Ainu in Japanese film?

[Bernardi-Buralli]

Another interesting instance of "Ainu" roles in a dramatic film is in the
Shochiku (Ofuna) "Kimi no na wa" (What is your name), dir. Oba Hideo (in
three parts), 1954. It was based on the popular radio drama of the same
name, and is famous for it's narrative (a love story of a couple--Sada Kenji
and Kishi Keiko parted during the war) that literally covers ground from
Kyushu to Hokkaido (where the male protagonist is loved by an Ainu woman, a
secondary love interest). Ainu culture is represented through this character
as "passionate/primitive," (and the character loses Sada Kenji to the
pristine beauty of his "true love," Kishi Keiko).

Joanne Bernardi
U Rochester 

> From: Peter Grilli <grilli at us-japan.org>
> Reply-To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 15:59:30 -0700
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Subject: RE: Ainu in Japanese film?
> 
> Michael,
> 
> A number of informative documentaries about Ainu civilization and Ainu
> history and folklore were made during the 1960s (and perhaps earlier) by NHK
> and various other producers.  No doubt, Markus and others can provide more
> precise information about other specific film titles, but my "alzheimerish"
> memory recalls the following:
> 
> "Chise a Kar" -- a film about the construction of Ainu homes and ritual
> sites
> "World of Yukar" -- a series of NHK documentaries about traditional Ainu
> myths and rituals, including the "iyomande" bear-god ceremonies
> "Gods of the Ainu" -- a film about Ainu religious rituals and domestic
> household ceremonies
> 
> I'm sure there are other films --- but, sorry, I don't remember their
> titles.
> 
> Peter Grilli
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Peter M. Grilli
> President, Japan Society of Boston
> One Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109
> Tel:  617-451-0726
> Fax: 617-451-1191
> E-mail:  grilli at us-japan.org
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of M Arnold
> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 12:08 PM
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Subject: Ainu in Japanese film?
> 
> 
> A friend just asked me for some advice on Japanese films dealing with the
> Ainu and indigenous people's rights, but aside from one or two weird pink
> films and perhaps indirect references in anime like Mononoke hime and Prince
> of the Sun I can't think of anything that would be relevant.  Can anyone out
> there offer some recommendations?
> 
> Thanks,
> Michael Arnold
>