Post War Japan
If not for atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, perhaps great directors like Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa would not surfaced out, and golden age of Japan’s cinema would never be revealed. Techniques from these great directors would have not been discovered or ‘re-invented’ into something more innovative. Director such as Kenji Mizoguchi whom uses both directors’ camera technique mentioned above, would not appeared if the war wasn’t there.
In 1940, Japan joined the Axis powers Germany and Italy. This increased conflict with the United States & Great Britain, which resulted with a supply cut of oil. Shortage of oil caused Japan to invade other countries, such as Indonesia for resources.
Japan invaded and captured many countries but the Allied forces slowly pushed Japan back. Not long after, US forces air raided Japan, which then dropped the two atomic bombs. After the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered.
Japan lost all the lands that they occupied. Many of their military officers committed suicides; some were executed for war crimes. During the US occupation in Japan, Japan 's media was subject to a rigid censorship of any anti-American statements and controversial topics such as the race issue.
Companies such as Hochiku, Toho, and Daiei worked with SCAP authorities to plan films that followed the new themes such as how labor unions were peacefully organized. In return, SCAP restrained labor activities that may disrupt the studios.
One of the films that followed this theme was Shochiku’s Breeze (1945, which featured a young singer, Michiko Namiki singing “The Apple Song,” with its simple optimistic lyrics, the song became a hit. The Japanese were afraid to sing their old songs which contained propaganda message during the Imperialism state before the end of World War II, quickly attached to this simple tune, seeking hope in the postwar trauma.
The end of the war soon brought a movement to make Japan as
In 1940, Japan joined the Axis powers Germany and Italy. This increased conflict with the United States & Great Britain, which resulted with a supply cut of oil. Shortage of oil caused Japan to invade other countries, such as Indonesia for resources.
Japan invaded and captured many countries but the Allied forces slowly pushed Japan back. Not long after, US forces air raided Japan, which then dropped the two atomic bombs. After the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered.
Japan lost all the lands that they occupied. Many of their military officers committed suicides; some were executed for war crimes. During the US occupation in Japan, Japan 's media was subject to a rigid censorship of any anti-American statements and controversial topics such as the race issue.
Companies such as Hochiku, Toho, and Daiei worked with SCAP authorities to plan films that followed the new themes such as how labor unions were peacefully organized. In return, SCAP restrained labor activities that may disrupt the studios.
One of the films that followed this theme was Shochiku’s Breeze (1945, which featured a young singer, Michiko Namiki singing “The Apple Song,” with its simple optimistic lyrics, the song became a hit. The Japanese were afraid to sing their old songs which contained propaganda message during the Imperialism state before the end of World War II, quickly attached to this simple tune, seeking hope in the postwar trauma.
The end of the war soon brought a movement to make Japan as
References: Tokyo Story, 1953. [Film] Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. Japan: Shochiku Co. Ltd Seven Samurai, 1954. [Film] Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Japan: Toho Co. Ltd. Gorija, 1954. [Film] Directed by Inoshiro Honda. Japan: Toho Co. Ltd. Musashi Myamoto, 1954. [Film] Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. Japan: Toho Co. Ltd. Grave of the Fireflies. 1988 [Film] Directed by Isao Takahata. Japan: Studio Ghibli