How the United States Impacted Japanese Cinema
When World War II ended, the people
of Japan suffered plenty of hardships, mainly due to the destruction of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The United States showed contempt towards Japan and
their culture. This caused the Japanese public to express their frustration and
anger through cinema.
Japanese cinema portrayed the
United States as the antagonist, and it also highlighted Japanese nationalism.
During the 1950's, Japanese films like The Tower of Lilies, The Room
with Thick Walls, and Godzilla expressed the impact
that American actions had on Japan (Goto-Jones, p.108). The public of Japan
created these movies to cope with the anger that they had on the United States.
They wanted to persuade others that they were not the enemies. Other Japanese
films highlighted Japan as the protagonist. Japan isn't the only country that
shows nationalism in the movies that they create.
The United States has come out with
multiple movies as well that portray themselves as the heroes. For example, the
movie Inglourious Basterds tells the story of an American
lieutenant who gathers other soldiers in order to seek revenge on the
Nazis. Another example is American Sniper, which depicts the
life of an American soldier who saves plenty of lives in Iraq. These two movies
show how the United States protects the world from other countries that try to
terrorize them.
These Japanese films persuaded the
public that the United States was the enemy, so the public disliked the idea of
Japan being allies with the United States. Prime Minister Kishi
Nobusuke tried having a relationship with United States, but the public protested (Goto-Jones, p.109). The actions of the United States during World War II caused a lot of hatred toward the United States in Japan, and Japanese cinema exploited their actions.
Nobusuke tried having a relationship with United States, but the public protested (Goto-Jones, p.109). The actions of the United States during World War II caused a lot of hatred toward the United States in Japan, and Japanese cinema exploited their actions.
I think it’s interesting how you describe the way that Japanese cinema in the 1950s portrayed the United States as the antagonist in response to WWII and as a way to promote nationalism among the people of Japan. I’m wondering to what extent the end of the US occupation in Japan in 1951 allowed Japanese media to finally air the frustrations the Japanese had against their treatment by the US in WWII and the occupation that followed. At the same time, I wonder if it was more Japanese cinema reflecting years of pent up anger throughout the occupation, once it was lifted or exploiting the actions of the US in WWII in order to increase nationalism.
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