MISA HARADA: Documentary airs on NHK

MISA HARADA

Misa Harada Documentary Airs on NHK

What Misa Harada Wanted to Convey to the Children

Hat designer Misa Harada visits her alma mater to give a class on her field.—What did she convey to the children? Here is a synopsis of the program airing on NHK General on May 26 (Saturday) at 11:30 AM.

Text by MISA HARADA

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, but that's okay too.

I visited my alma mater in Nagoya for the first time in over 20 years to film the NHK program "Yōkoso Senpai" (Welcome, Senior). I had stopped by Nagoya on previous trips back to Japan, but this was my first visit to the elementary school since graduation. The school is called Sakae Elementary School, located just behind the bustling Fushimi district in the heart of Nagoya.

I don't recall this when I was attending, but the hallway leading from the visitor's entrance was lined with photos of alumni. There was a professional baseball player, a gymnast (I've forgotten their names), Midori Ito and Kanako Murakami, and in the reception room, the school motto written in the elegant calligraphy of former Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

This program features "senpai" (seniors) active in various fields who return to their alma mater (primarily elementary schools) to teach classes related to their expertise. In my case, it naturally involved having the children make hats. However, to add a twist, I set a hidden theme (or rather, the main theme) of "Let's be a standout!" The goal was to encourage them to express their individuality and pursue their own path, regardless of what others might think.

I'll just say that the result was a tough, physically demanding world, as the actual production site (the classroom) was a real test of endurance. I encourage you to watch the program to see what kind of "standouts" were born.

There were tears, of course, alongside laughter. Pure tears. They might be labeled as "typical kids of this generation," but they are still sixth graders. While I wouldn't say I want to go back to that age, it was a valuable "lesson" for me, allowing me to experience a variety of fresh emotions.

Broadcast Date and Time
"Yōkoso Senpai" airs on NHK General on May 26 at 11:30 AM.
(Different program in the Kinki region. Rebroadcast scheduled for a later date on NHK Educational.)