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The Blue Bird

First aired on Nov 29, 2008

Runtime: 105mins

50%

Genres: Drama, Family

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.

Featured Cast: click image to view more
Hiroshi Abe | Mr. Murachi
Kanata Hongo | Shinichi Sonobe
Ayumi Ito | Ms. Shimazaki
Hajime Inoue | Mr. Ishino
Osamu Shigematu | Mr. Miyazaki
Hiroyuki Kishi | Mr. Koizumi
Featured Crew
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Kiyoshi Shigematsu | Novel
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Kenzaburô Iida | Screenplay
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Kenji Nakanishi | Director
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Yasuo Hasegawa | Screenplay