On July 1, 2024, Asia Society Japan hosted a panel discussion and private screening of the New York Times op-doc “Instruments of a Beating Heart.” This op-doc is spinoff of filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s newest feature film “The Making of a Japanese.” Along with Ema, the panel discussion featured New York Times Japan bureau chief Motoko Rich, and Setagaya city council member Risa Kamio, with Asia Society Japan founding member Jesper Koll serving as moderator.

The film closely followed the lives of first graders at a public elementary school in Tokyo, as they took on the challenge of performing a musical piece for incoming first graders. As the student navigate their way through auditions and practices, the audience is offered a glimpse into the Japanese education system where harmony and personal growth are delicately balanced. The 23-minute film quickly captured the hearts of the audience, as groans and cheers erupted as the students faced the challenges of performing together.

In the post-screening panel discussion, Yamazaki elaborated on her own experiences attending a Japanese public school in Osaka and her motivations for creating this film. She also explained the challenges of creating an observational film about an elementary school, noting that she ultimately had over 700 hours of footage.

The perception of the Japanese education system was a popular topic of discussion. Motoko Rich and Risa Kamio shared their personal experiences and observations from their roles as journalist and politician, respectively, while Yamazaki noted that countries such as Egypt are actively implementing aspects of the Japanese education system.

The Q&A session featured a lively discussion on the intersections of education, politics, and even mental health. Foreign audiences unfamiliar with Japanese elementary schools were positively surprised by the film, and were also curious to know what other transformations people experience as they are molded into the Japanese “salaryman.”

Education is one of the  pillars of Asia Society, and we are incredibly proud to have hosted this inaugural education-stream event. Yamazaki’s film inspired thought-provoking dialogue, making it one of the largest gatherings at Asia Society Japan, with 118 people in attendance.