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The Depiction of the emperor

The Depiction of the emperor. Kyoko Hirano Ch. 3 of the book Mr. Smith goes to Tokyo. The Japanese Tragedy [Nihon no higeki]. Fumio Kamei, Director Akira Iwasaki, producer Defeat of Japan made it possible for Japanese people to discuss emperor system for the first time.

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The Depiction of the emperor

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  1. The Depiction of the emperor Kyoko Hirano Ch. 3 of the book Mr. Smith goes to Tokyo

  2. The Japanese Tragedy [Nihon no higeki] • Fumio Kamei, Director • Akira Iwasaki, producer • Defeat of Japan made it possible for Japanese people to discuss emperor system for the first time. • This discussion was curtailed when US backed off due to Cold War fears.

  3. Censorship Principles • Glorification of military or • The religious/political cult of the emperor prohibited. • Criticism of emperor had to stop short of criticizing the occupation itself. • See Reporting Guide for press, pp. 111-112.

  4. Mark Gayn’s Commentary • A direct attack on the imperial system would weaken democratic elements • Supreme Commander is ordered to assist secretly in popularizing and humanizing the emperor.

  5. Fumio Kamei • B. 1908 • Leningrad 1928 to study art • Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin influential. • 1931 returned, worked at PCL • 1937, Shanghai • 1938, Tatakau Heitai--->Tsukareta heitai

  6. Inabushi 1940 • Kobayashi Issa, 1941 • Criticized socioeconomic exploitation of people • Ideologically left but never JCP member • Overjoyed at end of war: “Now we can really work!”

  7. Akira Iwasaki • Prewar proletarian film movement • Manchurian Film Corporation • Joined Nichi-Ei after the war (Nippon Eiga sha) • Making news documentary about de-mythologizng emperor, interviewed Minister of Education Abe who declined to disclaim mythical origin of Feb. 11 founding date.

  8. Abe objected to interview footage • Iwasaki had to delete interview from his documentary • But American censors at CIE were not troubled by Abe’s unacceptable views • Indication of how much SCAP was backtracking.

  9. The Japanese Tragedy • CIE = Civil Information and Education Section • David Conde, CIE, encourages making of this film • Did he daily supervise rushes? • Did he provide materials seized from Japanese?

  10. Stresses economic imperatives of capitalist system in explaining Japanese expansionism • Emp., militarists, politicians, intellectuals all seen glorifying war v. • Exhausted Japanese victims • Victims of thought control like Professor Yukitoki TAKIGAWA of KIU, Takiji KOBAYASHI

  11. CIE passed film along but Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD )had issues • Morphing sequence of military emperor into peace-loving emperor • Hatoyama Ichiro critique censored • Debate sparked among censors

  12. Distribution • July 12, 1946 ready to release • August 13, 1946 second CCD review banned The Japanese Tragedy. • Order came from Gen. Chas. Willoughby • Acc to mark Gayn, Yoshida saw film at a private screening and was enraged • Iwasaki, Conde, Gayn connection

  13. Why was film banned? • Interests of public order • Fear riots and disturbances will be provoked • Use of Soviet film stock? Importing raw film stock illegal w/out SCAP clearance • Content of film was not “bright and cheerful” • Conde suspected of being a Red?

  14. The Bottom Line • There were two opposing sides within occupation government: • Idealisitically and radically transform Japan • Conservative forces who oppose this • Kamei moves on to global perspective, concern for preserving the planet • Seibutsu mina tomodachi • [All Living Beings are Friends]

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