Daijyoubu 3-kumi Thoughts

I finally got to see Daijyoubu 3-kumi after a few weeks of delays. I’ve been wanting to see this movie since I saw the previews last year; there was something interesting about a movie that dealt with the topic of a disability so straight forward. It was also a plus that Taichi Kokubun of TOKIO was in it as supporting! I really didn’t know how the movie was going to play out because promotion for the film was pretty low key, but, I was thoroughly surprised with how the movie played out.

Daijyoubu 3-kumi, or ‘It’s alright, Class 3’, is a movie based on the autobiography written by Hirotada Otatake, a writer who was born without legs and arms. Hirotada eventually became an Elementary school teacher and this movie was a dramatic representation of his time as a teacher. What’s the most interesting part of this movie is that Hirotada himself stars in the movie as the lead character, Shinnosuke Akao, in his first acting role. This gives the movie such a raw authenticity. The director specifically wanted the students to meet Hirotada on the first day of shooting; so the moment he came into the classroom, their reactions were real. The year it took to film this movie provided the audience with real reactions and growth to this man who is defying all the odds against him. That realness is what helps the audience experience and grow along with the students in the film — despite our differences, we are still the same.

The movie chronicles a year with 5th grade Class 3 and their experiences with their disabled teacher. Taichi Kokubun plays Shinnosuke’s aid, Shiraishi, a man who assists Shinnosuke with everything from classroom planning to his personal needs. This is not to go without resistance, as Shiraishi’s girlfriend (played by Nana Eikura) grows seemingly frustrated that his time with her is extremely limited, to almost non-existant. The school’s staff also is apprehensive to the idea of a disabled teacher actively teaching in the school, as one of the 5th grade teachers feels as if his presence in the school might disturb or scare the students. Finally, the story unfolds the story of a class of children who at first don’t know how to react to him to embracing and respecting him as their teacher.

While you would expect a movie with all this drama to play out in the most dramatic and cheesiest way with dramatic speeches, crying, and all sorts of Japanese drama cliches… this movie delivers this story in such an authentic and seamless way. There’s not a focus on drama, there’s not a focus on tears, but rather there’s a focus on the growth of these children and how they go from being your every day kid to children with a new sense of awareness for others around them. The reoccurring theme in this movie is ‘daijyoubu’, and even though things are clearly not okay, Shinnosuke constantly reminds his students that things are okay. It may take longer for the situation to resolve, but eventually, you’ll get there.

For me, I really connected with this movie as a teacher in Japanese schools and as someone who grew up around people with disabilities. One story, in particular, kept bringing me to tears. People severely underestimate those with disabilities, going as far as to make fun of them and for what? Because they don’t fit what society deems as normal? Because it gives people a sense of superiority? The disgusting truth that people stare and snicker at those with disabilities is something that angers me so much. As a teacher, I also work with students who have learning disabilities, and when I see some of the other students make fun of them I just get so angry.

What they may not be good at in one area doesn’t mean they won’t kick your ass in another area.

And that’s what the overall message of this movie is; I may be bad at this, but I am amazing at that.

We are not all perfect.

The movie is down to earth and warm. You leave the theater with a new perspective than the one you in with. You count your blessings and you learn to appreciate everyone for who they are. While slow in some areas and that Taichi Kokubun’s side story can be a little forced at times, the movie is really good. Like all Japanese human dramas, it’s not for everyone and the pacing may in fact be a huge deterrent for some viewers but I really suggest that everyone at least watch it once. Maybe you, too, will have a brand new appreciation for life.