by Jolin Chan At the turn of the 20th century, Japanese and Russian imperial interests came head to head, as both were interested in expanding into Manchuria and Korea. This conflict, however, went beyond East Asia. With Western involvement, the Russo-Japanese War can be considered “World War Zero.”[1] It was a global conflict that set the stage for future world wars that intertwined the world.
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by Ray Matsumoto Animated movies became an influential form of Japanese propaganda during the Pacific War. Its lighthearted nature made it attractive to both children and adults. One of the most famous wartime animations was the Momotarō series directed by Seo Mitsuyo. The films established a new "Japanese" form of animation while finding strong inspiration from American films, such as Disney and Warner Brothers. In March 1943, the Geijutsu Eiga-sha (GES) released Seo's first animated war film, Momotarō's Sea Eagle (Momotarō no Umiwashi). Despite the insufficient funding and resources for its production, Momotarō achieved unprecedented box office success. As the longest Japanese animated film to date, it became the symbol of Japanese cinematic advancement. by Hazel Piñon Queer cinema has become more diverse and representative by casting LGBTQ+ actors and highlighting authentic experiences. However, the representation of the LGBTQ+ community has not always been inclusive and often depicts stereotypes or preconceived notions generalizing the actions of a particular community. The knowledge around gender, sex, and sexuality misconstrues the representation of “queerness” in Philippine cinema. Because of the colonial history of the Philippines, many of its languages related to terms that identify queer totalities are obscure. Thus, the understanding of queer identities is limited by comedic performances. by Jolin Chan On the morning of November 4, 1863, the Pegasus sailed into London, carrying—among its many passengers—Inoue Kaoru and Itō Hirobumi. Inoue would later become Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Itō would become the country’s first Prime Minister. Still, at one time, they were simply men who had come from Japan to London to pursue an education. by Ray Matsumoto Japan won the bid to host the 1940 Summer Olympics on July 31st, 1936, the day before the opening of the Berlin Games (Weber 67). This was the first time a non-Western nation won the right to host the tournament, sending shock waves throughout the sporting industry. Japan competed in the Olympics for the first time at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. Only two Japanese athletes participated in a total of four events. Mishima Yahiko competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters, while Kanakuri Shizō participated in the Marathon; neither managed to win a medal. At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, Japan managed to earn two silver medals in Tennis. Japan’s success was in large part due to the establishment of the Japanese Amateur Athletic Association (Dainihon taiiku kyokai), the first national body (unofficial) of athletics in Japan (Collins 963). by Jolin Chan Despite Japan’s long and rich history, much of the country we know today stems from only about 150 years ago: the Meiji Restoration. This time period, from 1868 to 1889, was a radical political revolution that brought sweeping economic, social, and cultural change as well. by Jolin Chan How did Prince Konoe Fumimaro, once described as morose, lazy, and someone with no ambitions, end up shaping much of twentieth-century Japan?[1] by Jolin Chan Meiling Soong’s trips to the United States were glamorous, enchanting, and a spectacle—but they were also a tactic. Her tours were larger game plans that, for the most part, succeeded. In 1943, Wellesley-educated Soong walked down the aisle of the chamber of the House of Representatives, with a sea of clapping congressmen standing on both sides. Dubbed the “Chinese Joan of Arc” and “the most powerful woman in the world,” Soong made her way to the rostrum to address her audience: by Evan Thompson As the year 1944 turned to the year 1945, the Japanese war effort against the United States of America continued to face setback after setback. By the end of the war and during the occupation, many Japanese who were involved in World War 2 were taken into custody. As such, the United States conducted interrogations of Japanese prisoners to confirm its suspicions of Japanese biological weapons research. Many different prisoners from different walks of life, who held various positions, gave the Americans varying answers about their role in the Japanese military. While most of these POWs gave reliable information regarding the inner workings and processes of the Japanese military, one commonality was a lack of knowledge about Japanese biological weapons research.
translated by Ray Matsumoto Imagine 21's first play, "Reunion" (再会), sheds light on the topic of Japanese settlers abandoned in Manchuria following the Soviet invasion. The play is set in Japan in 1999. It depicts the story of the Fujita family, a middle-class household running a machinery business. 49-year-old Tomoyoshi and his father Shinzo run the business, while Tomoyoshi's wife Misako and daughter Tazuru, assist them. One day, an old friend of Tomoyoshi asks Shinzo about a woman named Haru, a 76-year-old woman who had recently returned from China. Shinzo, in utter shock, leaves the room leaving the rest of the family in confusion. He later reveals that Haru was his former wife in Manchuria during the war. They had moved to Manchuria in search of a better life and built a family as farmers. However, following the Soviet invasion in 1945, Shinzo was captured and sent to a POW camp in Siberia while Haru and their children were abandoned. The family is forced to confront Japan's dark past and question their identity.
Here is a prologue written by director and performer Yoshiji Watanabe. It describes his family's past and experience visiting China, which later inspired the play. The prologue is written in the form of a confession. You can find the original Japanese version at the end of the article. |