Single-Mindedly On One’s Work - A Reflection to the Movie "Yell for the Blue Sky!"

Some weeks ago I watched the Japanese movie “Yell for the Blue Sky!” The movie trailer caught my attention – high school baseball team and wind band, it can’t get more exciting than that! It turned out a pretty good teen’s movie, and the music is great! In the movie, the music wind band practices include:

• Respighi, Roman Festival, 1st movement

• Respighi, Roman Festival, 4th movement

• T-Square (Japanese Jazz Band), Takarajima

• American Traditional, Our Boys Will Shine Tonight

• Respighi, Belkis, Queen of Sheba, 4th movement

• March “Sky Blue”

The story is about Tsubasa Ono, a first grade girl in the Shirato High School in Sapporo, Japan. The school is famous for its baseball team and wind ensemble. While Ono looks at the display of school's wind band trophies, she meets Daisuke Yamada—also a first grader—who is standing next to her and staring at the trophies from the baseball team.

Tsubasa decided to come to Shirato High school after watched the band cheering from the stands during the Koshien Baseball Tournament – Japanese High School Baseball Championship. Daisuke promises Tsubasa that the team will make it to the tournament and she can cheer from the stands there.

However, Tsubasa has difficulties learning to play the trumpet. The standard is high and most of students already started their learning in middle schools. Daisuke cheers her up and she begins to have feelings for him. They encourage each other to accomplish their dreams.

I was amazed that in Japanese high schools the instrumental performance skill is passing down from older students to new students. Not many students have the opportunity of having private music lesson. But they still take up the responsibility, teach the instrument well and learn it well. Furthermore, it is older students' duty to lead young ones to the competitions. They practice hard for national championship and the competition is very prestige. Wind Band is a serious commitment.

In general, the 1st year students are allowed to participate the band; however, they are not good enough to represent the school and play in competition. Only the 2nd and 3rd year student could become a competition team member. Many times, students can't even get into the competition team because it is very competitive. Therefore, a student might only have 1 (or maybe 2) chance in a lifetime to compete! So, you can imagine how much they desire to win and how much effort the students put in.

In the movie, the school wind band motto is “一心不乱” (Isshinfuran), which means concentrate, single-mindedly on one’s works. They want to teach students "Did you do your best in practice the instrument and prepare the pieces? Do you have any regret when you reflect the entire process regardless the competition result?"

This is very true. We often tell our students and children "It's Okay. Do better next time." Then, we begin to take the opportunities for granted. We should encourage little kids "Do it with all your heart and mind" accordingly.

The band director said couple things that I like in the movie. “A miracle or fortune won’t happen, but practice won’t betray us.” And when Tsubasa asks "How to play trumpet better?” The music teacher answered “Comprehend what you have been taught, think how the piece should be performed. There is not shortcut to success. If there is one, the road must be bumpy.”

Despite of the difficulties and challenges, Tsubasa feels “We are not perfect. We don’t always make wise decision, we hesitant, but all we should do is look up and keep on going.” What a positive attitude.

"Yell for the Blue Sky!" Really is a heartwarming movie. I hope you have a chance to watch it.

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