The documentary begins in April, with the new school year marked by the entrance ceremony for first graders. It captures the students' early experiences of discipline, order, and responsibility—such as learning to line up, care for their safety, clean the school, and serve lunch to one another. The sixth graders serve as role models, embodying the values of responsibility and community pride by managing school activities and encouraging younger students. The film highlights the progression of these children as they grow into their roles within Japanese society, emphasizing the balance between individual development and social harmony that the education system strives to maintain.
Filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the documentary also touches on how pandemic restrictions became an additional form of control within the school environment. It presents the school as a kind of "industrial production plant," where students are the raw materials shaped by cultural and educational forces. The film uses intimate, verité-style cinematography at the children's eye level to evoke the wonder and challenges of childhood, including moments of struggle, such as a girl overcome with tears after being admonished during music practice, and a boy breaking out of his shell through a sports routine.
Teachers are portrayed with nuance, grappling with self-doubt and the challenge of educating a generation that seems different from themselves. The director reflects on her own experience with strict teachers and the complex balance between pushing students and respecting them. The film offers unprecedented access to the daily life of a Japanese public school, showing both the strictness and the heartfelt moments that define the educational experience.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29311021/(original title): The Making of a Japanese
Australia: The Making of a Japanese
Canada: The Making of a Japanese(English)
Finland: Kouluvuosi Japanissa
Finland: Ett skolår i Japan(Swedish, TV Title)
Germany: The Making of a Japanese
Greece: Φτιάχνοντας έναν Ιάπωνα
Italy: The Making of a Japanese
Japan: 小学校～それは小さな社会～
Poland: Jak zostać Japończykiem(Festival Title)
Taiwan: 日本人的養成
United Kingdom: The Making of a Japanese
United States: The Making of a Japanes
