Women, smoking, 1930s Tokyo

[Abe-Nornes]

Sarah wrote a couple questions on a curious and very interesting topic:

>1. Does anyone know of any early Showa period films in which women who
>smoke or scenes of women smoking figure prominently? Scenes or images that
>remain in the mind?

You'll absolutely have to check out Hijoji Nippon (Japan in Time of Crisis,
1933). This was an early, sound, feature-length documentary funded by
Mainichi Newspapers that featured Araki Sadao. Araki was then minister of
the Army, and the man behind the ultranationalist Kodo-ha which put him at
the center of the 2/28 incident. He was also Minister of Education in
1938-1939, where he constributed to the militarization of the education
system. This was a bid by Mainichi to get an edge on the budding nonfiction
market and Araki was certainly publicly jockeying for position within the
various power struggles inside the government. 

The film is very odd in terms of style. As Japan's first long-form,
nonfiction talkie, it is clear that Araki stands in as a kind of onscreen
benshi. He stands before a big Japanese flag giving a speech in direct
address, and compilations of newsreel footage illustrate his words.
Journals of the time made much of this new approach to cinema. 

These illustrative sequences often fudged the line between fiction and
documentary. One of the most interesting sequences is set in a Ginza cafe,
obviously THE site of cultural decadence for Araki. Here it is portrayed as
a scene of bohemian terror. Women smoke cigarettes and drape themselves
over men. People play with insipid toys like yo-yos. Men and women dance to
the jazz tunes of a musician with a smart beret, pipe, and a mandolin.
Having danced hard, two couples leave to stroll around Ginza. As they walk
under the blinking neon lights, the two men are called a couple of hairy
Europeans, and end up in a confrontation with a terse fellow in Meiji era
dress who reprimands all the nighttime revelers who dare to party during a
time of crisis. Women receive special attention in these scenes, posed as a
spoiled purity. They walk down public streets in snappy Western dresses,
bobs, and makeup; they talk back to men. Along with Communists, they spell
the doom of Japan. I think you'd like the film.

>2. Is there any place in Tokyo/the Kanto area that has videos of early
>Showa era films? If not, does anyone have any recommendations on the best
>way to get access to films from this era?

AS for Hijoji Nippon, it was used as evidence against Araki during the
Tokyo Trials. Thus, good prints are kept at the US National archives. More
convenient for you, the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
has a video copy. If you ask politely, they'll probably show it to you. 

For other films, check out video stores for feature films. For
documentaries, try Yokohama-shi Shimin Museum. They have lots of good stuff
available at video stations. Other things on film that would take
application to see. 

Markus