Children of Japan (1941)

glistening in the morning sun fujiama sacred mountain of Japan Towers above the surrounding Countryside along narrow paths through terrace rice fields nearby children from the farming districts proceed on their way to school with books and lunches packed in neat carrying cases they pass through ripening tea Fields where Pickers are already at work in villages along the coast other children follow a path beside the boats and Nets of the fishing fleets while in the industrial cities smoking Factory chimneys line the road to school among the vast Army of Japanese school children are taro and Yukiko Yamada at the doorway of their house they put on their shoes shoes never worn inside Taro wears the official school boy uniform sister Yuko wears the standard dress for girls while father completes the lacing of his shoes grandmother Yamada tends baby brother ban as he finishes his breakfast ban likes the tea that is always a part of Japanese meals but grandmother feels it must be cooled now father and children say goodbye to mother father and Taro and Yuko start out together for father works not far away for a short distance they pass along a street lined with Craftsman's shops just ahead many people some in Oriental and some in western dress have errands at the post office the yamadas have an errand here too Taro goes to mail a letter while father and Yuko wait outside watching the traffic on the busy [Music] Street presently as Taro rejoins them they move on and soon they arrive at a railway station where father is the official in charge here father and children say goodbye to each other as father enters his office the tracks outside are already busy busy a call for a report at school it is almost time for classes to begin children flock through the gates and teachers stand ready greetings are exchanged before entering the classroom all the children remove their street shoes here as at home shoes are always left at the entrance inside the classroom the children take their places and prepare for work meanwhile in cupboards near the door each pair of shoes is also in its proper place and now a reading lesson later in the morning at the Yamada home the maid buys tofu from a street vendor tofu or bean curd comes from soybeans and is tasty in soups in the main living room of the Yamada home mother attends to one of the most important of Japanese household tasks skillful flower arrangement an art highly honored in Japan grandmother is occupied with needle work on a new kimona while ban plays with his toys mother just finishes placing flowers before the family's ancestral Shrine when suddenly in the distance the whistle of the Tokyo Express once more father will be able to report that the train is on time for the express is almost always exactly on schedule during the brief pause in the station the engineer oils his locomotive and presently father is again at his desk preparing a record of train movements he writes the Japanese characters easily and quickly but in taro's and yukiko's class in school the children are just learning how to write it is not easy when you are only beginning Yuko writes slowly and carefully Taro too is still very cautious but he handles the brush well as he completes the last character of the name for Japan from top to bottom it reads D kn Pon meaning great Sun's origin or as we say Japan later Taro wields a bat with even greater skill in the American game of baseball nearby older boys practice fencing as a part of their physical [Music] training today Yuko puts aside her school dress for a f silk kimono she and brother Taro are going to a festival this is an Excursion in which the entire family joins all look forward to seeing the cherry blossoms and there will be many other attractions for young and old even as the yamadas are leaving home for the day's outing other families are already assembling at the scene of the festival cherry blossoms are everywhere framing Bridges and here a castle of old Japan among the places visited by many of those who have gathered for the festival is a small Shrine one of thousands of such religious structures to be found in Japan on their arrival the yamadas stopped to worship first Taro pulls the Bell cord then offerings are tossed into a box by by all members of the family they do not enter the shrine interior but remain at the entrance clapping their hands as a sign of their presence they bow in reverent silence before leaving now to enjoy the cherry blossoms so beloved by the people of Japan as with so many Japanese father's hobby is photography he is anxious to get pictures of the delicate blossoms which last for only a few days each year another popular feature of the festival is a Storyteller so the day passes with enjoyable activities for all but for Taro and Yuko and mother too the outing is not complete without seafoam candy back home after their day at the festival the yamadas have keen appetites dinner includes meat raw fish a variety of cooked vegetables and steamed rice in individual bowls all eaten with chopsticks the rice bowls are usually refilled at at least once and perhaps oftener especially when everyone is hungry in the kitchen the maid keeps a careful watch on the rice steamer in case more should be needed but now she remembers another Duty she must attend to it is time to put more coal on the fire that is already burning in a heating chamber directly beneath the household bath the hot bath is a daily habit with the Japanese KN tonight Taro will bathe first but everyone will have a turn far from being afraid of soap he lathers himself long and vigorously next he dips water from the tub for a thorough rinsing washing and rinsing are done outside the tub which is designed for the final restful soaking in the living room mother and the maid make up beds on the Spotless floor while father dressed in a comfortable kimona quietly reads the evening paper it is getting late and already in another part of the house the children are asleep Bo Chan still clutching his toy dog Taro perhaps reliving the day at the festival Yuko resting before tomorrow's return to school the yamadaa Home and Garden lose their outlines in the dark darkness of night while distant Fujiyama looms Majestic against the [Music] sky