Special documentary screening followed by a Q&A session with director Toshikuni Doi and subjects Kimiko Nezu and Nobuo Dohi

TRUE TO MYSELF ("Watashi" wo Ikiru)
Japan,2010 138 minutes
Director: Toshikuni Doi
Featuring: Kimiko Nezu, Miwako Sato, Nobuo Dohi
Film courtesy of Urayasu Documentary Office and Sleepin'

In Japanese with English subtitles

On January 16 and 30, rulings will be handed down by the Supreme Court of Japan and the Tokyo District Court that may have a profound impact on education in this country, not to mention the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of thought and speech. The Supreme Court ruling will mark the final verdict in the case of economics teacher Kimiko Nezu vs. the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education, concerning her refusal to stand during the 40 seconds of Kimigayo, Japan's national anthem, when it was played in her school. Nezu has endured a series of high-profile court cases, been suspended, forcibly transferred and punished 10 times in her campaign against what she - and many other teachers - consider to be unfair policies that force both educators and students to mindlessly obey authority.

Nezu appeared at the FCCJ with the film "Against Coercion" in 2007; she is returning with a new documentary that delves more deeply into her backstory, teaching policies and protracted human rights campaign, as well as those of two other brave crusaders for educators' rights: Miwako Sato, a music teacher who was punished for wearing a blue ribbon to express her opposition to the compulsory display of the Hinomaru (national flag) during her school's graduation ceremony; and high school principal Nobuo Dohi, who protested the silencing of faculty members at teacher meetings, giving all power to the principal, who is expected to comply unquestioningly with the Board of Education's policies and directives.

Toshikuni Doi's "True to Myself" depicts not only the struggles as these three unlikely heroes stand firm in the power of their convictions despite repeated punishment and even career immolation, but also their triumphs as educators who promote individual freedoms. Whatever the courts finally decide, this eye-opening documentary makes it clear that Japan's democratic principles cannot endure a return to the style of nationalistic education that preceded WWII.

For more on the film (in Japanese), see:
http://www.doi-toshikuni.net/j/ikiru/

Toshikuni Doi is a veteran freelance journalist and filmmaker who has been covering stories from Palestine since 1985. He has produced documentaries such as "Al-Faluja, April 2004" for TV broadcast, and published books on Palestinian and Israeli issues. His 2009 documentary "Breaking the Silence" (Chinmoku wo Yaburu), part of a four-part series, was named Best Educational Documentary by Kinema Jumpo. He is now at work on a film about 3/11 in Iidate.

Home economics teacher Kimiko Nezu has been subjected to repeated disciplinary actions by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education over freedom, democracy and human rights issues, as symbolized by the Japanese flag, anthem, comfort women issues and gender discrimination. She received the Yoko Tada Human Rights Award in 2006.

Nobuo Dohi, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, served as principal of Mitaka High School, where his contract was not renewed after he opposed policies that gave him absolute powers over his faculty. He appealed to the Tokyo District Court for damages and published books on the issue of freedom of speech. He is now a visiting instructor at Hosei and Rissho universities.

Please make your seating reservations at the FCCJ Reception Desk (3211-3161) or http://www.fccj.or.jp/node/7160. All movie screenings are private, noncommercial events restricted to FCCJ members and their guests.

Karen Severns, Edwin Karmiol, Movie Committee