The Blue Bird

The story

Higashigaoka Junior High School is in turmoil as one of the pupils, Noguchi, who had been bullied, attempted suicide last term. On the first day of the new term, a substitute teacher arrives to take the second year class. When the teacher, Murauchi (Hiroshi Abe), introduces himself, the pupils are surprised by his stutter. He has a speech impediment. Unable to speak eloquently, Murauchi faces his pupils with ‘words of truth’. His first instruction to the pupils is to return Noguchi’s desk and chair to the original place in the classroom. Every morning Murauchi greets the empty desk, “Good morning, Noguchi.” This causes a ripple beyond the classroom and among other teachers and parents, but Murauchi will not stop doing it. Eventually the day comes when Murauchi must leave.

Cast & crew

Hiroshi AbeMr. Murachi

Kanata HongoShinichi Sonobe

Ayumi ItoMs. Shimazaki

Hajime InoueMr. Ishino

Osamu Shigematu

Osamu ShigematuMr. Miyazaki

Hiroyuki KishiMr. Koizumi

Taiga NakanoInoue Takeshi

Tsugumi Shinohara

Tsugumi ShinoharaTakagi Sunae

Riho TakadaChiba Reika

Hiroto Itô

Hiroto ItôMaekawa Shugo

Moe Karasawa

Moe KarasawaOzawa Eri

Yuko ArakiKatayama Mai