A Teacher's Life Lesson

"What kind of teacher is he?"

- He’s really great.
- Everyone likes him.

He has an energetic presence.

"Is he your fave?"

Absolutely.

Don’t take this wrong, but...

He’s very charming.
Do you see?

Endless charm.

He has the same aura as we do.

I shouldn’t say this but
he’s like a high school student.

But some have this to say.

He’s hiding a big secret.

Even though we open up
about ourselves.

Sounds a little off-key.

Takehana Atsushi is in charge of a class of 1st-year students.

He teaches social studies.

On this day, he’s taken up the subject of women-only train cars to encourage students to think about the meaning of gender equality.

Raise your hand if you’re
against women-only cars.

Why have them?

There are gropers.

You say, to protect women
from gropers.

But can you imagine?
Men get groped too.

They should make
cars for both.

Men-only cars.
They’ve been discussed.

Remove "women."

Get rid of the
"women-only" designation.

- Don’t you think?
- I do.

He places great importance on communicating with students.

No matter what’s said in class, he acknowledges it and responds.

Even after school, he makes time to meet with them.

Who are you running away from?

Atsushi (Takehana).

You’re hiding.

He was looking for a student who’d allegedly violated a school rule.

Her skirt was too short.

"Will you show me
how it looks long?"

I really hate it.

It’s too long.

She won’t wear her skirt at the acceptable length.

She thinks it looks unbalanced.

"So you fold the waist
three times?"

"Pretty much."

Why do you hate long skirts?

I hate them.

So it’s emotional.

It’s gross when it’s long.

- Gross?
- Yes, gross.

You know that breaking the rules
will lower your grades.

It’s something that will affect
your future.

What about that?

I don’t understand.
Why judge me by my appearance?

Takehana doesn’t reprimand students without hearing them out.

If a student is accused of violating a rule, he listens to what they have to say.

You think it’s silly.

I don’t think
talking to you is silly.

How well are you going to fit in?
How much are you going to rebel?

Don’t fight now.

Many schools have detailed rules about clothing, hairstyles, and other matters.

Takehana tries to hear out his students’ perspectives on these issues.

- I’m home.
- Hi there.

Takehana got married four years ago.

Try that again.
Come in once more.

Why?

Say "I’m home" with more energy.

Takehana and Haru team up in the kitchen.

They’ve spent many peaceful years together.

"Do you always cook together?"

On weekdays, I do.

On holidays he cooks everything.

He cooks for me
from morning to night.

He spoils me.

We spoil each other, right?

I fell in love with Haru
at first sight.

We met a few times
through a mutual friend.

After our very first meeting
I felt comfortable with him.

Somehow I felt that
we were going to be together.

Finished.
That took forever.

Let’s eat.

Takehana and Haru are a sexual-minority couple.

On Haru’s birth certificate, the gender is listed as female.

Haru is transgender, and identifies as male.

Takehana is gay.

He loves Haru in his identity as a man.

"At that time, did you know about
each other’s sexuality?"

I’m transgender.

We were meeting
with that understanding.

Yes, that’s right.

I like people for who they are.

In that sense, my priorities
aren’t related to gender.

I liked him as a person.

He’s gay so even if I like him,
I’m still transgender.

Since gay men like men,
I wondered how he would see me.

I guess he liked me as a person.

I think so.

No?

Every gay person has
their own preferences.

Whether it’s necessary for the other
to be anatomically male.

Or for the other to identify as male
and look like a man.

In my case, if his appearance is mannish,
I’m relatively OK.

So if I grew my hair long and
acted feminine, you wouldn’t love me.

If I talk about this
with gay friends, some don’t love the other
if he is not anatomically a man.

That’s just one type of
sexual identity.

Takehana was in high school when he first noticed that men were the objects of his affection.

He was unable to accept that fact, so he fell into despair.

He began wearing nothing but black.

I felt I wasn’t normal.

I thought of myself as a monster.
A great exaggeration.

Liking the same sex,
doesn’t make you a monster.

It weighed on me
- not discussing it.

I couldn’t talk about the subject of love
with my friends.

If I did, I’d be very vague.

Not discussing these important things.
That felt very lonely.

He finally emerged from this long dark tunnel when he was a university senior.

He came out to his friends.

My seminar friends said
I should stay the way I was.

They all accepted me
no matter who I was.

Those words really saved me.

After that, it gradually became like
it was no big deal.

So cute.

That’s it.

No more.

Takehana began to accept himself as he was.

But he’s not thinking about revealing his sexuality to people at school.

In our society,
heterosexuality is still the norm.

Gender is only male or female.
Heterosexuality is the natural way.

Schools are founded on that value.

Coming out requires
energy and daring.

The minority needs to
put effort to come out, while others don’t have to.

Honestly, I feel
it shouldn’t be that way.

It's hard to come out
in our current environment.

This is Atsushi.

But not our teacher
Takehana Atsushi.

"Why Atsushi?"

The owner here named it.

This is Kokona, one of Takehana’s most ardent fans.

- "You admire him?"
- Yes, I do.

"Why?"

I like what he has to say.

He talks a lot about social issues.

The way he talks fascinates me.

Things like that.

It’s lunch hour.

Kokona and her classmates have started something in the classroom.

Isn’t it good?

In what sense?

In a good sense.

For a guy to wear a skirt.

They call it a "uniform exchange session."

Boys in skirts. Girls in trousers.

Boys are not allowed to wear skirts in school.

Isn’t it good?

- Do you think so?
- I think so.

"Everyone looks happy
to swap uniforms."

It’s great.

"Why?"

Rather than me wearing trousers
and talking about it, it’s better if people around me try wearing
trousers or skirts themselves.

Actually experiencing it
is better than words.

We’ll start a uniform revolution.

Why are girls in trousers OK,
but not boys in skirts?

At some junior high schools it’s OK.

Yeah, maybe in Shiga Pref.

We should be able to choose.

Today, most people are surprised
to see a guy wearing a skirt.

It’s OK though.

Japan is behind the times.

Each person has their own style.

But our school has its rules.

So let’s start a revolution.

Let’s go.

Shouldn’t students be able to choose their own uniform regardless of gender?

Kokona and the others head to the teachers’ staff room.

What do you think
about a guy wearing a skirt?

Give us your opinion.

We want to hear what you think.
We are not protesting.

They’ve put a question to the teacher.

The teacher responded that barging into the room and demanding an opinion was a breach of etiquette.

That if they want to have a discussion, they should take the proper steps.

- You’re crying again.
- I won’t.

I’m sorry I got the others involved
because I was pursuing my ideal.

Why is Kokona so particular about uniforms?

Around half a year ago, she began to feel conflicted about her own sexuality.

My body is female, but
it feels wrong if I’m called female.

But I can't call myself a male.
Maybe I have neither gender.

My gender identity isn’t decided.

Am I a male, or a female? Or something else...

Kokona has shared her turmoil with Takehana.

It’s cold.
Have you been here long?

- Your guidance teacher is concerned.
- About what?

He thought he may have hurt you
with his quick response.

He told me he feels it’s a little hard
to speak directly to you.

About uniforms.

Uniforms.

I felt that males should be
able to wear skirts.

That’s my hope.

He talks about procedures.
I don’t understand.

How about the student council?

There, students can engage
in politics among themselves.

They’re the only group like that
in the school.

After careful discussion in student council
and putting the reasons together they can submit their requests.

But will things change?
I don’t think they will very quickly.

They won’t change easily.
It will depend on how far you want to go.

For now, I want to eliminate the difference
between male and female uniforms.

That’s fine.

She has a strong belief that moves her
to act without fear of hurting herself.

But I want her to reflect a little more
so she won’t suffer for her actions.

Kokona has revealed everything to Takehana.

Meanwhile, he is vacillating about whether to come out.

I‘d hate it if I told the students and
it harmed my relationship with them.

It’s like coming out to people
I’m close to.

Like when the reaction was just,
"Oh, really?"

The reason to come out is to develop
a better relationship with those people.

That’s why I choose to come out.

Takehana has started wondering if he could make coming out about more than just disclosing his sexuality.

Another teacher believes in respecting the choice not to come out.

Kato teaches mathematics at a private high school in Western Japan.

"Where are we?"

Kurama.

Kato is transgender.

He was born female, but his gender identity is male.

Last summer, he had both his breasts removed.

"How’s your recovery process going?"

Painful.

"Painful?"

The inflammation on this side
still hasn’t subsided.

The dissolvable stitches here
fell out yesterday.

"Really..."

I understand people’s concerns
but I have no regrets.

I feel completely different.

One reason Kato decided to have the operation is a woman he’s been seeing for five years.

I pray that
she doesn’t dump me.

Before I began dating her, I had a real complex about my voice.

I've always been afraid if I speak,
everyone might find out I’m a woman.

I don’t know why,
but being recognized as a woman was traumatic, distasteful.

For example...

if I went to MacDonald’s
and ordered something, I’d just point without speaking.

I couldn’t speak.

These past few years,
I’m finally able to say my order.

"What triggered that?"

My girlfriend.

- "She’s a big influence?"
- Very big.

"Do you think I’d marry someone
who just points?"

She’d say when we first began dating.
I thought, she’s right.

Kato is seriously thinking about getting married.

In Japan, same-sex marriages aren’t legally recognized.

Kato's thinking about having sex reassignment surgery soon and then changing the gender designation to 'male.'

A few months ago, Kato started taking male hormones.

Is it baked well?

I think so.

You can also calculate by 5C1.
Use what’s easier for you.

The hormones have made Kato’s voice deeper.

Even so, the teacher is not thinking about coming out to his students.

"Through this TV program," "your sexual identity will be revealed
to students and parents."

If that happened,
it would be all right.

I don’t intend to come out
to my students on my own.

There’s no reason why
I don’t want to, but I also don’t have any reason
to do it either.

At the start of the school year,
students always ask, "Are you male or female?"

But I don’t tell them whether
I’m a male or a female.

I say something like,
"I’m not an alien. A human being."

If they’re just asking for fun,
I dodge the question.

I won’t tell them.

I only hope they’ll treat me
as a person.

Whether my gender is male or female,
I’m a teacher of students.

To my colleagues,
I’m someone they work with.

Good morning.

This is funny.

"He can dance."

He can’t dance at all.
He’s just staggering around.

After spending around a year with his students, Takehana’s begun to notice something that concerns him.

Hello, it’s Takehana.

I heard that some students
are there again.

He’s calling the school infirmary.

I’ll be there for a bit.

I’m really mad.

What’re you mad about?

Well, because...

Many students gather at the school infirmary when they are feeling troubled or frustrated.

Takehana feels that not a few students have low self-esteem.

There’s a student he’s worried about.

I think these are cute.
Don’t you?

- They’re really cute.
- You're just saying that.

Let’s choose this one.

Haru is a class leader.

She’s bright and self-confident.

Academically, she’s near the top of her grade.

Her teachers are encouraging her to apply to the top universities, but she refuses to.

They say if I go to a better school,
my prospects might be better.

And that I should aim
little higher.

- "Won’t you?"
- Impossible.

I can’t go any higher.

"Takehana said the same?"

He did. But it’s impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Haru has two brothers.

She keeps blaming herself for not being able to study as well as they do.

- "Your brother’s aiming for uni?"
- A top school, so it’ll be pricey.

"Do you compare yourself to him?"

I've been compared.
I'm used to it.

Like "You’re stupid, so you can’t do it,"
or "Your brother can do it but you can’t."

My younger brother is smart, too.

It’s impossible, being sandwiched
between such smart siblings.

There’s another student who lacks self-esteem.

Her nickname is Mi-san.

She doesn’t like herself, and sometimes she starts crying uncontrollably.

Everyone has something they’re good at,
something outstanding.

But I have nothing.
I can’t do anything.

Nothing, whether it’s studying or sports.

Nothing at all.

Since I can’t do anything, I get depressed,
looking at everyone else.

Many of them seem self-centered
just thinking about themselves.

Deep down, they can’t think
positively about themselves.

They lose motivation
and hope for the future.

They aren’t able to
value themselves.

This direction?

Facing that way.

Let’s eat and pray.

"What’d you wish for?"

That everyone advances
to the next grade.

That’s desperate.
Too desperate.

On this day, Takehana has told Haru about his decision to come out to the students.

Students need to
love themselves more.

I feel that maybe
students can use my story to help to love themselves,
to value themselves.

It’s the right time to share it.

Will it be OK?

If you tell them,
you'll be labeled as gay forever.

Are you prepared for that?

Some students may not want
to know about that.

Some may be shocked.

- How will they be shocked?
- Shocked?

All of them have looked at you
as a teacher, as Mr. Takehana.

You’ll become "gay Takehana"
because of that filter, so they may be repelled by it
and find it difficult to approach you.

I’m worried.

Don't make me...

Stop it.

The male students may feel uncomfortable
if you just touch their shoulder.

What if they say you’re
coming on to them?

I know you’ll make sure
there’s no misunderstanding.

You might say you have a type you like,
maybe a guy with sensitive eyes.

Then if a student thinks,
"It’s me," he’ll think, "I’m the teacher’s type,"
or "How should I act with him?"

"Maybe he’ll fall in love with me."

I’m not interested.

No matter what you do,
I’ll wait for you.

You’re suddenly so sweet.

Because I am sweet.

Stop it.
You’re acting for the camera.

Well, no matter how bumpy things get,
or how wonderful, this will be the place
you come home to.

No matter what shape you’re in,
I’ll accept you.

It’s your decision.

Stop blowing kisses.

Think it over.

I am.

Then it’s the right decision.
Follow your feelings.

February.

Takehana is going to the last session of the final term.

What’re we going to do today?

Today is our last long homeroom class.
I’ll talk a little about myself.

Could you sit up and listen?

There're some funny parts.
Go ahead and laugh.

- We’ll look serious.
- No, that’d be hard for me.

Embarrassing.

Let me begin.

Before, when I was about your age,
I really hated myself.

Don’t laugh yet.

Why did I hate myself?
My grades were good, in junior high.

- A studying geek?
- Hey.

But I went to a high school
that was too tough for me.

My grades really dropped.

Especially math.
I was called the king of the F’s.

Naturally, I wasn’t popular.

I crushed on girls,
made confessions of love.

And got rejected.

It’s not that funny.

It happened over and over.
Things never went right.

Nothing praiseworthy about me.
No self-esteem.

- But you asked girls out.
- You have self-esteem.

I didn’t back then.

Yet I had my own kind
of school life.

But near the end of high school, I started to think that
I was paying attention to males.

Do you get it?

If you’re a girl you notice boys,
if you’re a boy you notice girls.

I began to realize that maybe
I was looking at men.

When I thought that,
my first impression about myself was "Hold on, that’s disgusting."

Because in our society,
it's normal to like the opposite sex.

That’s how I was raised.
We weren’t taught any different.

So I thought it wouldn’t be possible for me
to like men while I myself was a man.

At that point, I began to hate myself.
I didn’t want to think about that.

I thought I must be the only one
in the world like me.

I felt that my life was over.

It made me very uneasy.

For a long time, it was hard.

Then what happened?

Some of you will go to university,
with seminars, small classes.

At a drinking party, I was finally able to
tell friends about myself.

So what do you think they said?

"Atchan," that’s my nickname.

"You can just be the way you are."

It was that simple.

If people accepted the things
that troubled you, if they accepted
what you revealed,

in the end, that’s the easiest way
to accept yourself.

That’s what I learned
in university.

I’m sorry I’m talking non-stop.

Coming to this point, I guess you understand
what I am, sexually.

If I continue you’ll get bored.

This is today only.

Do you have any questions?
Something you’ve whispered about.

Just ask anything.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Good question.

A boyfriend, a partner,
there are many names.

Yes, I have one.
We’re living together.

Are you married to him?

- You’re married?
- Yes.

You can wear
a wedding ring.

Anything else?

Were you married overseas?

Good one.
In Japan, same-sex marriages are...?

Not allowed. So...?

Married in Thailand?

Russia?

No, forget about overseas.

Transgender?

Correct.

My boyfriend is transgender.

I mean my partner.

Female to male?

To be more precise, he was born with a woman’s body,
but his gender identity is male.

He’s a transgender male.

He has a woman’s body?

His body is a woman’s.
He hasn’t had surgery.

He gave me permission
to speak about it.

He’s still registered as a female.

- So you were able to marry?
- That’s right.

This is your reaction
to my coming out?

- Feel better?
- Thank you.

How do you feel about
what I’ve told you?

It’s OK.

You could react
in a more emotional way.

I think it's fine.

I think I like how you reacted.

I like it that way.

I was wondering
when you’d tell us.

After all, we’re not going
to reject you.

I told you this because
I thought I could since it's you.

But I wanted to pick the right time.

Coming out is still
a big deal for me.

So why did I make this effort
to tell you?

I wanted you to know that you can
come to value yourselves.

I wanted you to learn
from my experience.

I wasn’t manly, tall,
or good looking.

Studying wasn’t bad.
But I’m not good at sports.

I came to like myself because
I struggled and accepted that I was gay.

Since that point, I'm more
relaxed doing things.

I was trapped by this chain of
having to be manly.

You must have your own.

Thinking, "I have to be like this,"
and feeling trapped.

I hope you break
that chain, struggling.

There’s a way to do it.

You might think you can’t.

I thought so too
when I was your age.

But when I was finishing university,
I changed.

It takes time, but I want you
to know that you can change.

"Things will be alright."

That's what I wanted to tell you
through my experience.

But first you have to live, struggle,
and meet lots of people.

Studying is also important.

No matter who you are,
even if you can’t do anything, even if you stay that way...

I wanted to tell you that, for me,
you will always be important.

I’d like to see you next year.

But this may be
our final class together.

I wanted to tell you
while I could.

It’s OK to be who you are.

This is what
I wanted to convey to you.

You surprised me.

Are you OK?

He’s crying.

Motchi, here is some tissue.

You made me cry.

- Sorry.
- I hate you.

Mi-san, are you crying?

Even if the teacher likes men...

Our relationship with him
won’t be strained or strange.

It stays as it is.

I now know he likes men, but
I feel no dislike of him at all.

As long as he’s happy,
that’s what matters.

If someone refused to accept it,
I’d wonder why, why they’d want to deny him.

"Why do you want him
to be happy?"

You’d hope that for anyone.

Would you want someone
to be unhappy?

It struck my heart.

I dislike myself.
I can’t help worrying about it.

When I think that he also went through
a long period like that, I believe I can find a way out
of this feeling.

"How do you want to face
the students?"

That’s difficult.
It’ll never change.

I can only continue to face them.

There’ll be no connection at all
with the fact that I’m gay.

If I can help them value themselves
and be happy.

I’ll do what I can.

"That’s good. Next."

"Closer."

"OK, next."

"Beautiful eyes."

"OK, you’re next."