Finding Fukue: My Long-Lost Friend in Japan (Daniel Roher Documentary) | Real Stories

Finding Fukue: My Long-Lost Friend in Japan (Reunion Documentary) | Real Stories
Directed by Daniel Roher, the director of the 2023 Oscar-winning documentary Navalny, They were best friends, then pen pals - until one day, the letters stopped coming. Almost 30 years later, Jessica Stuart returns to Japan to try and solve the mystery of her long-lost friend, Fukue.
It’s a mystery that spans decades, continents, and cultures, and bridges one Toronto woman’s life with her childhood in Japan: what happened to Fukue?
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Produced in association with CBC Docs
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[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

Thank you so much for sharing my story, Real Stories!

[@darneishacurry8234]

TheJessicaStuartFew so touching 🤗

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

Darneisha Curry thank you! ♥️

[@shamneo23]

this was amazing! not gonna lie, it made me tear up... maybe i should find my childhood friend from 26 years ago..

[@xualai3110]

I shed a tear or two. Amazing story!

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

@@shamneo23 thank you so much!

[@Chatterboxtherapists]

This was so touching. I think they both needed this. They became those innocent children again. 😢

[@cabingirl1961]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful story! I hope they are friends for a lifetime!

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

and i think that her and i are both still connected with the child we are/were and that helped us feel comfortable around each other immediately when we reconnected!

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

@@cabingirl1961 me too!

[@kittyfox7]

Man I ran out of tissues watching this! I’m so glad they found each other!

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

thank you! me too, very much :)

[@michaelmichael4780]

BLAH I'm a blubbering mess!!! I'm so glad i have my door closed at work so no one can see the tears streaming down my face. that was awesome

[@ariadnac.3228]

I can't stop crying. This was genuinely beautiful. So glad they could meet each other after so many years ♥ !!!!

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

me too!

[@bmac63]

me three...what a beautiful story..

[@missmac564]

The fact they hugged constantly was beautiful, Japanese people rarely hug, it’s not part of their culture. This is beautiful 💖

[@wackizacki545]

Its not part of our culture is it so says the gaijin... Obviously you are not a Nihonjin and probably only saw Nihon from Shibuya, Shinjuku or Roppongi or the other gaijin areas, sure we rarely hug strangers but we do hug people we that know like friends, family etc. I do not get you westerners you seem to get our culture only from anime or worst yet Tokyo which is probably the least nihonjin of nihon. Tokyo or Osaka which are dirty cities, polluted, expensive, crime and full of foreigners most asian people there are actually korean or chinese. Most of us never go there unless we have to or to visit. Lastly the nihonjin who are from Tokyo are rude and arrogant another reason why it not well liked by the majority of nihonjin. Its like living in Hollywood or West La etc. I have studied in the US and lived in Hawaii and most nihonjin are the same no matter where they live or where they are born. Pardon the rant but we always see these "experts" who know our country better than we do. We hug, kiss and hold hands like anyone else, yes we are not like italians (kidding) in public but not like the old folks which are the ones who rarely do physical contact. My husband and I hug each other all the time because we know or love each other.

[@blackcitroenlove]

@@wackizacki545 Your cutlure is shiny on the surface, but toxic to the bone. Everyone has to look and be the exact same--it lacks deeply compared to the Western world, and it's obvious why the West conquered you.

[@lvvsickx2852]

@@wackizacki545 your reply seems so passive aggressive lmao… you could’ve said that a lot nicer and you literally just did the same as the person that actually wrote this comment, the moment you wrote „not like italians“ „jk“ ?? The whole time you complained about how „foreigners“ don’t know what real japanese people do or don’t do and then went ahead and pretended to know how italians act. I assume you got the idea of how italians act from TV and god knows where else from. Even though you just complained about foreigners having these exact ideas about japan. It’s exactly the same thing and I just wanted to let you know because your whole comment was really strange and that part threw me off.

[@seanvandelay7955]

@@wackizacki545 Hmmmm, what is wrong with you ? Having a bad hair day ? 貴方、大丈夫ですかｱ ? ま、人それぞれですからお任せしますが..... 大事な事は人を責めする事ではなくてこの物語に対してどう感じたか、ではないでしょうか？私はとても感動しました。Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder....Indeed!

[@camillian99]

im so glad she found Fukue, i was crying when she finally got in contact with her

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

me too heheh

[@Carlottax7]

What a lovely story. I am so impressed that Jessica not only still speaks Japanese but can also write it !

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

aw thanks! i write hiragana and katakana and only up to grade 4 level kanji tho, so my speaking is better than my writing for sure.

[@iceinmyveins335]

A testament to how damaging bullying can be to people's lives. A miracle of how Fukue survived especially in a highly suicidal society which is Japan:( God bless them all.

[@kimberleywheeler4126]

Love that you went looking for her ,you really touched her as a child that lasted thru her life

[@TYT695]

Such an uplifting story in an increasingly selfish world.

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

thank you for watching

[@IONAPINKMOXIE]

I'm bawling over here! What a beautiful story! This is what life is about. Anyone who isolates themselves from people and other cultures is a fool....

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

thank you

[@wmd40]

I haven't even seen the entire documentary and I've already started crying multiple times. This is one of the best documentaries I've ever watched. Thank you

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

aww thank you so much

[@trinitytokyo427]

I also think it is one of the most wonderful documentaries that i watched in a long time ,

[@arosefortes6507]

So beautiful! She did what most people are not able to do, but are left to wonder about a friend. Though they both needed this to happen. I think Fukuh needed this in a different way. So heartwarming they had such an impact on each other's lives. A reminder that we are, each of us, are more important than we think we are or give ourselves the credit. A true connection of a lifetime friendship! 💞

[@indonesianguy5192]

I know how she feels. Growing up sucks. Being surrounded by fake friends is so tiring. I always think about the good old times when i was a child and all my friends were innocent. I still remember Pika, my cat when i was 5, i wonder if he still remember me or not.

[@indonesianguy5192]

I have decided to start a journey to find my childhood cat. Wish me luck guys.

[@trousersoup]

you may never make a friend again like the friend you make at that age.

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

it was a unique situation so we became extra significant to each other :)

[@aussiephotographer]

Isn’t it funny that I really don’t cry or get emotional about too much. But when I watch documentaries or stories like this beautiful one I have tears in my eyes. In part because of the bullying and also because of the true friendship that these two beautiful people shared and share. I lost my friend last year and never got to say goodbye so yeah I appreciate this story. Thank you.

[@blizzyyt2281]

DAMN I would given up when I realized I had to go outside

[@jdxsea]

That’s such an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing your journey!

[@loveworld2416]

THIS IS A DEFINITE WATCH. A BEAUTIFUL STORY AND SO HUMAN AND SO NECESSARY-The Canadian woman is warm, respectful of other people's culture, friendship is sacred to her and she is a genuine person. What a great thing to be her friend. Friends like her are so rare. Beautiful.

[@empire-classfirenationbatt2691]

Omg this was so beautiful and precious. I'm so glad she found her friend!

[@rishabhbajaj9364]

This was just so touching...... Really happy for both of them!!

[@seanvandelay7955]

これこそ"涙が止まらない" This is a true tearjerker story!

[@amandathornicroft5130]

What a beautiful story. Very emotional to watch . So so happy they found one another again.

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

me too!

[@Lizzie70374]

@@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic Jessica do you still have communication with her🙏❤️

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

@@Lizzie70374 yes, of course! 😃

[@amar_sm4222]

I was emotionally invested in this very much

[@ivanc9231]

Now that's what a true homie looks like.

[@athenarockett3088]

Beautiful Thank you

[@kearraparrish88]

When they finally met I cried so much . What a heart warming experience 😍😭😁

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

for me too!

[@scarlettsapphire780]

This deserves more views it’s amazing

[@anony1890]

A friend for life... two beautiful souls bond for pure friendship love.

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

[@beckynjeri8559]

A great example of real friendship. Ooh why am I tearing up now

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

aww thanks

[@kaollakitten]

Stop this is so beautiful, I'm not crying you're crying

[@yliu7945]

This is so beautiful!!

[@erichaninga2585]

Being someone who wishes to look for someone I have actually never seen, this is very uplifting and encouraging ❤

[@stuartchandler4351]

Very heart warming, lovely

[@robertoandia1469]

esta historia me hizo llorar de emosion, gracias por compartir tu historia. jess

[@thomasj5722]

Wow this was amazing really!

[@medamineboukhriss5908]

In tears 😭 SO happy she found her BFF

[@robinallen5157]

Amazing!!

[@stacia0174]

So heart warming!

[@McGregorGirl]

This makes my heart happy. I needed this today

[@bcodih2936]

I loveeeeeeee this. It touched my heart Soo much and to think she (fukue) was just still good in spirit's after all she's been through she was just a doll. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.

[@vampkoolaide1722]

What a beautiful, inspiring story

[@MikeToreno1992]

Beautiful story. So beautiful :')

[@Njk18.8]

Wow!! What a beautiful story!!

[@hisdiary829]

So touching!

[@AbsoluteMiniacGena]

I too got emotional when Jess made the call to Fukue. How lovely 😊

[@lindadane3779]

Beautiful!

[@pitbullsandcalicos]

A lovely story! 💖💖💖

[@giselleohana1483]

lovely story. i love it.

[@MissKealoha]

I wish I could find my long lost BFF from when I was 3 in Hawaii. We lived in Barbers Point in Ewa Beach. Her name was Moi Moi.

[@krissy0628]

I think I found her

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

i hope you do!

[@AbsoluteMiniacGena]

Miss Kealoha I knew some people from Hong Kong who called their daughter Moi Moi but it turned out her name was actually Elenor and her mum said Moi Moi meant baby or something along those lines. Perhaps it’s the same in your friends case seeing as she was only 3, it may not have been her actual name but a term used by family and picked up by those around her. Just a thought, seeing as you cannot find her with that name.

[@forwhenimabitboreddm8964]

What an amazing, heart-wrenching experience it was to watch this taking us through the journey with yous ❤

[@kendascorner]

This made my day

[@jarettagogetta4054]

That was such a sweet story...💓

[@KNNYG-iu7fg]

Awesome 👏❤️

[@ch.5163]

Aw I love this

[@knoxzaya9127]

This is a unlifting story. I moved from my childhood bestfriend named Trinity Yang when I lived in north Carolina

[@aminehakik8872]

Wow!!!! Amazing strong story

[@ainefarrell5906]

Such a 👍 nice story hope thy don’t loose touch again

[@rullmourn1142]

Uplifting story.

[@2k_]

heart-warming

[@colleenford5398]

Beautiful story. I'm lucky....I am still friends with the girl I've known since I was 3 yrs old and the girl I've known since 8th grade! I'm 63 now and so very thankful for all of those positive females in my life!

[@prbh8751]

So emotional and Kawai☺️

[@Lizzie70374]

what a beautiful story

[@kristenhansen2313]

Beautiful story! Not gonna lie... I'm crying ❤❤❤

[@squeedum4893]

There are just people that you make connections with that, no matter how much time you spend apart, you can effortlessly reconnect with IMMEDIATELY. May we all have those connections in our lives.

[@mayo6684]

Great! Now I can’t Stop crying! 🤣❤️

[@lizichell2]

What a nice story

[@gaz1079]

This is so beautiful 😄

[@jacquiround1193]

So pleased they got to see each other again after all that time x

[@dianabates6408]

Made me cry ....true love s beyond races, cultures n everything..

[@BD90..]

That was a nice story.

[@catboi7871]

How come only 64k views? This is a heartbraking story, even i cried.

[@xiuehe]

this is the break i need in life

[@jordanbautista9959]

I'm literally crying

[@chandrathompson2567]

This is so moving! It reminds me of my best friend I had when I was small. I wish I knew what she is doing now and wonder if she thinks about me too.

[@dr.vaishaligautam8845]

I never found my best friend. She left school when we were in Grade 5. We wrote letters to each other. And then it stopped. And I never found her again. I still wonder if she tried to find me as well and if she remembers me too. Her name was Sweta. Very sweet girl with 2 pigtails. She was very intelligent too.

[@eunicestone838]

You can find anyone with social media

[@trousersoup]

i'm sobbing

[@JohnnyGamesYouTube]

What a story.

[@princess_ama]

I haven't seen my friend since I was 9 years old. I moved away in the middle of fourth grade, and we lost contact. Nine years later, I still haven't found her. As far as I know, she doesn't have any social media or anything like that. I hope I can find her one day.

[@C.Goraya]

This made my heart melt. I had two best friends. I know since school & college days 11 & 9 years respectively. I’m a kind of person that went far enough to protect & care for them. In return, they ruined this relationship. I don’t get it why people don’t value relationship these days?

[@nanuma7749]

"To reminisce with my old friends, a chance to share some memories, and play our songs again". - Ricky Nelson

[@Freakazoid23]

love the story. thx for the video ❤️

[@maybeso2542]

Okay but I’m crying

[@noneyabusiness9441]

OK that almost got me had to look away just to not cry

[@casey8083]

Friendship is powerful.

[@lemonvernon]

this is true friendship.

[@SoundscapesSoothingMusic]

Wow! So glad she was able to find her. I would like to know any tips on finding someone in Japan. A penpal from the 90s. Have her name and address.

[@jayfawn8478]

It turned out fine. I thought the Japanese chick don't want to meet her at all because some people intentionally cut ties to former people around them.

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

even if she hadn't wanted to see me, but i learned that she's healthy and happy, that would have been enough for me!

[@davidhwang4221]

Damn allergies. So glad you took the time and effort to find your sister.

[@IONAPINKMOXIE]

😂😂😂

[@JESSAakaJessicaStuartMusic]

i'm lucky i had help!

[@LindaCasey]

True friendship is never not ... 🌹

[@prakashchowdary2796]

I even had a friend called Pratap and we were going to same school and I always miss him so much. If this is Pratap that is seeing this post we connect as a friendship. SMS convent what else it's just a dream that I always saw and it never been so same. I missed him alot. Till now ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@MultiAshleyjames]

I'm still looking for my friend from high school 😮

[@gilly7312]

Oh oh so sad n then happy with crying

[@akshattripathy1286]

Back when i was in germany, i also had a friend named Yuta. After 3 years i returned to India while Yuta returned to Japan. Since then I've been looking for him as i have no email, no contact info, nothing. Just the name. I want to find him one day too.🥺

[@Apetitegirly]

oh so beautiful

[@darlenemillergarris5545]

AMEN

[@shalmaliroy9430]

😭😭😭

[@JosePerez-bh6ij]

Am I the only one that finds this creepy

[@Montrosesister12]

This is an interesting story. I would love to learn Japanese. I guess this will have to do for now. 私はこのような物語のために生きます 私はとても幸せな彼らは両方これらのすべての年後にお互いに会うようになった

[@Montrosesister12]

😘

[@rrachel5558]

This is probably not gonna catch anyone's eye but I will write a story that this video reminded me of. During WW2, my grandfather was sent to a ship full of British people to organize them since he spoke a bit of English. He spend quite a bit of time on ship with them and treated them with respect and eventually made a good friend with one of them. After decades he decided to fly all the way to the UK to find him. Unfortunately he wasn't able to meet that person, but I was so amazed by the power of rare friendship, and the fact that after all those years he was still willing to take the effort just to see him again.