manchurian themes

[David Hopkins]

In the chapter on "War Fever" in Japan's Total Empire, Louise Young refers 
to a lot of schlocky-sounding propaganda movies as well as songs. Do any of 
these exist? Is it possible that that "culture" of that age only exists 
today in recording and print? I have a whole bunch of Manchurian-related 
songs, maybe 25 or so, but not all of the ones in her book. I'm not sure of 
the titles Mr. Davis mentioned, but many of these are light pop music, and 
the "marches" are not usually very martial. Manchuria March is from a movie 
of the same name.

My current thinking about the reissue project is to do thematic anthologies, 
and tentative topics include Manchuria, victory celebration songs, song 
contest winners, movie-related, sports-related, ideal(ized) women, 
mobo/moga, implicitly antiwar songs, and exotic South Pacific and Southeast 
Asia war-era songs.

I also plan to do some CDs of US pop music that include overtly 
anti-Japanese war era songs, and earlier "exotic Japan" songs (like 
"Japanese Mammy" by the Paul Whiteman band.)

It's very hard to pick songs for the movie one--there are lots of Yaji-Kita 
songs(including an Enoken one), a few Chushingura songs, other jidaigeki 
hero songs (Kunisada Chuji, Tange Sazen). Really mostly not very 
interesting. For "kouta" movies I have Tokyo Koshinkyoku, and Tojin Okichi. 
I only know of a few of these.

Still lots of thinking to do. Maybe by fall your library can order (at 
special library rates!)

David Hopkins