About the Film
The Making of a Japanese is a warm, intimate, and quietly captivating documentary that takes viewers inside a Tokyo public elementary school to explore how early childhood education shapes culture in Japan. Filmed over the course of a year, the film follows first- and sixth-grade students as they learn not only academics, but also responsibility, cooperation, and respect for others.
The film offers a fascinating look at an education system that places trust and responsibility in children from a very young age. The balance between individuality and community is tested daily, creating moments that are both deeply human and unexpectedly moving.
Directed by Japanese American filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki, The Making of a Japanese is a gentle yet powerful portrait of childhood and the everyday rituals and reveal larger truths about community, responsibility, and identity.
Praised by The New York Times as a “Nuanced portrait that trys to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices.,” the film invites audiences to reflect on education, belonging, and the values we pass on.
Centennial Screening🍿
6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Language: Japanese with English subtitles | Runtime: 99 minutes | Suitable for students in Grade 5 and above
Presented in partnership with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
Exclusive Q&A 🎞️
8:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Following the screening, we are pleased to welcome Academy Award®–nominated director Ema Ryan Yamazaki for an in-depth Q&A. Ema will be joined by Dr. Rie Kijima, Director of the Initiative for Education Policy and Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto.
Tickets 🎟️
General Admission – $25
OISE & UofT Student Ticket – $10
Includes the film screening, post-screening discussion, and light refreshments. All proceeds support the JICS Endowment Fund for economic diversity.
Your Impact 🎓
All proceeds from this special Centennial event support the JICS Endowment Fund, ensuring that future generations of students continue to benefit from the innovative, inclusive education and research that defines the JICS Lab School.
The Making of a Japanese resonates with the Lab School’s work in early childhood learning by offering a thoughtful, observational look at how environments, relationships, and daily practices shape children’s experiences of belonging, responsibility, and community.
The film invites reflection on our century of educational inquiry and encourages dialogue about how global perspectives on schooling can deepen our understanding of learning and inform future research and public engagement at JICS and beyond!