"Japan was no longer a war-torn country." "In 1951 Japan took its fi rst step out of post-war poverty." "Our I ives in Japan were changing rapidly with innovative technology." "This story takes place in Tokyo at the time of an economic transition." "consider the world's current conditioos [our surrender is an inevitable cooclusion in the oame of peace." "I want to kiss you" "I 'l I whisper your secrets" "To the sky so bright blue" "Oh I ittle red apple why do you sigh?" "Pretty apple!" "So pretty!" "As cute as a pie!" "The Tokyo kid loves to sing the latest tunes W i th dreams in his right-hand pockets" "And chewing gum sticks in his left" "Ruo up on the rooftops i f you want to see planes" "If you want to go diving then jump down some drains" "Our Home I and' If you want to go diving then jump down some drains" "Our Home I and'" "1 956 1956 You are the future of Japan." "Put a I I you have i nto whatever you do" "You are the future of Japan." "Put al l you have i nto whatever you do." "Kiba El ementary Schoo l You are the future of Japan." "Put al l you have i nto whatever you do." "Kiba El ementary Schoo l too." "You have a country to rebui I d." "I 'm p leased to i ntroduce you to a new teacher." "Ms. Rieko Sakamoto." "She' s just graduated from a mus i c un iversi ty." "She has the ski I I to be a professional vocal ist." "But she chose to come to th i s school to study wi th you." "she' I I be your music teacher." "I also expect her to lead the chorus for the competi tion." "Ms. Sakamoto ... wi I I teach Class 4 of the 6th Grade." "Here is Ms. Sakamoto." "My name i s Ms. Sakamoto." "Let' s have fun s i ng i ng and studyi ng together." "Let' s aim for fi rst pri ze at the chorus competi tion." "What the heck i s a "vocal ist?" "'" "I t means a singer." "Real I y?" "isn't she?" "I hope Mr. Taki i goes away forever." "I n your dreams." "Mr. Taki i wi I I always be our teacher." "We have another newcomer today." "This is Shizu Mi yanaga." "Her fami ly has moved here from Kobe... because of her father's recent transfer." "You know where Kobe i s?" "Why don't you introduce yoursel f?" "I 'm Shizu Miyanaga." "My mom tel Is me that" "I have a bright personal ity but that I 'm too imposing." "I love singing and someday I want to be a singer or a music teacher." "Let' s become good friends." "Shizu has been taking si nging and piano I essons." "That's classy!" "The p iano?" "I s she rich?" "A singer?" "I want to hear her sing a hi t song." "What?" "I want to hear her sing." "Me too!" "Why don't we ask Ms. Sakamoto if Shizu can sing for us in the music class?" "you may be seated." "si r." "you' re the class president." "Help her i f she has any probl ems." "I wi I I." "stud!" "Shut up!" "It's wei rd to have two teachers for one class." "I prefer the pretty one." "the new gi rl is stuck up." "She talks funny too." "I ain' t talking funny!" "That's great." "She' s from Kobe so her accent is different to that of Osaka." "Aki ra?" "What?" "You' re the class president." "Give her a hard time." "No!" "I don' t want to abuse my authority." "That's because you I ike her." "Don't you?" "That's crap!" "Don' t get upset." "You' re teasing me because you I ike her!" "give her a hard time." "Gon?" "I want more!" "Reiko." "Everythi ng's best in moderation." "I want to eat a lot so I ' I I be as tal I as Aki ra." "you should apply for the national school." "The local junior high school is bad." "You won' t be able to study." "Kazuko?" "There' re those del inquents." "Not so many but... they influence the other kids and give teachers trouble." "Were you hoping to go to high school?" "I 'd real ly I ike to go but... only ten students in the class wi I I be able to go to high school." "The teachers recommend the supplementary classes that they offer." "Sugiura wi I I apply for the national school." "too." "He's the son of a doctor..." "I ' I I go to the local school." "Mrs. Yanagi sawa." "I cooked sardi nes." "Have you finished eating?" "Mrs. Aoki." "You' re always so generous." "I couldn' t resi st them." "They look so del i cious." "Mozart was born in Austria." "He's one of the greatest composers." "His father was also a musician." "His father also excel led in music but he was social ly inept." "He was never able to provide wel I for his fami ly." "You may stop." "Yoshio." "ma'am." "You should do more reading practice." "Yes." "p I ease." "ma'am." "Young Mozart had to accompany hi s father to performances in many different countries." "His reputati on as a geni us helped his father attract audiences." "But young Mozart disl iked the kind of attention he was given." "He didn't I ike to be treated I ike a rare animal by high society." "He disl iked the trips but there was one comfort." "Maria." "Maria was 5 years senior to him and very pretty." "Shizu." "You have good reading ski I ls." "He didn' t I ike to be treated I ike a rare animal." "Why do you think he didn't I ike it?" "Minoru Watanabe?" "I 've no idea." "Yoshio." "Put yourself in his shoes." "boy." "I can't." "Aki ra?" "Okay." "I t was hi s father's reci tal." "But peopl e came to see young Mozart play." "He must have felt as if he was in a ci rcus sideshow." "Nicely put." "Akira described it very clearly." "Next sentence." "a television set!" "Reiko!" "Did you watch the wrestl ing match on the television here?" "That's right." "Why don't we have a television set at home?" "Reiko." "Aki ra." "What are we going to buy?" "Croquettes and fried fish." "I want to eat cutlets." "Cutlets cost a fortune!" "30 yen!" "A croquette is only 5 yen." "How many croquettes can you buy for the price of a cutlet?" "Reiko." "there." "What would you I ike?" "5 each." "I ' I I get you fish and croquettes." "there." "Hel lo." "Your friend?" "Aki ra i s in my class." "you' re Aki ra." "Hel I o." "I 've heard a lot about you." "Shizu tol d me that you were smart." "so I hope you' I I be her fri end." "I wi I I." "Is this your cute sister?" "Yes." "Here you go." "5 of each." "Watch out." "They' re hot." "Thanks." "Aki ra." "Let' s go home now." "Yeah." "Come back agai n!" "Aki ra." "Do you go shopp i ng often?" "not often!" "I don ' t th ink i t ' s a bad th i ng for boys to do." "Yeah?" "Sh izu!" "good morning." "Let' s wal k together." "Sh i zu Miyanaga Shizu Mi yanaga..." "Aki ra?" "I 'm studying Japanese characters." "Don' t di sturb me!" "Why don't we begin with Shizu's song as we talked?" "We want Shizu!" "Shizu and I had a I ittle practice the other day." "Are you ready?" "Yes." "Sing I ike you did the other day." "I ' I I sing "Flower Town." "I ' I I help you wi th the piano." "Let's have fun." "Over the rainbow valley" "The ribbons of wind float away in circles we chased" "Oh joy to the Spriog as we chased" "That ' s amaz i ng!" "Kobe." "And a city of flowers beyood in circles we danced" "Oh joy to the Spriog as we danced" "The violet window one evening" "At the coroer of the city street Crying alooe in the dusk" "She ' s so good." "A star has been born at Ki ba E I ementary Schoo l!" "everybody." "Sh i zu." "D i d you see how she breathed from her abdomen?" "I have a good feel i ng about the chorus competi t ion." "When are the se lecti ons for the competi t ion?" "I ' I I have you si ng i ndivi dua I ly i n my c lass." "And I ' I I choose 8 students from each class." "We' I I start practicing before the summer." "ma'am!" "Hey!" "Take care!" "Hey!" "Get off the logs!" "I t's dangerous!" "You' re going to fal l!" "What di d I tel I you?" "you goofbal I." "I lost my balance because of him." "Hopscotch!" "three!" "a tel ephone cal I for you!" "Coming!" "go answer the cal l." "tel I him "2 more days." "Okay." "ma'am." "Yanagisawa joinery." "Are you the son?" "Where 's your dad?" "I guess this means that he 's not fioished yet." "He wi I I be ready i n 2 days." "I 'm going to have to deduct money for the delay." "s i r." "Tel I your dad to get a phone and get more serious about his business." "s i r." "He 's a palo in the butt." "Ak i ra." "T e I I your father to get a te I ephone soon." "e i ther." "As i f i t ' s easy to get a phone." "We can ' t afford one." "But I feel sorry for the land lady." "We bother her so often." "We cou ld be more organi zed so that we'd get I ess cal I s." "He's had enough of "Mr. 2-more-days." "What's wrong wi th doing the best joinery I can?" "I s he tel I ing me to compromi se?" "he' s talking about deadl ines." "No more excuses." "You can't keep delaying him for 2 days." ""1 more day." "I 've been fi gurl ng out how I can get my own phone." "Red team White team" "You' re out!" "Aki ra!" "Shizu!" "2 to go!" "Yoshio!" " Come on!" "Watch the bal I careful ly." "too!" "Strike!" "Shizu!" "Keep going!" "Keep your eye on the bal l." "It's my bal l!" "Yoshi o!" "Nice batting!" "Shizu." "Never mi nd." "Shizu." "Don' t worry about i t." "Okay." "hi t a home run!" "Stri ke!" " Ni ce pi tch!" " Get him!" "Catch i t!" "You've got 3 outs!" "3 to 2." "you' re good at everything!" "That's not true." "i sn' t he?" "He's also a fast runner." "I s he?" "I envy anybody who's good at sports." "paint we I I..." " Yes!" " They' re mi ne." "Guys." "I 've got carame Is for you." "Did you stea I them?" "You' re good at i t." "I t won' t hurt thei r busi ness anyway." "I ' I I hit the stationery store next." "You' d better stop." "Smart guys are too cauti ous." "There's just one old woman at the stationery store." "It' I I be fine." "crayons and even knives." "Yoshio." "Leave it to me." "I love the thri I I of it." "aren't you?" "I 'm home." "Where have you been?" "Clean the shop." "I wi I I." "I 've dec i ded on who' I I be in the chorus competi tion." "8 students from your class." "Shizu wi I I be chosen. come to the musi c room after school." "Kimiyo Arima." "Here." "Hikaru Goto." "I was chosen!" "Hi roshi Sugiura." "Yes." "Yayoi Taj ima." "Here." "Yoshiko Takahashi." "Yes." "Masako Nakaj ima." "Here." "Shizu Mi yanaga." "Here." "I knew she'd be chosen." "Aki ra Yanag i sawa." "I..." "I 'm here." "Those are the chosen 8." "There' re always more gi r I s than boys." "Those who have been sel ected." "Practice hard and make the who le schoo I proud." "Wai t up!" "Sug i ura can' t come today." "I won' t work wi th a wimp." "Aki ra?" "We've been fr iends since 4th grade." "Don't disappoint us." "I 'm in." "But this is the last time we do it." "Let' s go." "I ' I I tel I you the plan on the way." "Miki Stationary Store" "Hel lo." "Can I see some crayons?" "Crayons are over there." "How many colors?" "I guess." "They' re too expensive." "Can I take a look at that?" "They' re nice." "I can' t choose." "They' re expensive." "you..." "What are you hi d i ng?" "Show me your hands and everythi ng that you took." "Show me." "You too." "I d i dn' t take anyth i ng." "Show me your hands!" "You' re bunch of thieves." "Al I of you!" "You' re the ones who've been stea I i ng from al I the stores." "grade and teacher's name." "Aren't you the joiner's son?" "I heard you were a smart boy." "What a shame." "You have to work for what you want." "What's becoming of Japan?" "What' re the teachers and parents doi ng?" "They' I I hear about th is." "Mark my words." "Sorry." "I screwed up." "What can we do about i t?" "Aki ra?" "I ' I I te I I my parents about i t." "That ' s al I I can do." "Aki ra's home." "Aki ra came home!" "Reiko." "Okay." "come i nsi de." "The stat ionery store owner came to ta I k to me." "I s what she sai d true?" "Yes." "Go wash your hands and face." "Go to the shr i ne." "Te I I our ancestors what you've done." "come wi th me to apo log ize to the store owner." "Don' t I et i t happen agai n..." " Apo log ize." " I 'm sorry." "That's enough." "How many times have you done i t?" "sweets... but..." "I was happy that you chi I dren were growing up to be good ci tizens." "I knew i t was bad." "But I coul dn't stop mysel f." "Don' t be deluded into thinking that you can do whatever you want." "A man has to do what is right." "You got your mother awful ly worried." "It was good that you were caught." "Otherwi se you'd have bel i eved that you cou I d get away with anything." "You may come in." "We have agreed to have a talk wi th the shopl i fters and thei r parents." "And to raise students' awareness that i t's a serious offence." "And we' I I discuss with the PTA how ethics can be taught." "Anything else?" "Yes." "please." "The shop owners demand that we deal with the situation severely." "This indicates that our students have been shopl ifting on more than one occasion." "We need to show them that we're sorry." "We should demonstrate that we wi I I never let this happen again." "We can do so by withdrawing from the chorus competition." "Yanagisawa happens to be one of the chorus members." "Maybe only he should be disqual ified." "I don' t know why he did such a fool ish thing." "I don' t think we should forfeit nor disqual ify Aki ra." "Many local schools have trouble discipl ining students." "Something's happening to these chi ldren." "Or maybe I should say that something's missing from thei r hearts." "It's important to do things that make them feel united." "The chi ldren selected for the chorus wi I I share with everybody the beauty of Japanese songs." "It wi I I reach the students' hearts." "We have to deal with the consequences of our acti ons." "When one does something wrong other peop le are affected as a consequence." "Chi I dren need to I earn this I esson." "I t's urgent to demonstrate that we are taking this seriously." "We must make it clear." "But those who shopl ifted al I feel gui ity about this including Yanagisawa." "You don't know what they real ly think." "They do need discipl ine." "They lack an awareness that they did something wrong." "You' re right." "They think it's a game." "That' s the problem." "You think you can stay out of this?" "Isn' t that something!" "Since when?" "too?" "Akira stole something too." "No kidding?" "Gon must be the leader." "Why is Aki ra hanging around with Gon and that gang?" "The chorus competition...!" "We are disqual ified from it!" "What?" "It's not fai r!" "It makes no sense!" "just punish us!" "Nobody else should be punished!" "What does the chorus competition have to do with shopl i fting?" "1956" "The rain never stops." "How come you manage to keep busy in thi s recession?" "This job has to be done in a hurry." "I even have Aki ra help me." "What di d your landlady tel I you?" "She told us to get a phone quickly." "I 've been thinking..." "I 'm going to sel I my sword to get a telephone." "Your Bizeo Osafune sword?" "We' re from a samurai fami ly." "He cherishes the sword." "I don' t want him to part wi th i t." "I 'm home." "Working hard?" "Aki ra?" "Come and eat some sweets." "Yeah." "Al I the recent rain brings on my neuralgia." "Are you okay?" "I know someone who'd want my sword." "I s this the fi rst time you've seen i t?" "Why don't you hold it?" "it's registered." "But it' s sti I I dangerous." "I t's so heavy..." "The samurai fought with such a thing..." "Have you had enough?" "Yes." "they have power over your thoughts." "The sword's our protector but we need food on the tab I e." "You shou I dn' t se I I i t." "I t's always been wi th us." "I t's invaluable." "You' re right." "wi I I you?" "Sure." "Gon." "Shizu." "I need to talk to you." "What is it?" "the boy." "The punisher of evil." "To be continued." "Buy a candy as payment for the story." " What do you want?" " Can I have a candy?" "Re iko!" "Aki ra?" "I ' I I take the p I anks to Mr. Arai." "You want to come too?" "Yes." "I I i stened to the story wi thout paying." "Never do i t agai n." "Was i t good?" "The adventures of Mi ke the kid." "He beat al I the bad guys." " He's so strong." " That's great." "Aki ra." "We have work to do." "Let' s go." "Sorry that I di dn't go shopl i fti ng with you." "I t's over now." "I felt I ike I betrayed you al l." "I 've wanted to apologize to you." "I knew it was wrong." "I wasn' t gutsy enough to stop Gon." "Are you going for the nati onal school?" "I ' I I go to the I ocal school." "I don' t have a clear goal." "Come with me and do the test." "I feel isolated from the rest." "Sugiura." "You have enough time for festivals but not for shopl ifting?" "Teru." "Too much work makes you a dui I boy." "Leave him alone." "We did something wrong." "Why can't you admit it?" "Shut up!" "that's him." "Gon Abe of Kiba Elementary." "You guys got caught steal ing?" "Are you here to steal some more?" "Say something." "Show me what you stol e." "We just came to the fest ival." "You want some action?" "I ' I I beat you up!" "Gon." "you guys." "Come wi th us." "beat h im up!" "Gon..." "Gon!" "Let me go!" "I t's my turn." "Gon!" "Hey!" "That's enough." "Gon." "Are you okay?" "I t's nothing." "Gon." "Where's Aki ra gone?" "Do you know that gi r l?" "I 've seen her." "Aki ra!" "Something terribl e has happened." "Ms. Sakamoto cal I ed and drowned earl ier today at Shonan beach." "... What?" "She went there alone to visi t relatives." "I 'm confused by this tragedy." "How can she be dead?" "I just can' t bel ieve it." "Shizu was a friendly gi rl who loved to sing." "She was such a lovely daughter." "So bright and caring." "We were so happy that she made many good friends at her new school." "She was so happy to have been chosen to sing wi th the chorus." "I t's a shame." "She was so fu I I of I i fe and dreams." "The on ly consolation is that she' d I ived her short but good I i fe ful I y." "Her soul wi I I go to heaven... and she' I I bring joy to whoever hears her sing up there." "Find a place in your heart to remember my daughter." "We thank you al I for coming in this very hot weather." "Shizu went away as suddenly as she came." "I would have been her fan." "She looked as if she was asleep." "But her hands were so cold..." "That's what happens when you die..." "Does her soul di e too?" "Do you think her soul wants to be a singer again?" "She was looking forward to the chorus competition." "Do you think her soul 's holding a grudge against us?" "it's your fault!" "Shut up!" "Stay out of this!" "Don' t get your friends involved!" "That's not up to me!" "Akira!" "Tel I the Principal that you want to rejoin the competition!" "Me?" "I can't tel I him what to do." "you can!" "You have to!" "You have to convince him!" "1956 too." "Review it unti I you understand it." "We said good-bye to Shizu earl ier in the class." "There's another one of us who had to leave this class." "Gon Abe." "His fami ly moved to Tachikawa during the vacation." "That's where the locals are protesting against the expansion of the US Air Base." "He refused to say good-bye to the class." "That' s his style." "So I persuaded him to write a farewel I note." "Dad's opening a tavern in Tachikawa so I ' I I go with him." "It' I I be a better class wi thout me." "Gon Abe." "That sui ts his character." "so he has to hel p hi s father wi th hi s work." "just as Shizu was." "Gon didn't say anything to us." "What is this about?" "we weren't in the competiti on anymore." "So I apologized to everybody and organized a petition." "I don' t see your name on it." "I 'm not qual i fied to sign my name." "And this...?" "I wrote it." "I ' I I accept thi s." "But I don't know what the other teachers wi I I say." "Ms. Sakamoto's been trying to convince us to let you compete." "But many teachers oppose her." "I don' t think we should withdraw the deci sion we've made." "The shop owners and parents wouldn' t understand." "Seeing "Shizu's soul " on the peti tion made me lose my resol ve." "Shizu di ed without singl ng i n the competi tion." "That's what compel led Aki ra to make a petition." "I think it's commendable of him to do such a thing." "He felt a sense of responsibi I ity to Shizu and the others." "I think we're al I overreacting to Shizu's death." "What's the big deal about singing old songs anyway?" "In this mobi le economy where everything is changing... songs with lyrics about nature and I i festyle have I ittle relevance to us." "Excuse me!" "that' s why we must preserve the beautiful sentiments in those old songs." "Thank you for your various opini ons." "My conclusion is that the students should rejoin the competition." "The shopl ifting and the death of a student are both tragic." "But what's more important is that the chi ldren are getting together to deal with it." "I 'm moved by the intention." "I take responsibi I ity for this decision." "too." "What's this about?" "What's happened?" "we wi I I join the competition again!" "Al I right!" " Let's do our best." " Yeah." "out of competition." "But we get to sing at the end." "The petition changed the teachers' opinions." "I think we owe it to Aki ra." "We should let Aki ra join us." "Don' t you agree?" "It's okay." "We want Akira!" "He's our friend!" "We' I I do it together." "We don' t have much time to practice but let's do our best." "okay?" "Okay!" "Let' s start with basics." "Let' s see how much we improve then decide what to si ng." "ma'am." "This is for my s i ster." "This is for Aki ra." "Recently they've become so busy I ike Daddy." "Honey." "Could you put out the flag?" "It's the autumnal equinox." "I ' I I go and do it." "a phone cal l!" "Thank you!" "It's a telephone cal l!" "Can you answer i t for me?" "Coming!" "so much." "We' re so grateful for your kindness." "We' re getting a telephone without having to sel I the sword." "He's working even on a national hol iday!" "Business wi I I improve once you have a phone." "I don' t know how to thank you." "Ms. Sakamoto." "I have some probl ems wi th the chorus..." "Sugiura and Terai want to quit because they' re busy." "Some are comp lai ning that the chorus takes up too much of thei r time." "Sugiura and Terai need to study hard... for entrance exams." "or el se peopl e wi I I start being negative again." "Make sure that the students trust you on this." "Thank you for the advice." "I ' I I give it some thought." "Good." "Why don't we take a break?" "I love what I can see from here." "used to be seasi de not so long ago." "long time ago." "Let' s cal I i t a day." "Yes!" "There' s somethi ng I want to tel I you." "I wasn' t sensi tive about your feel ings." "I 'm sorry." "I want to tel I you why I became a school teacher." "Why I consider music education to be so important." "I had a brother." "The only sibl ing I had and he was 7 years older." "He was smart and he was always kind to me." "He died when he went on a Kamikaze mission." "This is a letter he wrote to me before he took off on that mission." "This is very important to me." "I want to share it with you." "We had our last day of leave." "My friend and I went to a local church." "The pastor there welcomed us." "He sympathized with our fate." "Then he asked us a question." "Do you I ike chi I dren's songs?" "They are the embodiment of of Japan's beauty." "0ur de I i cate sensibi I i ty." "Everyth i ng that makes us Japanese i s in those songs." "And he sat at the p iano." "He started to p lay a song for us." "Beoeath the cherry blossoms there was drink and song" "In the moonl it castle revels lasted al I oight loog" "The pale moon gl istened on the branches of the pines nothing of that ancient brightness now remains" "The autumn frost gleams on the castle wal ls" "The sad cry of wi ld geese from the dark sky fal ls" "And ivy si lver in the moonl ights gentle beams nothing of that ancient brightness now remains" "There was such a beaut i fu I song i n th i s country." "But I ' d never heard i t before nor sung i t... because of th i s war." "I thi nk I understood what I ' m go i ng to d i e for." "I want Japan to be a country where ch i I dren s i ng those songs wi th great pr ide and pl easure even 10O years from now." "That's what I 'm fight i ng for." "That's what I ' I I sacr i fi ce mysel f for." "not thi s Japan." "That's what your brother wi I I di e for." "Rieko." "Bui I d your career on your tal ent." "Become a school teacher i f possibl e so that... your pupi Is wi I I sing those wonderful Japanese songs forever." "I 'm lucky to have had a sister I ike you." "What song would you I ike to sing on stage?" "We talked about it and have decided to sing "The Moonl it Desert." "You want to sing that song?" "then." "I ' I I play the pi ano." "Who's going to be the conductor?" "Ms. Sakamoto." "I want to do i t." "Hikaru?" "I do!" " Good!" " Way to go!" "We had a discuss ion after you tol d us about your brother." "I just wanted to compensate... for how I screwed things up for everyone." "Then Shizu died." "I had to do something..." "I wanted to sing for Shizu who wasn't abl e to sing." "But now I real ize that there's a whole lot more." "We I ive in peaceful times in Japan." "It's such a privi lege that we can sing songs." "So we thought we' d sing for your brother." "For those who never even had a chance to sing before they died." "everyone." "You talked about such meaningful things." "I real ly miss Gon since he's gone." "Is everybody American in Tachikawa?" "Do you think he's always fighting?" "does he?" "He was a bul ly but he looked kind of lonely." "You know..." "Aki ra?" "I went to talk to the principal at Gon's suggestion." "Did he tel I you to?" "Is that true?" "Yoshio?" "Yes." "I didn't know anything about it." "I had no idea." "I think I ' I I write to him to invite him to the competition." "Hikaru?" "I ' I I do my best conducting!" " I 'm going to see Gon!" " I miss him!" "Gon!" "I told my teacher that I wanted to go to high school." "Is that okay?" "You are a smart girl." "Women should receive higher education to achieve thei r goals." "We' I I get a phone with the advance payment made by the contractor." "Everything's going to be fine." "We' re getting a telephone!" "I s Aki ra at singing practice again?" "a last-minute practi ce." "Also I heard that Sugiura has quitted the chorus." "Why has he?" "He has to study." "He has no time to sing when he's preparing for the exam." "What's Aki ra going to do?" "I guess he has his own ideas about junior high school." "He's doing his best at singing now." "I ' I I work harder when we get a phone." "I 'll answer the calls and get more work for you Rode a fair handsome prince A young princess did ride a dream so fine on a journey unknown" "You know what "The Moon I i t Desert" i s about?" "I t ' s about Ms. Sakamoto ' s brother and Sh i zu." "too." "Where do they go to on the came I ' s back?" "Were they exi I ed from thei r country?" "Even i f they were exi led they wou I d go and bui ld a new kingdom." "too." "They' I I bui I d an eternal kingdom." "This is a happy day for al I of us." "1956 This is a happy day for al I of us." "Japan's participation in the United Nations has been approved." "We are once again the world's partner." "Japan is recognized by the other countries." "We are entering a new age where Japan has a role in the world." "And because we wi I I become a country recognized by the world... we have to nurture our culture and tradition more emphatical ly." "The chorus competition is next week." "Your song is part of Japan' s tradition." "Bring your hearts together and do your best." "When the next term begins I want you to sing it again for al I of us." "Bokuto Section Chorus Competition" "Bokuto Section Chorus Competition Where's Gon?" "He' s late." "he'd have to take 2 trains to get here." "I thought you were taking a test." "I did already." "I told my mother that I 'd drop by to hear you sing." "We' I I have to sing very wel l now that he' s come." "Yes." "everyone." "Welcome to the 6th annual chorus competi tion." "4 more than last year." "The fi rst school is Motoyama Elementary School." "They' I I sing "Red Dragonfl ies." "Ms. Kimiko Motohashi on piano." "Ms. Mie Asahara i s conducting." "Back when I was young When the day was done io late November" "Loog ago it seems" "Mulberry trees and treasures we would gather ':" "Was i t only just a dream? Married then so young" "I loved and missed her" "Letters never seemed to come Back when I was young Tears are always sure to come" "You want the te I ephone on the desk?" "Yes." "That ' s where I want i t." "Dear Gon :" "We ' re send i ng you a compet i t i on program." "We' re not compet i ng but we' I I s i ng The Moon I i t Desert." "Please come." "We ' I I al l be wai ting for you." "Here I come." "Gon." "Take care of the shop wh i I e I 'm away." "Gon!" "Tachikawa." "Now i t' s connected." "You ' I I receive a cal I to make sure that i t works." "He I I o?" "Ri ght." "I got i t." "Okay." "I t works f ine." "I t ' s hard to te I I whi ch schoo l is better." "The next one up i s Monnaka El ementary Schoo l." "Last year's champion." "They' I I si ng "Hometown" this year." "Ms. Mi nako Oba on piano." "Ms. Kayo Maeda i s conducting." "You may beg i n." "And fished for minnows in the brooks and ri I ls" "Those dreams are sti I I al ive as my eternal memories" "How unforgettable my home country is!" "I wonder how my mom and dad are now" "Also my old friends are getting along how" "Even rainy weather or stormy day.s can" "Bring back the memories my hometowo may scan" "I wi I I sooo real ize the dreams in my picture" "Then I 'l I be back again some day in the future" "Those mountains used to be al I green back in my memory" "The river water used to be c lear in my home country" "We d i d i t!" "Weren ' t we great?" "1 st p I ace aga i n for sure!" "The next schoo I i s just as good as the I ast." "1 st p I ace 2 years ago." "They ' I I s i ng "Song of the Beach." "Ms. Tomoko Kageyama on pi ano." "Mr. Yosh i yuki Motomi ya i s conducti ng." "How I I ike to go out and roam on the shore" "At the dawo of the day!" "For I can often take myself back" "To my. old day.s now gone away the sounds of the winds!" "the looks of the clouds!" "And these incoming waves" "And those colorful shel ls in crowds!" "When I again go out and roam on the shore" "At the end of the day." "And I ofteo come to think of my old frieods" "Now fading away these waves coming in!" "those waves go ing out!" "And the co lor of the moon above" "And of those stars al I about!" "very much." "That was the I ast of the 1 7 compet i ng schoo I s." "K i ba E I ementary Schoo l." "They had some troub I e th i s year." "And they deci ded not to enter the compet i ti on at one point." "But they came back wi th "The Moon I i t Desert." "One of the si ngers Shizu Miyanaga... died i n an acc i dent at sea." "They' I I sing in memory of thei r departed friend." "Ms. Rieko Sakamoto on piano." "Shizu's classmate wi I I conduct the chorus." "Whenever you' re ready." "Loog ago aod far away." "In a forgotten land" "In the desert late at night" "Camels walked over the sand On a journey unknown Beoeath the moon that shone Huog a bright si lver urn Huog an uro made of gold On a journey unknown Beoeath the moon that shone Rode a fair handsome pr ince A young princess did ride On a journey unknown Beoeath the moon that shone" "Loog ago aod far away." "In a forgotten land" "In the desert late at night" "Camels walked over the sand" "Who could know where they did go?" "al I alone Beoeath the moon that shone I ips of stone On a journey unknown" "Gon!" "D i d you see a boy I eave?" "Nobody went out th i s door." "Gon." "Aki ra?" "I saw Gon a m i nute ago." "I s he here today?" "Ms. Sakamoto." "Aki ra!" "What ' s go i ng on?" "Aki ra' s seen Gon." "But he d i dn ' t show up." "I saw h i m by the door." "I t was your imag i nati on." "Wou I d he h i de from us?" "he wou I dn ' t." "I thi nk we became one." "Our song has reached Gon ' s heart." "I t di d." "Do you think i t's reached Shi zu's sou I too?" "I 'm sure it has." "I t's snowing! I think our song has reached your brother 's soul too." "Sioging is my." "I ife" "Inspiring is my soul" "My voice is everything to me" "There are reasons why each of us is blessed with a certain gift" "We are destined to ful fi I I our assignments We make efforts to let our presence known to others" "L ife is so affectionate because I am al ive Flowers cao heal someone 's heart" "The worst thing is that" "Our existence is completely forgotten" "Though I don 't know how they wi I I look I ike and how long i t takes" "I wi I I sow seeds al I my I ife to bloom flowers inside of my heart" "I can sing now because I bel ieve in myself" "May my voice reach you" "We are al I here to ful fi I I our duties to others" "L ife is so loving because I am al ive and fi I led with emotion" "Wr i tten and D i rected by N I SH I ZAWA Ak i o"