Yasukuni (2007 film)
Encyclopedia
is the title of a 2007 film made by Japan-resident Chinese director Li Ying (traditional Chinese:李纓, simplified Chinese: 李缨, hanyupinyin: Lĭ Yīng). It took 10 years to complete and had been screened at the Pusan International Film Festival
2007, World Cinema Competition Sundance Film Festival 2008
and Berlin Film Festival 2008. It also won the best-documentary award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
.
The 120-minute film looks at the history of the Yasukuni Shrine
in Chiyoda, Tokyo
, where more than 2 million of Japan's war dead are enshrined. More than 1,000 of them are war criminals, including 14 Class-A war criminals, convicted at the 1946-1948 Tokyo tribunal
, among them, Hideki Tōjō
. The film shows not only the well-reported political incidents associated with the shrine, but also takes an in-depth look at the shrine's sword-making tradition, the Yasukuni sword being the film's underlying motif. Serene footage of the last living Yasukuni swordsmith, 90-year-old Naoji Kariya, working on presumably his final creation, is interspersed with other scenes filmed at the shrine.
Li Ying stated that the film was a joint Asian project, noting that the cameraman was a Japanese with a relative enshrined in Yasukuni, and the editor was another Japanese. It also received 7.5 million yen
from the Japan Arts Council in fiscal 2006 as a production subsidy.
Despite the Japanese contribution to the film's production, this cinema has had some strong responses. The first was from right wing Japanese nationalists, who caused the initial screenings, planned for three cinemas in Tokyo and one in Osaka, to be dropped, with one of theatre operators, Humax Cinema Inc., citing safety concerns for its staff. The second was at a special preview on March 12, 2008 for Japanese legislators
, arranged by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs
, and initiated by a group of conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party members, who questioned the film's objectivity, which is required in order to receive a public subsidy. Those lawmakers, featuring Tomomi Inada
, called for a boycott of the movie. Thirdly were the claims by both Naoji Kariya and the Yasukuni shrine, that the film infringed their portrait rights. Nevertheless, the film still includes their scenes.
The Directors Guild of Japan
expressed apprehension about possible infringement of freedom of expression and as a result of the politicians' protests, only about 10 theaters will screen the movie while none in Tokyo.
On April 3, 2008, a report from AFP
indicated that some regional cinemas in Japan would go ahead with screening the film, defying pressures from the nationalists. The Seventh Art Theatre in western Osaka
planned to screen the film in May. The report did not identify the two cinema operators from Kyoto
and Hiroshima
which were mentioned as also planning to screen the same.
The film finally debuted to the public in Japan on May 3, 2008 in Tokyo amidst tight police security. The sold-out screening was described by the president of Argo pictures, Yutada Okada, as safe and smooth. Movie-goers queued two hours before the first show. Feedback reported from the audience has been positive, describing the film as being objective and anti-war, as well as enlightening Japanese citizens about the shrine itself.
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
2007, World Cinema Competition Sundance Film Festival 2008
2008 Sundance Film Festival
The 2008 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 17, 2008 to January 27 in Park City, Utah. It was the 24th iteration of the Sundance Film Festival. The opening night film was In Bruges and the closing night film was CSNY Déjà Vu.-Films:...
and Berlin Film Festival 2008. It also won the best-documentary award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
.
The 120-minute film looks at the history of the Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. Currently, its Symbolic Registry of Divinities lists the names of over 2,466,000 enshrined men and women whose lives were dedicated to the service of...
in Chiyoda, Tokyo
Chiyoda, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards in central Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Chiyoda ward. As of October 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 45,543 and a population density of 3,912 people per km², making it by far the least populated of the special wards...
, where more than 2 million of Japan's war dead are enshrined. More than 1,000 of them are war criminals, including 14 Class-A war criminals, convicted at the 1946-1948 Tokyo tribunal
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East , also known as the Tokyo Trials, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply the Tribunal, was convened on April 29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for three types of crimes: "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who...
, among them, Hideki Tōjō
Hideki Tōjō
Hideki Tōjō was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army , the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II, from 17 October 1941 to 22 July 1944...
. The film shows not only the well-reported political incidents associated with the shrine, but also takes an in-depth look at the shrine's sword-making tradition, the Yasukuni sword being the film's underlying motif. Serene footage of the last living Yasukuni swordsmith, 90-year-old Naoji Kariya, working on presumably his final creation, is interspersed with other scenes filmed at the shrine.
Li Ying stated that the film was a joint Asian project, noting that the cameraman was a Japanese with a relative enshrined in Yasukuni, and the editor was another Japanese. It also received 7.5 million yen
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
from the Japan Arts Council in fiscal 2006 as a production subsidy.
Despite the Japanese contribution to the film's production, this cinema has had some strong responses. The first was from right wing Japanese nationalists, who caused the initial screenings, planned for three cinemas in Tokyo and one in Osaka, to be dropped, with one of theatre operators, Humax Cinema Inc., citing safety concerns for its staff. The second was at a special preview on March 12, 2008 for Japanese legislators
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
, arranged by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs
Agency for Cultural Affairs
The is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education . It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture. As of April 2007, it is led by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Tamotsu Aoki....
, and initiated by a group of conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party members, who questioned the film's objectivity, which is required in order to receive a public subsidy. Those lawmakers, featuring Tomomi Inada
Tomomi Inada
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Imadate, Fukui.- Former career :...
, called for a boycott of the movie. Thirdly were the claims by both Naoji Kariya and the Yasukuni shrine, that the film infringed their portrait rights. Nevertheless, the film still includes their scenes.
The Directors Guild of Japan
Directors Guild of Japan
The is a trade union created to represent the interests of film directors in the film industry in Japan. It was founded in 1936, with Minoru Murata serving as the first president, and has continued to this day apart from a period between 1943 and 1949 when it was disbanded at first on orders from...
expressed apprehension about possible infringement of freedom of expression and as a result of the politicians' protests, only about 10 theaters will screen the movie while none in Tokyo.
On April 3, 2008, a report from AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
indicated that some regional cinemas in Japan would go ahead with screening the film, defying pressures from the nationalists. The Seventh Art Theatre in western Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
planned to screen the film in May. The report did not identify the two cinema operators from Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
and Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
which were mentioned as also planning to screen the same.
The film finally debuted to the public in Japan on May 3, 2008 in Tokyo amidst tight police security. The sold-out screening was described by the president of Argo pictures, Yutada Okada, as safe and smooth. Movie-goers queued two hours before the first show. Feedback reported from the audience has been positive, describing the film as being objective and anti-war, as well as enlightening Japanese citizens about the shrine itself.
External links
- Official Website
- "Reel News." Taipei TimesTaipei TimesThe Taipei Times is one of the three major English-language newspapers in the Republic of China the other two being the Taiwan News and The China Post...
. Friday May 9, 2008.