THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE
Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki | 99 minutes | Japanese with English subtitles
Streaming Platforms: Amazon & Kanopy
DVD Release Date: November 18, 2025
DVD UPC: 7-20229-91844-2
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95
https://firstrunfeatures.com/makingofajapanesevod.html
Watch the Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1115807747
Ema Ryan Yamazaki, acclaimed director of Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams and the Oscar-nominated documentary short Instruments of a Beating Heart, presents a heartfelt exploration of Japanese identity in her latest feature, THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE.
The film intimately captures one school year at Tsukado (located in Setagaya Ward), one of Tokyo’s largest public elementary schools, following 1st and 6th graders as they learn the communal values and traits essential to becoming part of Japanese society.
With unprecedented access, Yamazaki documents the magic of childhood—moments of joy, tears, and discovery—offering viewers a rare glimpse into Japan’s unique educational system, where children are entrusted to run their own school and learn the importance of group harmony.
The DVD edition includes the Oscar-nominated short INSTRUMENTS OF A BEATING HEART as a bonus feature. This short, originally produced as a New York Times Op-Doc, is one of the most watched documentaries on the platform and has received numerous accolades, including Best Short Documentary at the International Documentary Association’s annual awards.
THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2023 and has since won the Audience Award at NIPPON CONNECTION in Germany and JAPAN CUTS in New York. Following its theatrical release in Japan, the film expanded to over 100 theaters, sparking a nationwide conversation about the Japanese education system.
About the Director:
Ema Ryan Yamazaki is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, raised in Osaka by a Japanese mother and British father. Her unique perspective as both insider and outsider informs her storytelling, bridging Japanese and Western cultures. Yamazaki’s previous works include Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams, Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators, and editorial contributions to award-winning documentaries such as Marc Levin’s Class Divide and Shiori Ito’s Black Box Diaries.
For more information, visit https://firstrunfeatures.com/makingofajapanesevod.html
