All language subtitles for Aoi.Tori.2008.DVDRip.XviD-GiNJi

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

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

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',

"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."

"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."

"The entire class forced
boy to shoplift."
That class seemed so normal.

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