[KineJapan] Ishihara Shintaro

[Gerow Aaron]

The politician and novelist Ishihara Shintaro has died at the age of 89.

There is much that can be said about his racist right-wing politics, but at least on this forum, we should note his significant involvement in film. Not only did his novels help spur the taiyozoku craze in film, sending his younger brother Yujiro to stardom, but he wrote film scripts, acted in films, and even directed a few movies. He even directed an episode in the international omnibus film L’amour a 20 ans with Francois Truffaut, Marcel Ophuls, and Andrej Wajda. One could debate how his later-right wing politics are reflected in these films from the 50s and 60s, but he did produce historically revisionist works in the 2000s. Ishihara’s political career is also an example of how the entertainment industry in Japan influences politics. One wonders how successful Shintaro would have been if he did not have an immensely successful star for a younger brother and his “gundan” to help with campaigning. At least one of his sons, Yoshizumi, is a successful tarento. One is tempted to compare him to other rightwingers like Hashimoto Toru, who rode his success as a TV tarento to engage in similar fascistic politics. 


Aaron Gerow

















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