On Aug. 15, 75 years ago, Emperor Hirohito (posthumously, Emperor Showa) announced Japan’s surrender in World War II on the radio to his stunned subjects, nearly all of whom were hearing his voice for the first time.
Cinema has also played a key role in framing and expressing Japan’s experience of the war, starting from the war years when studios churned out propaganda to boost the morale of soldiers and civilians alike.
Most World War II-themed films, however, are set in the war’s waning days, when American bombs rained down on Japanese cities, including the atomic bombs that fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The range of subjects is diverse, as are viewpoints on the conflict, though “never again” is a common sentiment, particularly among directors who personally experienced the war.
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