Summary: Asking "who were these Japanese and how had they become the ruthless conquerors of half the world," the film answers itself with a survey of Japanese history in terms of a bitter indictment of militarism.
Description: Relying heavily on (unacknowledged) use of feature film as well as newsreel stock shots, the film merely illustrates the argument of the commentary: Japan's modernisation ("onto a feudal background, a modern state was grafted") is manipulated not for improvement but in pursuit of "single minded militarism" through the distortion of religion, including the Emperor's divinity, and Japanese xenophobia; education and industrial effort ("devoted for 20 years to war production") produce soldiers who "with Eastern fanaticism and Western science had become the most dangerous fighters you could meet;" "their full aim was nothing less than conquest of the world." Japanese successes and Western fight-back are briefly recalled; the A-Bomb, Russian intervention and Japanese surrender are mentioned but not illustrated; British troops move East to help ensure a "just peace" and "a future in which warlords and militarism will play no part.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Wright, Basil19071987 (Production individual)
Wright, Basil19071987 (Production individual)
Osbiston, Alan (Production individual)
Trench, Terry1917-01-22 (Production individual)
Frankel, Ben (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
Knight, Esmond (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: propaganda, British - inflammatory: anti-Japanese (object name)
society, Japanese - history (object name)
Japan (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1043 ft; Running time: 11 mins
