For longer, many people and still many do not take their own government too seriously about this in Japan, which is, why this thinking could build up again, and now comes out full force with the whaling issue, which is misused by right wingers. With this, also other related themes also come up again, like the denials of war-crimes etc., and according new racist blames for those, who are against it, main target: Australia.

But also everybody else is one by now, who does not accept Japan’s view in this.
At the same time blames for all else, who have been run over by them, like Korea, China etc. The words come out, as if those were still their own underdogs.
I was shocked about the amount of such thinkings, although I knew very well, that some thought this way. But the way it was wildly agressively spoken out lately, was new to me. Pure war drivers in old style.
They did not even stop in front of a German. . .in contrary. And that once more is the once commonly known last challenge/target, as also to be heard in Kabei. The right wingers have done more undercover work, than we think.

But the film is on, and they are silent, on all forums now! Very silent even.

And the fact, that even journalists are now under threat, if they come with other informations, is close to the mindcrime befor the war, as to be seen in Kabei. . .
Same goes to the lately experienced serious offences of the right wingers towards the documentary film Yakusuni (during the screening time in Berlin, actually, you can still google this internationally), which put even the Berlin Japanese Embasssy under pressure.

No Japanese would have been able to do that film alone. Since this was a Co-production between China/Korea/Japan, it was possible, much to the dislike of those, who were filmed. We had according voices on one forum from Japanese, who promptly tried to make it an offence of Chinese and Koreans, but that did not work.

Insofar Kabei is a very interesting film, because I have not (yet) heard any offences. They may have more respect towards an own filmer, who is widely known and respected there.

But his message is the very same.

I can only cite an about, not exactly, so the meaning:

First Japan with Germany against America and UK(?), then the final battle with Germany and then we will rule the world.

This is known for Germans here!

And the film is definitely German friendly, btw.. .but the one, who wanted a better world than the present, apart from wardrivings those days, was arrested, for mindcrime.
This is very uptodate now too, because whoever of the japanese journalists speaks against new movements of denying japanese war-crimes, cannot speak openly any more (for this, we had an example from Singapore during the film-festival, as important, a new documentary, also about a visit of the japanese emperor there).

You also must see the German Japan relation side on Wiki, particularly the part, where the Japanese were accepted to be “aryans”, which meant everything for them. . .especially in terms of being “superior”, as the god-emperor always suggested.
This is strongly revived via the japanese right wings! And they rule in the government, their way, plus the whaling war at present! The later even uses a lot of Nazi slang now! I was very alarmed, particularly that many did not realise it as such!
They are definitely war drivers and build up extreme racism on all fronts!

Its not about the whales, its the growing idea of superiority again, and for all this you should also see the new film about the Yasukuni(name of the film, you can google it) shrine (also shown at the Berlinale and by now threatened by the right wingers! Its coming out in Japan in April and very important!), which is the center of the right wingers, who exactly distribute this old way of thinking before the war plus denials of war crimes etc.
Its all present politics, once more, dangerously underrated by many.

I will support this via links, if you wish.

What I am against is the cruelty of the American’s targeting non-threating civilian populated targets, and going to the trouble to never attack the cities, so better to see the damage the bombs would have

This I support strongly, as much as the rest of what you say.

We had the Germany in Japan year, plus the Japan in Germany year lately, which obviously has also woken up such old memories before the war. This was NOT, what we wanted! (I am in the German Japanese society and well informed, a bit part of the preparations)

Anyhow, you may get the idea, why Kabei is as important now as those two other films from others.!
And I am very glad, that it is already running in Japan.

Our righties in the forum are remarkable silent at the moment, but I often enough hit them right on the nose too, not knowing, what was in store already on the filmfront. Thus I am very glad about the filmers!

I agree in stopping as quickly the Japanese war machine via A-bomb, as their threat was growing larger, and had Germany not made a few mistakes, both had potential to carry on the war in their favor.

What I am against is the cruelty of the American’s targeting non-threating civilian populated targets, and going to the trouble to never attack the cities, so better to see the damage the bombs would have.

However one has to think that the Japanese war machine was of more destruction to the Japanese civilians, then anything the Americans did.
Had not the bombing take place, many more lives would of been lost.

I can to some extent understand the situation of Japan and their need to grow and willingness to aid the Germans. I suppose in the end the WWII had rather positive results-America economy sky-rocket, Germany slowly recovered,became a powerhouse, and became truly free , and Japan went from a failing country to one of the most successful countries in the world in a very short time.

Regardless of one’s thoughts on the matter, its important to note the pointlessness of this war with mass killings done with ease serving little to no purpose.
Perhaps Kabei, can aid in this by spreading first hand information, because as you mention there is a lot of misinformation and even no knowledge of it all–world wide.

We had loads of agressive right wing posts on a Japan forum lately and its time to go against this. The film is a good step in this direction

I dont think there is a film that only appeals to a certain age, so I wasnt considering its marketing move, to have any real connection to the film, beside it being more mature in nature

If I am falling over someone who was clever enough to come with a little recorder, I will let you know. There were many non-pres-people as well.

Btw, the film Kabei is far from being just for elderly. . .
But about this later on.

I can’t remember, if there were others recording. Maybe they were not so keen in having others around, if they want it for the DVD. . .

Yes I think this is core problem, it was possible press wasnt allowed to record the event, if it was intended to be for a DVD. Which would explain why I was told it never happened, with that statement being based on, it wasnt mention in the press packet info sheets.

Well, I leave the old text nevertheless:

“Jeremy, that paper was given out during the event, for visitors ;-).
I sent it to Vili already. It has the above adresses on it plus a few fotos and text about the “stage”-people.

I have no idea, when they got the idea for this meeting, since I also got the invitation just 1 day before it actually happened, and I am not a press person, thus do not know, wherelse it was announced, and if.
It seemed to be a closer circle, yet an open door for all.
But the paper looks like being well organised. . .”

I can’t remember, if there were others recording. Maybe they were not so keen in having others around, if they want it for the DVD. . .

Happy to help, don’t worry. I might ask for according favours myself in given time

Word has it that the Kurosawa event recording is for the special features in the DVD for Kabei and they will not release it till then.

However Shochiku wasnt the only ones recording so I will try to get a copy if possible.