As a passionate advocate for social justice and a lover of Japan’s vibrant culture, I found myself deeply moved by Rionne McAvoy’s documentary, “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan.” Having spent years immersed in Japan’s martial arts scene as Rionne Fujiwara, I never imagined that my paths would cross with such a poignant and crucial issue.
Reimagining the sentence with a more casual and straightforward style, it could be:
In contrast to many OECD countries, Japan’s total child poverty rate exceeds the average. Shockingly, approximately 46% of the 1.4 million single-parent families struggle to live above the poverty line, despite around 85% of these parents maintaining employment.
Without a doubt, watching this movie can sometimes be challenging due to its raw and intense portrayals. Some women share their experiences of fleeing abusive partners, while many discuss the struggles they’ve endured or continue to face.
Motherhood on its own is not an easy stroll anywhere, including Australia, and director Rionne McAvoy acknowledges this fact rather than sugarcoating it. However, her work focuses on bringing to light the unique aspects of single motherhood in Japan.
In Japan, the virtue of persisting through hardships without complaining is deeply cherished, but this admirable quality can sometimes lead to detrimental outcomes when individuals are genuinely suffering. From my perspective as a fan, I often see this cultural aspect reflected in various aspects of Japanese life and society.
McAvoy explains to The Hollywood Reporter that there’s a significant amount of self-respect tied up in the decision to turn down assistance, in the reluctance to receive financial aid from the government.
McAvoy mentions that most non-profit organizations (NPOs) and volunteer groups active in the field declined to be part of the documentary, and he faced challenges convincing single mothers to participate in front of the camera as well.
Since the movie’s release, I’ve received numerous emails from single moms expressing gratitude that the issue was brought to light. A few even admitted that merely watching the trailer moved them to tears, according to McAvoy.
The Ones Left Behind” has garnered 17 awards at film festivals so far and will be screened at K’s Cinema in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district in November, yet McAvoy continues to focus on securing nationwide and global distribution.
As a gamer, I was lucky enough to be part of the bustling crowd at the Shibuya screening towards the end of September. There were some pretty high-profile attendees, including representatives from the UK and Norway, as well as Taro Kono, who was then the digital minister and a strong contender for prime minister. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the top spot in a vote that took place just a few days later.
After the film’s viewing, Kono admitted that improvements were necessary within Japan’s administration. He highlighted the significant issues of the gender wage disparity and income discrepancies between permanent and temporary workers as key concerns.
Kono stated that the initial move toward resolving this issue might occur if a greater number of people who watch this movie recognize it and decide to act on it. He pointed out that while they are referred to as single-parent families, there is a noticeable disparity in income between single fathers and single mothers in Japan.
As a fervent advocate for eradicating child poverty, I’ve been particularly moved by the examples presented in that film, one of which was the U.K. As a fan, I can appreciate the role played by experts in highlighting this case. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that British Ambassador Julia Longbottom has shed light on an interesting perspective. She pointed out that while the U.K. was once hailed for its success in lifting a million children out of poverty during Tony Blair’s late 1990s and early 2000s government, the country has unfortunately taken a step back since then. Now, she notes, child poverty rates in the U.K. are strikingly similar to those in Japan, a stark contrast to its past achievements.
At first glance, McAvoy might not appear as the typical filmmaker for this subject matter. Being a lifelong martial artist who initially moved to Japan with that aspiration, his primary goal was to excel as an action star. For over a decade, he participated in Japan’s vibrant professional wrestling arena, fighting under the name Rionne Fujiwara and occasionally returning for performances.
McAvoy stepped into the director’s role behind the camera for a short film featuring him, showcasing his action skills, as the original director had visa problems and had to leave Japan. Another significant opportunity presented itself when Japan’s borders were closed due to the pandemic, prompting the BBC to recruit his production company for a project. McAvoy is now planning a series of films titled “The Ones Left Behind“, with the intention of tackling the sensitive subject of child suicide in future installments. This issue has persisted even as the overall number of Japanese suicides has decreased.
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2024-10-15 08:24