H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese & Korean Cinema

Roger Macy macyroger at yahoo.co.uk
Fri Aug 28 12:17:55 EDT 2009 

We've named interesting examples from 1959 and on, but what were the earliest representations of blackness in Japanese film (I'll stick to 'film' rather than 'cinema' which brings in imports) ?
Doesn't Kurosawa's Stray Dog, 1949, have a night club scene with blacks among the clientele, admittedly in non-speaking roles  ?

There were certainly retrospective representations of the occupation era, such as Fukusaku's that placed African-Americans in scenes, but weren't there some at the time, besides Stray Dog ?
Given that occupation forces could not be shown on the screen, despite their high visibility, I thought that a representation of black, and white european-looking young men was a pretty easy coded visual reminder of the occupation, even out of uniform, whilst, at the tatemae level, ticking the box for 'Promoting tolerance and respect among all races and classes' (Hirano).
Roger
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jasper Sharp 
  To: kinejapan 
  Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 3:44 PM
  Subject: RE: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese & Korean Cinema


  Indeed, Bedroom Eyes is a perfect example. I also remember an African-American priest turning up in Seijun Suzuki's brilliant Gates of Flesh, and there's a surprisingly crude stereotype of an African marathon runner who turns up in Shohei Imamura's The Eel. I think there's also an African-American in the first Roman Porno version of Flower and Snake too, directed by Masaru Konuma, and I've seen him in a couple of Roman Porno films from the 70s, though can't remember the titles (I think he's just credited under a single Christian name too).
  If we're talking about interracial love, there's quite a few pink films that might be worth investigating, although most are no longer extant - but I do cover films like Kan Mukai's Flesh 2 in the 'Eros International' chapter of Behind the Pink Curtain.

  Hope this fleshes out the list of titles a little, if you'll pardon the pun.

  Jasper Sharp


  Midnight Eye: The Latest and Best in Japanese Cinema
  www.midnighteye.com

  More details about me on http://jaspersharp.com/




  > Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:32:24 +0200
  > From: eigagogo at free.fr
  > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
  > Subject: Re: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese & Korean Cinema
  > 
  > You can also add Kumashiro's Bedtimes's eyes!
  > http://eigagogo.free.fr/Articles/ATG/Photo_ATG/ok/53.jpg
  > 
  > and sexploitation such as Ishii's Orgies of Edo, Negishi's Sex Huner, Ohara's
  > LAdy Caligula
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > Selon shota ogawa <shota.ogawa at gmail.com>:
  > 
  > > I recently saw Agata Morio's *Boku ha Tenshi ja Naiyo *(1977) which has an
  > > anonymous black dancer who appears repeatedly
  > > as the characters prepare for a strike.
  > >
  > > Shota Ogawa
  > >
  > > 2009/8/27 Jim Harper <jimharper666 at yahoo.co.uk>
  > >
  > > > And Brother has Claude Maki in, too.
  > > >
  > > > Jim Harper.
  > > >
  > > > --- On *Thu, 27/8/09, Frances Loden <frako at well.com>* wrote:
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > From: Frances Loden <frako at well.com>
  > > > Subject: Re: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese & Korean
  > > > Cinema
  > > > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
  > > > Date: Thursday, 27 August, 2009, 10:24 PM
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > There's Kitano Takeshi's film *Brother*--it has black characters in it.
  > > >
  > > > There's also Reggie Life's documentary *Struggle and Success: The African
  > > > American Experience in Japan*.
  > > >
  > > > Frako Loden
  > > > Berkeley, CA
  > > >
  > > > On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 1:58 PM, Mark%20Mays
  > >
  > <tetsuwan at comcast.net<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=tetsuwan@comcast.net>
  > > > > wrote:
  > > >
  > > >> The Kobayashi didn't have much representations of blackness as I recall
  > > >> aside from the child's birth. It's been awhile since I've seen it, but I
  > > >> think the director was talking about his prejudices (or lack).
  > > >>
  > > >> I recall a movie with Claude Maki, Dean Stapleton and Yuki Uchida, BEAT
  > > >> from the late 90s. It's set in Vietnam era Okinawa, complete w/ hooker w/
  > > >> heart of gold (Uchida) who is raising her daughter, born of rape by a GI
  > > >> (for some reason I recall the daughter as being half Black but memory
  > > fails.
  > > >> It isn't such a memorable film). Again, not much on "representations"
  > > except
  > > >> the shadowy figure of a scary Black GI at one point.
  > > >>
  > > >> Isn't Maki a rapper now?
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >> ----- Original Message -----
  > > >> From:
  > >
  > eigagogo at free.fr<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=eigagogo@free.fr>
  > > >> To:
  > >
  > KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=KineJapan@lists.acs..ohio-state.edu>
  > > >> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 7:55:33 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
  > > >> Subject: Re: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese & Korean
  > > >> Cinema
  > > >>
  > > >> + Kurahara's Black Sun !
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > >
  > http://auteursnotebook.s3.amazonaws.com/multiple%20images/Kurahara/spK09.jpg<http://auteursnotebook.s3..amazonaws.com/multiple%20images/Kurahara/spK09.jpg>
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >>
  > > >> Selon JORDAN ANTONY SMITH
  > >
  > <oyabaka at ucla.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oyabaka@ucla.edu>
  > > >> >:
  > > >>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > Robin,
  > > >> > Your email has been circulating on the KineJapan listserv.. hope you
  > > >> find
  > > >> > some good ideas here.
  > > >> >
  > > >> > Don't forget EXTREME PRIVATE EROS
  > > (極�エロス�歌１９７�)
  > > >> from
  > > >> > Hara and Kobayashi--great film with a live birth of a mixed-race baby
  > > >> and
  > > >> > much more.
  > > >> >
  > > >> > I have the Oshima film you mention on DVD. I can send it to you if you
  > > >> like.
  > > >> > If not, look out for some Oshima box sets which are floating around
  > > >> (many are
  > > >> > Chinese pirate versions, so be careful/ethical, etc.)--or see if you can
  > > >> con
  > > >> > NYU into springing for it!
  > > >> >
  > > >> > See the messages below from others too...
  > > >> >
  > > >> > Best,
  > > >> > Jordan
  > > >> >
  > > >> >
  > > >> >
  > > >> > On Today 6:32 PM,
  > >
  > thomas.lamarre at mcgill.ca<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=thomas.lamarre@mcgill.ca>wrote:
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > Suzuki Seijun's Nikutai no mon (1964) would be very interesting for
  > > >> > > this project.
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > On 8/26/09 9:27 PM, "Michael Kerpan"
  > >
  > <mekerpan at verizon.net<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mekerpan@verizon.net>>
  > > >> wrote:
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > Two films I can think of offhand....
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > Imai's Kiku and Isamu -- focus is on two children of a Japanese mother
  > > >> > > (now deceased) and a black GI (long ago returned to the US) being
  > > >> brought
  > > >> > > up by their grandmother.
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > Shinozaki's Not Forgotten -- has a side story about a young half-black
  > > >> > > boy who is befriended by none of the central characters.
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > --- On Wed, 8/26/09, Melek Ortabasi
  > > <mso1 at sfu.ca<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mso1@sfu.ca>>
  > > >> wrote:
  > > >> > >
  > > >> > > > From: Melek Ortabasi
  > > <mso1 at sfu.ca<http://uk.mc259..mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=mso1@sfu.ca>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > > Subject: Fwd: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS, Japanese
  > > >> > > & Korean Cinema
  > > >> > > > To: "KineJapan"
  > >
  > <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > > Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 8:34 PM
  > > >> > > > Forwarding this from H-Japan, apropos
  > > >> > > > the recent discussion on "whitewashing!" Perhaps someone can
  > > >> > > > write back to Robyn, who may not know of this list.
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > Best,
  > > >> > > > Melek
  > > >> > > > ----- Forwarded Message -----
  > > >> > > > From: "H-Japan Editor"
  > >
  > <j-edit at MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=j-edit@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > > To:
  > >
  > H-JAPAN at H-NET.MSU.EDU<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=H-JAPAN@H-NET.MSU.EDU>
  > > >> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 5:00:23 PM GMT -08:00
  > > >> > > > US/Canada Pacific
  > > >> > > > Subject: H-JAPAN (E): representations of blacknesS,
  > > >> > > > Japanese & Korean Cinema
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > On-line editor: Janet R. Goodwin
  > >
  > <jan at cs.csustan.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jan@cs.csustan.edu>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > H-JAPAN
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > August 23, 2009
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > From: Robyn Citizen
  > > <rc1434 at nyu.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rc1434@nyu.edu>
  > > >> >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > Hi all,
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > My dissertation project concerns the representation of
  > > >> > > > blackness in
  > > >> > > > Japanese and Korean cinema - this includes black bodies
  > > >> > > > (African-Americans
  > > >> > > > or people of African descent as characters), black
  > > >> > > > culture/hip-hop
  > > >> > > > culture, and blackness as a visual or linguistic signifier
  > > >> > > > of absolute
  > > >> > > > difference, racial or otherwise (it is my understanding
  > > >> > > > that in earlier
  > > >> > > > Japanese cinema people from the South Seas were referred to
  > > >> > > > as "blacks",
  > > >> > > > for example).
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > While I have a modest list of films which I can use, I'd be
  > > >> > > > very grateful
  > > >> > > > for more suggestions of post-WWII movies that touch upon
  > > >> > > > these topics.
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > If anyone knows where I can find a copy of Oshima's "The
  > > >> > > > Catch" (Japanese
  > > >> > > > title "Shiiku", 1961) it would also be extremely helpful.
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > Thank you for help!
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > Best,
  > > >> > > > Robyn
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > Robyn Citizen
  > > >> > > > PhD Candidate
  > > >> > > > Cinema Studies
  > > >> > > > New York University
  > > >> > > > alternate e-mail:
  > >
  > ladykaede1221 at gmail.com<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ladykaede1221@gmail.com>
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > ********************************************************
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  > > >> > > > TO THE H-JAPAN LIST
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > SEND MAIL TO
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > >
  > >
  > h-japan at h-net.msu.edu<http://uk.mc259.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=h-japan@h-net.msu.edu>
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > ********************************************************
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > --
  > > >> > > > Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
  > > >> > > > Assistant Professor
  > > >> > > > World Literature Program
  > > >> > > > Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  > > >> > > > Simon Fraser University
  > > >> > > > Unit 250-13450
  > > >> > > > 102 Ave., Surrey, BC
  > > >> > > > V3T0A3 CANADA
  > > >> > > > Phone: 778-782-8660
  > > >> > > >
  > > >> > > > "Education is what survives when what has been learned is
  > > >> > > > forgotten." -- B. F. Skinner, "Education in 1984," _New
  > > >> > > > Scientist_ (1969)
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  > >
  > >
  > > --
  > > ----------------------------------------
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  > > Ph.D. Student
  > > Graduate Program in Visual and Cultural Studies
  > > 424 Morey Hall
  > > University of Rochester
  > > Rochester, NY 14627
  > > ----------------------------------------
  > >
  > 
  > 


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