‘Luha at Musika,’ dokumentaryo ni Atom Araullo, ngayong Sabado sa ‘I-Witness’

“LUHA AT MUSIKA”

Dokumentaryo ni Atom Araullo
October 12, 2019

Mr. Hidefumi Yoshida is a professor in Tokyo International Welfare College. But he acts as a therapist during his free time. Mr. Yoshida moonlights as a therapist in his bar, “Tears and Travel Akane“ in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

It may look like an ordinary bar with empty bottles littered outside, but what is about to transpire inside is extraordinary. Mr. Yoshida is about to start a therapy session with a client. This therapy session is called “Tears therapy,” wherein he lets clients watch films about deaths of loved ones, then awaits their reaction.

Ms. Katori Masayo is a first-time client who is undergoing depression for two months now. She is a clinic nurse. According to her, one cause of her depression is death in the family.  While watching the films played on the projector, she begins to cry. This is a good sign according to Mr. Yoshida because tears help people reduce stress.

Meanwhile, 115 kilometers away, a man is also trying to help depressed people. But in a different way. Mr. Watanabe resides all his life in Aokigahara forest. This forest is internationally known as the “Suicide Forest.”

Mr. Kyochi Watanabe is the lead singer of The North Keepers, an indie band in Japan doing small gigs. Before going to sleep, he sets up his guitar and serenades those, he thinks, who are sad and lonely. Through his music, he says, he hopes to stop someone who is about to commit the biggest mistake of his life and make them realize that there is still hope.

Hope. That is what Mr. Yoshida and Mr. Watanabe would like to impart.

Join Atom Araullo and his team as they document these amazing people in saving lives.

Filipino Version:

Propesor sa Tokyo International Welfare College si Hidefumi Yoshida. Pero isa rin siyang “therapist” sa Tears and Travel Akane, isang bar sa Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Pangkaraniwan kung titingan ang bar na ito sa labas na may iilang mga nakakalat na bote sa harapan, ngunit pagpasok sa loob, isang pambihirang klaseng “therapy” pala ang regular na idinadaos dito kasama ang kanyang kliyente.  Ang therapy na ito ay tinatawag na “Tears Therapy” kung saan hinahayaan niyang manuod ng short films na nakakalungkot at nakakaiyak ang kanyang kliyente.

Unang beses pa lamang ni Katori Masayo na magpa-therapy kay Yoshida, at ayon sa kanya, dalawang buwan na siyang nakararanas ng depresyon. Kwento niya, ang ugat daw nito ay pagkawala ng isang miyembro ng kanyang pamilya. Habang pinapanood ang pelikula, naiyak si Katori. At ito raw ay isang magandang senyales para kay Mr. Yoshida upang mabawasan ang stress na nararamdaman ng isang tao.

Habang patuloy ang adbokasiya ni Mr. Yoshida sa Tokyo, daang kilometro mula sa kanya, mayroon ding isang matandang musikerong lumalaban para sa depresyon ng iba sa sarili niyang paraan. Lumaki na sa Aokigahara Forest si Kyochi Watanabe. Ang gubat na ito ay tinaguriang “Suicide Forest” dahil ayon sa kasaysayan, dito naitala ang pinakamaraming kaso ng suicide sa Japan.

Si Watanabe ay isang gitarista at bokalista ng kanyang bandang “The North Keepers”. Tuwing gabi, bago siya matulog, sa bungad ng gubat na ito ay tumutugtog siya at umaasang kung mayroon mang tao ngayon na nasa loob ng gubat na balak nang tapusin ang buhay, ay magbago ang isip kapag narinig na ang kanyang musika.

Pag-asa. Ito ang kanilang adbokasiya.

Samahan si Atom Araullo at ang kanyang team na kilalanin ay dalawang taong ito upang sumagip ng buhay sa kanilang magka-ibang paraan.