I’ve watched one of Ikeda Sensei’s cartoon series name ‘Over the Deep Blue Sea’. It’s a movie day for my district’s JD Activity Day, and I was the one to prepare a move that time. So I shared this movie I’ve watched with the children. After we’re done with the movie, I felt a difference compared to the last time I watched the movie when I was small. Back then, I wasn’t very much enlightened. To me, it was just an entertaining cartoon. Perhaps that was because nobody’s there to share the major points and information shown in the movie with us. Thus, I’ve never understood the movie that well, not to mention leaving deep impression behind.

The story of ‘Over the Deep Blue Sea’ begins with a family that immigrated to an island in America from Japan. At the beginning, the little girl made lots of new friends, but her brother did not seem to have a friend. Having difficulties on the spoken language, the brother lost his courage to make friends, which soon, making him felt like leaving the boring island. Then, they knew a boy who happens to be the only local kid that speaks simple Japanese. The boy got close to the brother and sister. He brought them all over the mystical places of the island. But out of a sudden, he found out that the Japanese army had attacked the island long ago, and that his grand-father was sacrificed in that war. So he had a fight with the brother after that. The brother got so mad, took a canoe and sailed out to the sea alone. The angry waves soon pushed the canoe towards the deep blue area. Despite his hate towards the Japanese, that local boy rushed out to the sea for the sake of the brother’s safety. At the end, both of them were rescued by a captain.

My greatest impression lies beneath the words the captain told three of the children. “The sea may not always be calm. There are times when thunderstorms sail through it. But how should a ship strive through such challenge? All you must remember, is that your ship must not back down. No matter how huge those waves could be, we must exert the best of ourselves to break through all of these!” When I heard what the captain’s said, it felt like that must be the words our Ikeda Sensei wanted to tell us. We may face lots of problems and challenges in life that hinder us from advancing. For example, our homework, relationship problems, these could all make us feel disappointed and have the intention of giving up. However, we should be striving harder through these problems just like the captain’s encouraged. This is because all those problems and challenges were there to train you up, becoming a stronger person. No matter how big your problem could be, never run away from it. All you need is faith and courage. Remember, a calm sea could never train up the best surfer.

World War II had taken place on the island. The local boy’s grand-father was sacrificed in the war. Actually, not only his grand-father, lots of other lives were sacrificed in the war either. However, the consequences are unable to be mended anymore. It helps nothing to keep blaming the Japanese for that. We should learn to forgive them and give them a chance of improving. What we can do for now, is to be the dove of peace wherever we go, spreading the message of peace for everyone. Of course we must also remember to take actions of peace, such as maintaining a good relationship between friends and family. You’re the rising suns of 21^st century! Please melt the ice between people with your burning passion. Please build the bridge of trust and peace through sincere dialogues.

I admire the true friendship between the children. The local kid might have been mad of the Japanese, but he’d still save his friend from the great angry waves. Both the kids showed courage and the great spirit of Itai Doshin. When two combines their power, the energy could be great. When we’re facing problems alone, we tend to feel helpless. But when there’s a friend giving us support and encouragement, we could strive forward courageously together. Do you have a friend like this in your school? A friend who’d console you when you’re sad; a friend who’d accompany you when you’re afraid; a friend who’d encourage you when you failed. If you have it, then I must congratulate you. You’ve got the most valuable friendship with you. Please cherish such an honour. But if you found that you’ve got no friends like this, never be down. In contrary, we must be the person to make the first move on encouraging others!

Ikeda Sensei’s given everyone three gifts. First gift, friendship. Everyone must know more friends and be truthful to them all the time. Second gift, courage. When we’re facing failure, sadness, and hardship, please do not be afraid as Ikeda Sensei’s given us courage. Third gift, hope. You are the symbols of hope. Seeing you is like seeing hope. ‘Hope’ allows us to face problems positively, ‘hope’ allows us to face the future with smile!

Shared by,
Wee Yean.

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