Where We Call Home.

This man from the Philippines brings smiles to people's faces in Yokohama with one simple phrase:

"Let's dance!"

Eduardo Macarat, or "Eddie" to his friends and family.

He's a social dance instructor with many devoted students.

Dance is something you feel
with your body and heart.

The key is to smile and have fun.

The pandemic disrupted social interactions.

Eddie is giving his all to bring people back together.

And he now puts effort into helping a newcomer to his classes.

So, put on your dancing shoes...

...and get ready for a story of hope and joy renewed through dance!

Yokohama is one of Japan's most well-known port cities.

Throughout its long history, it absorbed cultural elements from around the world.

In this building near a local train station is a dance school.

Students range from those who come here to simply dance their stress away after a busy workday

to those eager to perfect their skills.

A popular instructor here is Eduardo Macarat.

Everyone calls him Eddie.

One, two, three, four.
One, two. Yes.

You got it!

Because he leads so well, I can dance
naturally, even with my limited skill.

One thing Eddie emphasizes is for students to "chin up" as they dance.

He often says dancing brightens up people and gives them a more positive attitude.

I'm really not fluent in Japanese.

But language isn't very important.
I teach by dancing.

Even when I feel a bit down,
and don't want to dance...

Eddie cheers me up and reminds me
how fun dancing can be.

Back in his native Philippines, Eddie became a professional dancer at the age of nineteen.

He moved to Japan ten years ago when he got married.

- I'm home!
- Welcome back!

His wife, Malyn, was his high-school crush.

She married a Japanese man twenty-three years ago and had two daughters, but later got divorced.

As a single mother, she had been working hard to raise her children.

Eddie wished to be by her side, and the two got married.

He suddenly became a father of two.

Bon appétit!

However, as the two girls were still very young, they weren't ready to welcome a new dad into their lives.

- I kept asking them if I could remarry.
- I kept saying no.

We didn't want to share our mom's love.

But after they got married,
I felt glad they did, mainly because...

Mom wasn't alone anymore.

The reluctant girls' minds began to change after their mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Eddie devotedly supported Malyn through the ordeal of chemotherapy.

That's when he told her, "Chin up! Let's dance!"

I could barely go out.
I couldn't work.

I remember we were sitting here,
and Eddie said, 'Let's dance!'

But I hated dancing.
I said no.

She kept saying, 'No! No!'

I said, 'It's OK!'
'Just one minute!'

Malyn's fight with cancer had lowered her spirits.

But dancing helped lift them back up.

As I danced, I forgot about my worries.

I felt lighthearted.
Dancing made me smile.

I realize it's what saved me.

A mother struggling with illness and two young girls who couldn't welcome their new father.

It was dance that brought the family together.

Wanting to bring the joy of dancing to as many people as possible,

Eddie runs a social dance club at a nearby community center twice a month.

Good morning!

Thanks for coming!

Recently, the group welcomed a new member who's just started to learn dancing.

Maruyama Junko is a single mother and office worker for a construction company.

Thank you.

She dances at the back of the group.

She never smiles and tends to look down.

Let's start by having Junko practice.

Concerned for Junko, Eddie takes her hands and begins to teach her.

If you feel embarrassed,
look at my forehead.

There's one thing he keeps saying,

"Look your partner in the eyes, and enjoy dancing with all your heart."

Junko's mood should begin
to change gradually.

I want her to have fun.

While in her twenties, Junko worked as an interpreter in New York City.

She later got married and moved back to Japan.

However, her marriage only lasted three years.

She had become a single mother with two children under her care.

She spent all her energy on work and childrearing.

Her son and daughter are now in high-school.

Is it good?

Junko had been working hard to support her family.

Then two years ago, life brought a new set of trials.

My son got meningitis. Then after
he recovered, my mother fell ill.

Yes...

At that time, I felt overwhelmed.

Her mother was hospitalized, however, she passed away.

Junko has poured all her efforts into getting her family through hardships.

She realized she seemed to have forgotten how to smile along the way.

I just went from home to work,
then from work to home.

I started drinking, too.

That's when she learned about Eddie's dance club.

Hoping it would break her tendency to stay shut in and help her brighten up,

she began to regularly take lessons.

Junko, let's practice.

Junko can't help but lower her eyes.

Eddie's determined to change that.

Don't look down.
Look up here.

Don't look down!

Don't look down!

Don't look down!

Eddie has an idea in mind that would be a motivating challenge for Junko.

He's thinking of having her perform at his annual dance party.

Junko lacks confidence.
She looks a bit sad.

She's still a beginner.
I want to help her have more fun.

The party takes place outdoors, at a nearby riverside area.

When Eddie first arrived in Japan and had yet to make friends, he used to come here to practice dancing alone.

At first, I was alone.
I felt a bit lonely.

But little by little, people came,
and now many people join me.

Through dance, Eddie built up a circle of friends here at this very place.

And so, he feels this is where Junko too can regain her confidence.

In preparation for the riverside dance party,

Eddie created a choreography for Junko and sends her videos for her to practice.

Malyn will do your part.

You're Junko.

Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

So, that's it.

It's very easy, right?

You have to memorize, every day.
Practice every day.

She's more cheerful.

It's great she can focus
wholeheartedly on something.

He says I have to do it,
and above all, have fun.

I feel I found a place where
I can be myself. I'm so glad.

With the party coming soon, Junko practices with more enthusiasm than ever.

Thanks for coming!

Good evening!

She even bought her first pair of dance shoes for the occasion.

She and Eddie go through the choreography together.

Eye-to-eye contact.

Don't look down.

Over and over, Eddie teaches her the basics of dancing.

The day of the dance party has arrived.

More than a hundred people, including Eddie's friends and local residents, have gathered.

Good morning!

- Thanks for coming today.
- I'll do my best.

The participants have all put on their best outfits.

Junko wears a costume she borrowed from Malyn, who also helps her with her makeup.

It's time, everyone!

So, let's start!

Participants are of varying levels, but under Eddie's lead, they all dance in sync.

Come on down!

Join us!

The circle of dancers around Eddie keeps growing.

Finally, it's time for Junko to take the stage - her very first performance in front of a crowd.

Smile! Look at me!

The strong wish to bring a positive change in her life is what motivated Junko to take up social dance.

The result shows in her smile.

Congratulations!
You were great.

I was truly amazed!

I'm going to cry!

I'm crying, too.
You were so lovely.

You gave it your all.
You did great. You're a dancer.

I'm so happy.

Dance is my life.

Dance is my life.

If I'm not dancing, I'm tired.

If I dance, I'm "genki" (energetic.)

In the future, I want a lot of people joining us, and make fun and enjoy, and more laughter.

Chin up! Let's dance!

Eddie's love of dance has sparked yet another smile.

Hi, I'm Yan Zheng. I work in
construction management in Japan.

I'm currently working on a project
on a highway.

I'm about to get to work.

8:00 a.m.
morning workout.

Yan supervises the overall construction.
Today, he leads a team of ten workers.

Good morning!

We're working on the retaining wall.

There's lots of rebar.
So, be careful.

Let's do our best, and work safely!

This is the site we're working on.

It's part of a highway
that joins three prefectures.

Yan currently oversees
the construction of 2 bridge piers.

To meet the 7-month deadline, he manages
workers of 17 different specializations.

Yan supervises every aspect,
including hiring...

procuring materials, monitoring
progress and ensuring safety.

- Is the height OK?
- OK.

He makes sure the rebar framework
is assembled exactly as planned.

I'm checking the level of completion
for the reinforcement.

Is this 1,250mm?

1,250 exactly.

The slightest mistake would delay
the work of the next team.

There's no room for error.

9:30 a.m.
preparing the concrete

We're testing the ready-mixed concrete.

We check its hardness,
and whether it's sturdy enough.

checking the
air content.

testing the
hardness.

They test 4 categories of criteria.
They mustn't overlook a single mistake.

All clear.
Go ahead.

To develop international expertise,
Yan came to Japan in 2003.

He was hired by his current employer
after an internship with them.

At first, I struggled to learn
all the many technical terms.

Like the word "kon-pane" (concrete panel.)

I couldn't find it in the dictionary.

I learned through pictures and notes.

There were times when I wanted to quit
and go back to China...

but my seniors patiently trained me.

And it was so rewarding to complete
a job after so much hard work.

I want to keep building my expertise
and experience...

to one day help support the company.

This is my senior, Hattori-san.

He's taught me so much
ever since I joined the company.

In my early years, Hattori-san
was intimidating.

He often said, 'Careful!'
'You'll cause an accident!'

Yan was always nervous.
But he worked really hard.

There are many things that impact quality
and safety. We must be very careful.

- Now, Yan scolds workers instead of me.
- I wouldn't say 'scold.'

He taught me the importance
of ensuring everyone can work safely.

I want him to pass along
the things I taught him...

like the pride of a craftsman
in his work.

Yan is recognized for his passion
for learning and thoughtfulness.

- Here you are. Black coffee, right?
- Thank you.

I want people to enjoy working
without stress.

Without a good atmosphere,
people can't freely express themselves.

A pleasant atmosphere helps
the work progress more smoothly.

These are photos of my family.

Yan lives with his wife, who's also
Chinese, and their son.

When work's not going too well,
I think about my family.

It motivates me to give it my all.

On my days off, I show him around the site.
Of course, he doesn't drive the machinery.

I want to be a father
my son can feel proud of.

I want to take him camping,
go to theme parks, etc.

I want him to enjoy the ride
as we take the highway I helped build.