Fumio Kamei
Encyclopedia
was a prominent left-wing Japanese documentary
and fiction film director
.
in 1928 to study filmmaking, but had to return home because of an illness. He eventually began working at Photo Chemical Laboratories (PCL), one of the precursors to Toho
, where he made a name for himself making documentaries - or "culture films" (bunka eiga) as they were called at the time - that were strongly influenced by Soviet montage theory
. Many were propaganda films about Japan's war in China
, such as Shanghai and Peking, but his Fighting Soldiers (Tatakau heitai) was criticized by authorities as a potentially anti-war film, one police official in fact protesting that "These aren't fighting soldiers, they're tired soldiers!" The release of the film was blocked, but Fighting Soldiers was later celebrated as one of the masterpieces of Japanese documentary. After making a film about the poet Kobayashi Issa
, Kamei was the only Japanese film director arrested for violation of the Peace Preservation Law
and became the first filmmaker to lose his license to direct under the 1939 Film Law. After World War II
, he resumed filmmaking with The Japanese Tragedy (Nihon no higeki), a film produced at Nichiei by Akira Iwasaki
, which charged Japanese leaders with responsibility for pursuing a disastrous war. The film, however, was eventually banned by Occupation authorities in particular for its critical depiction of Emperor Hirohito. Kamei thus ironically had films banned by both Japan's militarist government and its democratizing successors. Kamei also made fiction films such as War and Peace (Sensō to heiwa), co-directed with Satsuo Yamamoto
, but he primarily continued to produce independent documentaries protesting such issues as American bases in Japan
, the nuclear bomb, discrimination against burakumin
in Japan, and environmental destruction.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
and fiction film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Biography
Kamei went to the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1928 to study filmmaking, but had to return home because of an illness. He eventually began working at Photo Chemical Laboratories (PCL), one of the precursors to Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
, where he made a name for himself making documentaries - or "culture films" (bunka eiga) as they were called at the time - that were strongly influenced by Soviet montage theory
Soviet montage theory
Soviet montage theory is an approach to understanding and creating cinema that relies heavily upon editing...
. Many were propaganda films about Japan's war in China
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, such as Shanghai and Peking, but his Fighting Soldiers (Tatakau heitai) was criticized by authorities as a potentially anti-war film, one police official in fact protesting that "These aren't fighting soldiers, they're tired soldiers!" The release of the film was blocked, but Fighting Soldiers was later celebrated as one of the masterpieces of Japanese documentary. After making a film about the poet Kobayashi Issa
Kobayashi Issa
, was a Japanese poet and lay Buddhist priest of the Jōdo Shinshū sect known for his haiku poems and journals. He is better known as simply , a pen name meaning Cup-of-tea...
, Kamei was the only Japanese film director arrested for violation of the Peace Preservation Law
Peace Preservation Law
The Public Security Preservation Laws were a series of laws enacted during the Empire of Japan. Collectively, the laws were designed to suppress political dissent.-the Safety Preservation Law of 1894:...
and became the first filmmaker to lose his license to direct under the 1939 Film Law. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he resumed filmmaking with The Japanese Tragedy (Nihon no higeki), a film produced at Nichiei by Akira Iwasaki
Akira Iwasaki
was a prominent left-wing Japanese film critic, historian, and producer. Born in Tokyo, he became interested in film from his student days at Tokyo University. Early on, he helped introduce German experimental film in Japan, and was instrumental in getting Teinosuke Kinugasa's masterpiece A Page of...
, which charged Japanese leaders with responsibility for pursuing a disastrous war. The film, however, was eventually banned by Occupation authorities in particular for its critical depiction of Emperor Hirohito. Kamei thus ironically had films banned by both Japan's militarist government and its democratizing successors. Kamei also made fiction films such as War and Peace (Sensō to heiwa), co-directed with Satsuo Yamamoto
Satsuo Yamamoto
was a Japanese film director.Yamamoto was born in Kagoshima Prefecture on July 15, 1910. He dropped out of Waseda University to join Shochiku, where he worked as an assistant director to Mikio Naruse and others. He followed Naruse when he moved to PCL, and became a director in his own right after...
, but he primarily continued to produce independent documentaries protesting such issues as American bases in Japan
United States Forces Japan
The refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for...
, the nuclear bomb, discrimination against burakumin
Burakumin
are a Japanese social minority group. The burakumin are one of the main minority groups in Japan, along with the Ainu of Hokkaidō, the Ryukyuans of Okinawa and Japanese residents of Korean and Chinese descent....
in Japan, and environmental destruction.
Selected filmography
- Shanghai (上海) (1937)
- Peking (北京) (1938)
- Fighting Soldiers (戦ふ兵隊 Tatakau heitai) (1938)
- Kobayashi IssaKobayashi Issa, was a Japanese poet and lay Buddhist priest of the Jōdo Shinshū sect known for his haiku poems and journals. He is better known as simply , a pen name meaning Cup-of-tea...
(小林一茶) (1941) - The Japanese Tragedy (日本の悲劇 Nihon no higeki) (1946)
- War and Peace (戦争と平和 Sensō to heiwa) (1947)
- It's Good to Live (生きていてよかった Ikite ite yokatta) (1956)
- Record of Blood: Sunagawa (流血の記録 砂川 Ryūketsu no kiroku: Sunagawa) (1957)
- Men Are All Brothers (人間みな兄弟 Ningen mina kyodai) (1960)