chimes) ENDO: (children talking in background) ENDO: (Endo counting) (breathing heavily) (continues counting) ENDO: (resumes counting) (song playing) KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: Mm.
YAMAMOTO: ENDO: (upbeat music playing) (Endo giving commands, music continues) (song ends) ENDO: GIRL: KIHARA (breathing heavily): ENDO: (children talking in background) (Kihara sniffs) YUTARO: MAKO: (grunts) (exclaims) (Yutaro responds questioningly) STUDENT: YUTARO: STUDENT: AYAME: YUTARO: WATANABE and YUTARO: YUTARO: (Watanabe chuckles) AYAME: (children talking in background) WATANABE: (Yutaro sighs) WATANABE: AYAME and WATANABE: WATANABE: (children talking in background) KIHARA (on intercom): (children talking in background) (plane flying overhead) (breathing heavily) (panting) (panting) (crowd cheering) (song slowly starting) (upbeat music playing) (song ends, Kihara exhales deeply) (upbeat music playing) (song continues) (song ends) (audience applauding, Kihara breathing heavily) (applause continues) (applause continues) (applause continues) (children talking in background) ENOMOTO: WATANABE: (whistle blowing) (boy grunting, Yutaro shushing) ♪ ♪ WATANABE: ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) (laughing, talking in background) ENDO: ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) JAN: TAGO: (laughing) BOY: (laughing) (children talking in background) MIYAMOTO (whispering): JAN (quietly): MIYAMOTO (whispering): JAN (whispering): MIYAMOTO: JAN: (Miyamoto chuckles) JAN (whispering): TEACHER: JAN: TAGO: JAN: (school bell chimes) YAMAMOTO: Mm.
KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO and KIHARA: YAMAMOTO: (pencils scribbling) KIHARA: YAMAMOTO (chuckling): KIHARA: Mm.
YAMAMOTO (chuckling): KIHARA (chuckling): YAMAMOTO: (children talking in background) WATANABE: STUDENT: WATANABE: ENOMOTO: (applauding, cheering softly) ENOMOTO: (children cheering, clapping) (Ayame counting) WATANABE: AYAME: (Ayame humming) ENOMOTO: (piano playing "Ode to Joy") (bass drum beating) (Kento humming) (piano and drum continue) (students applauding) ENOMOTO: AYAME (groaning): (Enomoto speaking Japanese) (piano playing) (drum beating) (Ayame exclaims softly) (groans) AYAME: (applauding) ENOMOTO: (students replying) (students replying) (Ayame gasps) (students applauding) (Kento responds) ENOMOTO: KENTO: (students applauding) ENOMOTO: (voice fading) (children talking in background) (children talking in background) (humming, tapping to beat) AYAME: ENOMOTO: (piano playing "Ode to Joy") (piano ends, students applauding) WATANABE (chuckling): ENOMOTO: AYAME: (students applauding, talking excitedly) (children talking in background) ENOMOTO: (counting) (children replying) ♪ ♪ (children talking in background) AYAME: ♪ ♪ (shrieking, talking) YUTARO: AYAME (chuckling): ♪ ♪ (birds twittering) TABEI: (repeating greeting) (repeating) (repeating) (children talking in background) ENDO: (children talking in background) ENDO: (conversations continue) ENDO: (conversations stop) (conversations resume) (crickets chirping) (sounds echoing) (announcement playing) ENDO: Mm.
(sniffs) VICE PRINCIPAL: ENDO: Mm!
(vice principal laughs) ENDO: (children calling, exclaiming) ENDO: Bonus chance.
GIRL: ENDO: (toy squeaks, students scream) STUDENTS: ENDO: (toy squeaks, students screaming) (clapping, cheering) ENDO: (drum tuning) (girls singing "Ode to Joy") WATANABE: (children talking in background) (Ayame humming "Ode to Joy") AYAME: (Ayame exclaims) (school bell chimes) AYAME: WATANABE: ♪ ♪ (playing intro to "Ode to Joy") (bells begin, piano playing melody) ENOMOTO: (piano playing melody) (percussion begins) (Enomoto speaks) (piano and percussion playing) ENOMOTO: AYAME (softly): ENOMOTO: STUDENTS: ENOMOTO: (Ayame crying) (Ayame whimpers) ENOMOTO: (Ayame crying, sniffling) AYAME (crying): ENOMOTO: (piano playing melody) (percussion begins, Ayame sobbing) (music playing) (Ayame sobbing) (people talking in background) WATANABE: ENOMOTO: WATANABE: (Ayame whimpers) WATANABE: Hm?
AYAME: WATANABE: (Ayame whimpers) WATANABE: AYAME (crying): WATANABE: (children singing "Ode to Joy" in background) Mm?
(children singing "Ode to Joy") KENTO: (Ayame groaning) KENTO: ENOMOTO: (piano playing intro) (others begin) ("Ode to Joy" continues) (people talking in background) ENOMOTO: AYAME: (Watanabe chuckles, exclaims) WATANABE: (birds chirping) ♪ ♪ (Tabei greeting, others respond) TABEI: (students exchanging greetings) (calling out greetings) (students exchanging greetings) TAGO: JAN: TAGO: JAN: (students laugh) TAGO: JAN: TAGO: JAN: TEACHER: ENOMOTO: TAGO: ♪ ♪ WATANABE: (papers rustling) YUTARO (laughing): (both squealing, laughing) MAKO: YUTARO: MAKO: MAKO'S MOTHER: MAKO: YUTARO: MAKO: (stick scraping) ♪ ♪ (children talking in background) (both growl) WATANABE: (Yutaro murmurs) YUTARO: (Yutaro vocalizing) MAKO: KIHARA: YAMAMOTO and KIHARA: (music begins) KIHARA (singing along): (speaking): (song continues over intercom) BOY (singing): (singing to melody): KIHARA (singing): (coughs softly) (song continues) (song fades) (people talking in distance) MAKO: ♪ ♪ (talking in background) KENTO: YUTARO: WATANABE: (students respond) (students respond) (Watanabe talking softly) (girls crying) (Ayame sobbing) (girl crying) WATANABE: HARUKA: WATANABE: GIRL: WATANABE: GIRL 2: WATANABE: GIRLS: WATANABE: ♪ ♪ (Watanabe sniffling) (sniffling) ♪ ♪ TAGO: ENDO: TAGO: JAN (voice trembling): (laughs, students chuckle) (sniffling) (students murmuring) (Jan inhaling) (sighing) (students chuckle) JAN (catching breath, sniffles) (sniffles) (robot vacuum whirring) (classical music playing, audio distorted) (teacher reading students' names, students replying) (music continues) TEACHER: KIHARA: (shutters clicking) NAGI AND KOMORI: ALL STUDENTS: (people talking in distance) ♪ ♪ (children talking in background) (crowd applauding) MAKO: (students cheering) BOY: (Jan exclaiming) (laughing) (laughing) ENDO: (sniffles) ♪ ♪ (students talking in background) ♪ ♪ ENDO: (voice breaking): (teachers laugh, Endo moans) (inhales, exclaims softly) TEACHER: (all laughing) (crying and laughing) ENDO (voice trembling): (exhales, sniffles) (others applauding) JAN: (claps back) (Endo sighs) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ENDO: (laughing): (students talking in background) ENOMOTO: (students reply) (Ayame exclaims) AYAME: GIRL: AYAME: (laughing) KENTO: AYAME (softly): KENTO: AYAME: (piano playing intro to "Ode to Joy") (intro continues) (rest of instruments begin) (playing "Ode to Joy") (music continues) PRINCIPAL: (students talking in background) ("Ode to Joy" continues) PRINCIPAL: ENDO: ("Ode to Joy" continues) (music ends) (audience applauding) AYAME: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
The Making of a Japanese | Trailer
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S8 Ep6 | 30s | An intimate look at childhood in Japan through a year inside a Tokyo elementary school. (30s)
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Support for PBS provided by:
Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Wyncote Foundation.