Let's go.

"Let's look up when we walk."

"So our tears don't fall."

Sending their wish for peace to return to their homeland is Nagasaki-based Ukrainian musical duo

Maximum - Alek Pashkowski and Vadym Bezvuliak.

Since last summer, they've been singing a Japanese classic,

"Ue Wo Muite Aruko," or Let's Look up When We Walk," a performance that resonated with audiences.

Half a year later, hoping to spread their message to an even wider public,

they're trying their hand at making a music video for an original song.

My guitar is my weapon, you know. My lyrics are my weapon.

So, this is the way I can help.

Let's tag along with Maximum as they send their message of love and peace anew.

Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture.

This theme park that recreates the townscape of the Netherlands is where Maximum regularly perform.

Since 2014, they'd had an active career in both their native Ukraine and Japan.

However, when Russia invaded their homeland in 2022,

they were unable to return to Ukraine, and have been performing solely in Japan ever since.

As the conflict continues, they've noticed a worrying change in the people around them.

I like Japanese people.

(They) support Ukraine a lot, and very kind people.

But, you know, day by day, people started (to) forget.

And some of my friend(s) told me, 'Ukraine (is) still (at) war?'

I say, 'Yes, still (at) war.' So, people started (to) forget.

It's ready.

At work or at home, thoughts of war-torn Ukraine never leave Alek's mind.

The girl (is) wearing Pampers, and on her back, her name,

(the) date when she (was) born, and (the) phone number(s) (of her) mother and father,

in case if she... they would lose her.

I feel.. pain, it was... it's really painful to watch.

But I'm not trying to avoid, you know. I'm watching.

I just wanna... just I want to feel this pain, also.

At least, I'm not there, but I wanna feel this pain.

As long as the war goes on, we can't say
we're happy from the bottom of our hearts.

Wanting to share his wish for peace, Alek decides to convey it through a new original song.

...because there are, like, so many emotions, you know, inside of my heart

since (the) war has started in Ukraine, and, like, just I couldn't keep them inside,

and the song is the way I can share.

Titled "A Little Bit of Love,"

the ballad expresses his hope for small instances of affection to build up and help bring about peace.

"I don't wanna hear somebody's crying."

"I don't want people (to) say goodbye."

"I just wanna cherish every smile."

"Every smile, every single time."

I think it will not be able to change the world,

but I cannot stay away, you know.

So, at least I want to try. At least I want to try.

Maybe it will change somebody's opinion about some... about love, about humanity, you know.

The two have been thinking about how they could cast their message to a broader audience.

The answer they found is to make a music video.

- Hi! Hello!
- "Konnichiwa."

- "Konnichiwa." I'm Alek.
- Takashi.

To add images to their music and lyrics,

Alek and Vadym strongly wish to work with this creator: photographer Itozawa Takashi.

In 2001, Takashi married a Ukrainian woman and together, they had two children.

But when the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2014 broke out,

his family moved to Japan, then later Poland, where they now live.

Pictures of Ukraine during a time of peace captured by Takashi.

The two musicians want to feature them in their video.

That's how Ukraine used to be.

That's how Ukraine became.

One of Alek's favorites is this sunflower that seems to be gazing at the blue sky.

It looks up, you know, like, to the sun.

Like "Let's Look Up When We Walk."

And, this is kind of a reflection of (the) Ukrainian nation.

Like, they are looking up, you know.

So, it reminds me this is Ukraine, peaceful Ukraine.

Traveling between Japan and Poland, Takashi has been spreading his own message of peace through photography.

Musicians and photographer share their thoughts.

I think... now Ukrainian people, they really understand the price of (a) peaceful life.

But, Japanese people, maybe, like, old people, they understand how... the importance of peace.

But young generations, they don't think about it.

They don't think about it because they don't have a purpose... they don't have a reason to think about it.

I think (it's) a very important thing (to) let the people understand.

Not help without understand. Understand.

You feel lonely, because people don't understand, and just say...

"I'm sorry for you."
"Stay strong."

So, one day, my picture from their eyes, and your song from the ears, make together. To understand.

Takashi gladly agrees to add his images to their project.

Vadym has another reason for wanting to see the war in Ukraine come to an end.

Today is my son's birthday.

I haven't seen him (for) about four years.

I hope soon we can meet.

Though Vadym got married in 2013,

life going back and forth between Japan and Ukraine put pressure on the relationship,

which ended in divorce four years ago.

Little Genya lives with his mom in Ukraine.

Happy birthday!

You're seven now.

Yes.

- What did you do today?
- They celebrated my birthday at school!

- Do you miss me?
- Of course.

Why don't you come back?

Now's not a good time.

I have work.

- When will you come back?
- Soon, I hope.

- Bye bye.
- Bye.

When I saw his face, I felt happy.

Happy and sad.

Happy because I have a very beautiful son, and he('s) growing up, and he...

But sad, because I cannot touch him. I cannot hug him.

I just talk. So, after talking,

sometimes, I... crying.

Yeah. So...

In Maximum's new song is a phrase Vadym wishes to particularly emphasize.

One part of that song reminds me (of) my son because it's like,

'There will always be (a) new generation.'

So, my son is (the) new generation.

"There will always be new generation."

Head back to Ukraine and join the military or contribute in his own way through song and music.

The dilemma weighs heavily on his heart.

I feel guilty to be in Japan because I'm Ukrainian.

But everybody's told me,

'Please stay. You can help from here. You are not (a) soldier.'

Like, 'You can help, you can donate, you can tell about what happened in Ukraine.'

So, this is my weapon.

And thus begins the making of Maximum's music video.

For the opening scene, they determined an empty concert hall would better convey their feelings.

Come on! Three, two, one!

"I don't wanna hear somebody's crying."

Maybe there is kind of some similar emotions

between (an) empty concert hall and your empty heart because of, like, war.

Next, they film at a levee.

The two have been living in Nagasaki for ten years.

During hard times, this is a place they regularly visit to find a bit of solace.

Action!

To express Vadym's thoughts about "the new generation," they also shoot scenes with children.

This little boy is the same age as his son Genya.

What's your name?

Children are a symbol of peace.

So, a scene combining kids
and Takashi's sunflower is perfect...

to express Maximum's message of hope.

The two give it their best to impart their prayer for peace to the video.

Yet, Alek's heart is torn by conflicting emotions.

You know, writing this song, I just want to make this world better.

You know, I'm trying to share with people some good emotions.

But (at) the same time, I cannot forgive Russians, you know.

So, it makes me feel there are two sides of me, you know.

One side's telling me that we have to forgive, and we have (to) move forward,

but the other side of me, part of my heart, (is) saying, 'No, you will never be able to forgive.'

How can he overcome his feeling of hatred and resentment?

A friend, Mori Isaku, introduces someone who experienced the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Pleased to meet you!

Thank you!

Sakagami Haruko is a relative of Isaku.

When the bomb fell, she was far from ground zero, and thus survived.

But her father, who was in the city on that fateful moment, died instantly.

There was a sudden flash!
The sky turned yellow, red and orange.

Then, boom!

I thought, "Nagasaki's burning!
Daddy's dying in the fire!"

It was so painful.

To Haruko, who lost her father to war, Alek has a question he's been meaning to ask.

She's been through all of this, her family. She's lost her father there, you know, and...

and she found the way how to forgive, how to forget about this.

And, like, where did she find this power to forgive?

I bear no grudge against the US.

People like me who lived through the bomb
feel war must never happen again.

We have no wish for revenge.

People must never wage war
on another country.

Focus your hatred on war itself, not on people.

Haruko's message to Alek is simple but strong.

Late January. The music video is finally complete.

Today, Maximum are performing their new song on stage for the first time.

In spite of the rain, an audience gathers.

Alek does his best to explain in Japanese the message they imbued in their song and video.

War has been going on in Ukraine
for two years now.

Please don't forget about Ukraine.

I want to work hard with everyone
to help build a world of peace.

"I don't want to hear somebody's crying."

"I don't want people to say goodbye."

"There will always be a new generation."

"There will always be somebody's love."

"And the stars fell down."

"To my lonely town."

"In the eyes of life."

"I see the love."

"Look up (at) the sky."

"I hope you'll find just a little bit of love."

To see Ukrainians create beautiful music...

is a reminder that
we mustn't forget peace.

I want to support them.

Their message makes me want to think
about how I can help.

I will live my life, like, I will sing and I will support Ukraine.

And if we can help Ukraine with our music, I wanna keep going (and) do that.

And I hope this song, a little, just a little but, will change the world for (a) better place.

Armed with song and music, Alek and Vadym continue their mission to usher in a peaceful future.

Hi. I'm Yuliya Bondarenko from Ukraine.

I work at a seafood restaurant
in Manazuru.

Let me show you my work.

Manazuru, Kanagawa Pref.

Yuliya works at this restaurant
near a fishing port.

- Good morning.
- Good morning!

- Let's give it our best today.
- Yes.

Hi! Welcome.

Yuliya attends to customers
and helps prepare meals.

Oysters from Lake Saroma...

and Minamisanriku.

I insert a knife in the gap to cut
the oyster and make it easy to open.

My hometown isn't near the sea,
so I learned how to prepare oysters here.

Here you are: assorted oysters.

These are from Minamisanriku,
Lake Saroma and Okayama Prefecture.

Cook them about 5 minutes.

It's delicious.

Yes.

This one's the best.

Yes, it feels creamy.

- How is it?
- Delicious.

- You've been studying Japanese?
- Yes, only a little.

You're doing great!

Japanese is difficult.
But I love chatting with customers.

I want to study more.

Yuliya used to work
as a graphic designer in Ukraine.

In 2022, the Russian invasion began.

Yuliya's apartment in the northeastern
city of Kharkiv was hit.

When the war started, we (went) to (the) metro. So, so scared.

A long-time Japanese friend of hers
introduced her to the restaurant's owner.

Yuliya and her daughter Zlata
came to Japan in 2023.

There are no mountains or coastline
in my hometown.

I found the scenery here so beautiful.

Eto-san is my boss.

On February 24th two years ago,
I heard the news of Russia's invasion.

Actually, three days before,
I'd lost my restaurant in a fire.

So, to have someone from Ukraine
come to work here...

gives me hope for the future,
and I hope it gives her hope, too.

She's so cheerful.

When she hears a song she likes,
she sings along while working...

in front of the customers.

Her smile cheers me up.

Instead of being discouraged,
it's important to keep our chin up.

She reminds me of that.

I'm home!

Yuliya and Zlata share an apartment
provided by the city.

Fellow Ukrainian and co-worker Elena
drops by with her son.

This garlic bread is like Ukrainian bread.

It's similar.

It's very good.

- Put on some Ukrainian music.
- Can I choose?

Something popular.

Alone, I'd feel so lonely.

With Yuliya and Zlata here, it's more fun.

It's nice to be all four of us.

My treasure is this family photo.

In Ukraine, I lived with my mom and kids.

When Yuliya left Ukraine, she brought
this 13-year-old photo with her.

Her son Mykyta and 72-year-old mother
fled to Cherkasy.

- Hello?
- Hi.

- Hi.
- Mom, how are you?

How's Mykyta?

He's fine. He worked last night,
so, he's still sleeping.

Is Cherkasy safe?

Missiles fired toward Kyiv fly above us.

We often hear sirens.

Take care, Mom. I love you.
Stay safe.

My son might be drafted.

I'm so worried.

I want the war to end soon.

I want to live with my family.