absurdity of war (=ww2) through japanese eyes
a shortish compilation of war films from the japanese viewpoint. the emphasis in my selection is on the eternal absurdity and insanity of war.
but as you all can see 70 years after ww2 humankind has learned nothing from history: the eternal absurdity continues in the middle east africa jemen south sudan ukraine etc.
as long as there are two erect dicks left on this planet they will fight each other. all evil under the sun generates from the groin as famous finnish author mika waltari so wisely put it...
NB films made in 193X-1945 are mostly blatant propaganda pieces for the militaristic goverment; the years 1945-1952 were the occupation years so the films were apologetic to appease and please the americans.
but as you all can see 70 years after ww2 humankind has learned nothing from history: the eternal absurdity continues in the middle east africa jemen south sudan ukraine etc.
as long as there are two erect dicks left on this planet they will fight each other. all evil under the sun generates from the groin as famous finnish author mika waltari so wisely put it...
NB films made in 193X-1945 are mostly blatant propaganda pieces for the militaristic goverment; the years 1945-1952 were the occupation years so the films were apologetic to appease and please the americans.
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- DirectorHisatora KumagaiStarsDen ÔhinataSôji KiyokawaHyô KitazawaA documentary style film that depicts the battle in Shanghai during World War II using the city and its actual ruins as an actual backdrop to the narrative. The realism extended to the use of actual armaments and a tank as film devices. The film features Japanese star Hara Setsuko playing the role of a Chinese maiden.
- DirectorYutaka AbeStarsSusumu FujitaTaizô FukamiKatsuhiko Haida
- DirectorTadashi ImaiStarsMinoru TakadaSetsuko HaraHideo SaitoThe story centres around a border security team in 1935 Korea. Upon receiving new recruits they hold a welcome party including a restaurant owner and his daughter. The border's commander has a wife (Hara Setsuko) who helps deliver a neighbour's baby. One day a border guard is killed by a Chinese bandit who is hiding in the area. The dead man's sister comes to visit and is given help to further her studies. The film was shot in Korea featuring many Korean actors and crew.
- DirectorKajirô YamamotoStarsSusumu FujitaMinoru TakadaDenjirô ÔkôchiBiographical movie about Colonel Kato, an officer serving with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in Southeast Asia, he was highly respected by his pilots for his fairness and excellent flying ability.
- DirectorHan-jun BangStarsSeung-min NamIl-hae KimYangchun KimThe parents of the young Korean men conscripted into the Japanese army during the second world war are proud to send their children off to battle in this propaganda film ordered by the Japanese government
- DirectorKeisuke KinoshitaStarsChishû RyûKen MitsudaKazumasa HoshinoA widow raises her sickly son to be strong enough to join the army and fight on the front lines.
- DirectorKeisuke KinoshitaStarsHaruko SugimuraToshinosuke NagaoShin TokudaijiA Japanese family weathers much hardship after their military uncle comes to live with them during WWII.
- DirectorSenkichi TaniguchiStarsRyô IkebeShirley YamaguchiEitarô OzawaMikami, a Japanese soldier serving in China, is captured by the Chinese. Although he is able to escape, his troubles are far from over. He returns to his unit but is treated with contempt for the disgrace of having been captured. Mikami falls in love with Harumi, a prostitute. She tries to convince him to desert from the army, with fatal results.
- DirectorHideo Sekigawa
- DirectorTadashi ImaiStarsYoshiko KugaEiji OkadaOsamu TakizawaThe hero Saburo (Okada Eiji) is obstructed by a series of events from meeting Keiko (Kuga Yoshiko), his fiancee.
- DirectorKaneto ShindôStarsNobuko OtowaOsamu TakizawaMasao ShimizuPost war Hiroshima: It's been four years since the last time she visited her hometown. Takako faces the after effects of the A-bomb when she travels around the city to call on old friends.
- DirectorSatsuo YamamotoStarsTakashi KandaYoshi KatôIsao KimuraJust before the end of the war, Japanese soldier Kitani is released from prison, having served his term for theft. Told in flashback, viewers learn about Kitani's past and reasons behind his prison sentence.
- DirectorTadashi ImaiStarsKyôko KagawaSusumu FujitaKeiko TsushimaHigh school girls, impressed to provide nursing care for the soldiers on Okinawa, find themselves on the front line during fierce onslaughts by American forces and are left to fend for themselves when the Japanese army dissolves.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsRyô IkebeMariko OkadaRentarô MikuniA squadron of Japanese fighter pilots at a lonely Rabaul airbase realises that they are never going to win the war when they understand that Japanese military tactics have little regard for life. Seeking the companionship of any woman who will have them, they spend their days indulging in every fantasy in order to escape the overwhelming fear of death looming just over the horizon.
- DirectorKeisuke KinoshitaStarsHideko TakamineItsuo WatanabeMakoto MiyagawaSchoolteacher Hisako Oishi forms an emotional bond with her pupils and teaches them various virtues, while at the same time worrying about their future.
- DirectorSatsuo YamamotoStarsKôji TsurutaEiji OkadaYukiko ShimazakiBased on Philippines war experiences. Military doctor Leutenant Hanada deserts with a local girl. The officer in command orders Lieutenant Uji to shoot Hanada.
- DirectorKon IchikawaStarsRentarô MikuniShôji YasuiTatsuya MihashiA conscience-driven Japanese soldier traumatized by the events of WWII adopts the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk.
- DirectorKon IchikawaStarsEiji FunakoshiMantarô UshioYoshihiro HamaguchiIn the closing days of WWII, remnants of the Japanese army in Leyte are abandoned by their command and face certain death by starvation.
- DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaChikage AwashimaA Japanese pacifist, unable to face the dire consequences of conscientious objection, is transformed by his attempts to compromise with the demands of war-time Japan.
- DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaKokinji KatsuraAs a conscript in war-time Japan's military, a pacifist struggles to maintain his determination to keep his ideals.
- DirectorMasaki KobayashiStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaTamao NakamuraHis ideals challenged by life as a conscript in war-time Japan's military, a pacifist faces ever greater tests in his fight for survival.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsMakoto SatôIzumi YukimuraMisa UeharaWhen Sergeant Okubo's brother is murdered at a Japanese outpost in Northern China during the Second World War, Okubo poses as a war correspondent and seeks out his brother's killer. The command is wiped out by Chinese forces and Okubo escapes and joins a tribe of bandits.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneMakoto SatôReiko DanIn 1945, Japanese Army Sergeant Kosugi and a platoon of young green recruits must retake and defend a fort occupied by the Chinese forces.
- DirectorYasuzô MasumuraStarsShintarô KatsuTakahiro TamuraMikio NaritaA young intellectual conscientious objector is forced to serve with the Japanese army in Manchuria. He joins with a dim-witted former gangster in an effort to desert by stealing a train.