Ainu in Japanese film?

[Bernardi-Buralli]

Oops--Sada Keiji, not Kenji.

jb

> From: Bernardi-Buralli <dburall1 at rochester.rr.com>
> Reply-To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 10:25:27 -0400
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Subject: Re: Ainu in Japanese film?
> 
> 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
>> 
>