Plus Eight Two

Megumi (12) struggles with bullying and isolation at school. Her bullies, Abigail and Riya, seek her out during lunch breaks for their enjoyment, frequently discarding Megumi’s packed lunch (bento) and making comments about her food, appearance and interest in art. For Megumi, the reason for their bullying is rooted in her Japanese-ness, and it forces her to grapple with her cultural identity alone. Despite having a loving relationship with her mother, Maki, and the support of her art teacher, Miss Jacobson, she is unable to verbally express her circumstances and anxieties to those who might help. All she can ask is for people to call her ‘Meg’, cutting the last three letters (‘umi’) in an attempt to anglicise her identity so that she might fit in.