- Joined
- Jan 26, 2002
- Messages
- 2,737
I just saw a program on PBS. Hey, don't start up that they are a bunch of commie liberals or whatever. They do put out some good stuff, too. As far as I can tell, what I am about to reccomend is an example. I don't doubt that a bunch of fingers of various persuasions were involved in making it.
Anyway the deal is somebody/ies found a bunch of old color film footage shot in Japan starting around 1930 or 1931. It was apparently believed that color film did not exist in Japan until 1945. The show claimed to show footage that had never been broadcast before.
Here is a (rare--whatever good they do, PBS stations seem to really suck as far as providing and keeping to broadcast schedules -- my station schedule on the net claimed to be showing something other than what I saw, so don't expect this prediction of what this station will show to come true) schedule synopsis of the program:
Japan's War In Colour 00:48 #102 APT
This two-part series uses rarely seen footage to provide a remarkable color record of Japan, from as early as 1931, when it began transforming into Asia's biggest power. Almost all the material has been recently discovered and ranges from Imperial Japanese troops in Manchuria in 1931, to domestic scenes of Japan in the 1930s; from preparations for war in 1939, to images of occupation troops in Shanghai in 1940. Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway, as well as Japan's ultimate surrender, are vividly traced. This comprehensive view of the rise, defeat, and ultimate rebuilding of a devastated country is the second of a two-part story.
I will admit that this appears as kind of a tenuous thread upon which to base a program. But if you think about it, whatever is recorded on a new scarce medium is perhaps chosen carefully--at least the distribution of that medium is.
Anyway the show depicts the beginning of WWII, recorded on color on Japanese film, with accompaning commentary and journal or diary entries and letters from Japanese. It progreses from the assasinations that led to the establishment of the militaristic government and the adoption of a new emperor, through the invasion of China to the defeat at the Marianas.
It seems a two-part series, and will continue through to the use of the atom bomb and the after effects. The first part was quite good, IMO. That doesn't mean it was fun to watch. Since the second part will include the atomic bombs I don't doubt that will be even less fun.
But they appear to have acquired excerpts of journals of people that range from wondering what the hell they are doing, to those who are embarrased that they didn't kill themselves instead of being captured. The effect of internal propaganda particularly on the inhabitants of the Marianas was quite heart-wrenching as depicted.
I doubt that this will be shown in Japan soon, so Danny, if you can, find somebody over here to tape it for you. I'm fairly certain that you will be glad you saw it, however unpleasant it is in parts.
I found it to be quite thought provoking.
Frack, I wish I could type, forgive the errors, please. If it OK with Y'all, Im going to eat dinner instead of correcting the multitude of typos.
2nd edit: OK I came back and fixed what I could see after dinner--it was pretty bad.
Anyway the deal is somebody/ies found a bunch of old color film footage shot in Japan starting around 1930 or 1931. It was apparently believed that color film did not exist in Japan until 1945. The show claimed to show footage that had never been broadcast before.
Here is a (rare--whatever good they do, PBS stations seem to really suck as far as providing and keeping to broadcast schedules -- my station schedule on the net claimed to be showing something other than what I saw, so don't expect this prediction of what this station will show to come true) schedule synopsis of the program:
Japan's War In Colour 00:48 #102 APT
This two-part series uses rarely seen footage to provide a remarkable color record of Japan, from as early as 1931, when it began transforming into Asia's biggest power. Almost all the material has been recently discovered and ranges from Imperial Japanese troops in Manchuria in 1931, to domestic scenes of Japan in the 1930s; from preparations for war in 1939, to images of occupation troops in Shanghai in 1940. Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway, as well as Japan's ultimate surrender, are vividly traced. This comprehensive view of the rise, defeat, and ultimate rebuilding of a devastated country is the second of a two-part story.
I will admit that this appears as kind of a tenuous thread upon which to base a program. But if you think about it, whatever is recorded on a new scarce medium is perhaps chosen carefully--at least the distribution of that medium is.
Anyway the show depicts the beginning of WWII, recorded on color on Japanese film, with accompaning commentary and journal or diary entries and letters from Japanese. It progreses from the assasinations that led to the establishment of the militaristic government and the adoption of a new emperor, through the invasion of China to the defeat at the Marianas.
It seems a two-part series, and will continue through to the use of the atom bomb and the after effects. The first part was quite good, IMO. That doesn't mean it was fun to watch. Since the second part will include the atomic bombs I don't doubt that will be even less fun.
But they appear to have acquired excerpts of journals of people that range from wondering what the hell they are doing, to those who are embarrased that they didn't kill themselves instead of being captured. The effect of internal propaganda particularly on the inhabitants of the Marianas was quite heart-wrenching as depicted.
I doubt that this will be shown in Japan soon, so Danny, if you can, find somebody over here to tape it for you. I'm fairly certain that you will be glad you saw it, however unpleasant it is in parts.
I found it to be quite thought provoking.
Frack, I wish I could type, forgive the errors, please. If it OK with Y'all, Im going to eat dinner instead of correcting the multitude of typos.
2nd edit: OK I came back and fixed what I could see after dinner--it was pretty bad.
