Don't try filming at Yasukuni Shrine

By Jesse Veverka

There’s no question about it. Yasukuni Shrine instills a certain fascination. For some it’s morbid curiosity, for others it’s incredulity. But for documentary filmmakers like me, it’s simply a matter of wanting to know why so many people seem to think it’s so darn important.

You see, since March 2008, I have been working on my first feature-length documentary. It’s called “China: The Rebirth of an Empire.” It’s about China’s 21st-century re-emergence as a great world power, and what that is going to mean for all of us. One of the places we visit in the film is Japan. You know, Japan. The world’s number two economy. Number one in Asia. About to be replaced in that regard by China. We were wondering how the Japanese felt about this, and if they were worried that China might still be harboring some resentment over that little incident that they don’t teach very much about in public schools, namely World War II.

Having spent some time in both China and Korea, I knew that there was a place called Yasukuni Shrine that was supposedly much reviled by the victims of Imperial Japan. Several Class A war criminals were enshrined there (whatever that meant), while various prime ministers continued to have the gall to visit. A little sore spot. Cause for diplomatic friction. National outrage. Revenge. Sounds perfect for a movie!

So my crew and I get our gear, including a heavy tripod, camera and a boom mic with one of those big fuzzy things on the end that looks like a giant cattail. Fantastic. This should be interesting. We arrive at the shrine. The weather is good; there are loads of tour groups with people speaking what sounds like Chinese and Korean—impassioned interviewees!

I recall there was a documentary that came out recently called “Yasukuni.” I heard that it was pretty well received and that, contrary to a smear campaign, it was supposed to be pretty objective. In fact, the guys at Yasukuni Shrine—the guys in charge—were actually pleased with it. They thought it told their side of the story, although I also heard that when it first came out, they were pretty angry and that they tried to block its release. But they were happy now, and that’s what mattered.

With that in mind, my crew and I marched right up to the front of the shrine, set up the tripod, and extended the boom (with the big fuzzy thing attached). I was just about to yell “Action” when I heard that unmistakable “What the $#!% do you think you’re doing!?” (Even though this was spoken in Japanese, “What the $#!% do you think you’re doing!?” sounds pretty much the same in any language.) It was the guard. It seems we didn’t have permission to shoot there. Permission? But we thought this was a public space.

Actually it’s not. That’s a big misconception about Yasukuni. Despite the fact that its always in the news, despite the fact that prime ministers visit it on a regular basis, despite the fact that Class A war criminals are enshrined there (I’m still not sure what that means), and despite the fact that anyone can walk in, it’s actually private property. This fact is conveniently used to kick out pretentious wannabe Spielbergs like ourselves.

“But wait!” I say. “We are students, and we aren’t here to defame the shrine. Actually, we want to show that the whole controversy is overblown.”

We are told that we have to go speak to the director. I give him the same pitch, along with my business card. He asks what the movie is about. Well, China and, you know, politics and foreign relations. Politics? China? That has nothing to do with us! We’re a private shrine. Apolitical. We had a problem in the past with a filmmaker like you, claiming to be a student and then releasing an entire documentary about us without our permission. We can’t have that again. Get out!

And with that, we got the boot. Tripod, camera and boom mike with the big fuzzy thing and all.

About a year later, I had a chance to meet the assistant director of “Yasukuni” at a screening of his film. I told him about how we got thrown out while trying to shoot our own movie, because of some unnamed predecessor who, like us, thought that he didn’t need permission. After a little pause and a sheepish grin, he replied, “Oh, yeah, sorry about that!”

Jesse Veverka is a film producer and co-founder of Veverka Bros Productions (www.veverkabros.com), with offices in Yokohama and Ithaca, NY.

This commentary originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp)

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Latest 15 of 42 Total Comments Show All

cleo at 03:29 PM JST - 22nd August

Extremely naive to think you can just set up your tripods anywhere you like and start accosting people for interviews. Many years ago I was in the grounds of the Tower of London with the kids, enjoying a friendly chat with one of the Beefeaters. A group of students turned up with tripods and mikes with big fuzzy catstails on them and before they had time to set up shop the Beefeater descended on them and demanded to see their filming permit. They didn't have one, and were unceremoniously asked to leave the premises. My friendly cuddly Beefeater had turned into a very imposing figure who could have probably belched flames if the students hadn't beat a quick retreat.
Potsu at 03:51 PM JST - 22nd August

"Communicable diseases,Product piracy and infringements, Quality control failures, Suppression of dissent and free thought, censorship and disregard for human rights, air and water pollution, territorial disputes with other countries,..... Sounds like Japan.
Seiharinokaze at 03:52 PM JST - 22nd August

Jesse Veverka san,

I don't object to your idea of featuring Yasukuni shrine as a symbolic focal point to look at China’s re-emergence as a great world power in the 21st century. But the relationship between the two countries has a history of more than 1500 years, even almost 2000.

For a change of approach, how about taking up Koyasan the head temple of Shingon-Shu set up by the priest Kukai, for example, or Eiheiji Temple by Zen priest Dogen? The two temples are good instances of the great world power China giving influence on small uncivilized Japan. Esoteric Buddhism was introduced from Tang at the beginning of 9th century and Zen Buddhism from Sung in earnest from 12th century. But both dynasties as well as esoteric and Zen Buddhism perished in China. The offspring of the emperor who sent a greeting to the emperor of the dynasty before Tang still survives over here and the people often ask the priests to invoke divine help for their happiness and there are even those who sit in meditation for themselves in Zen temples too, just in the way as introduced originally. Isn't that any suggestion for re-emergence of China in the whole span of vicissitudes, a familiar theme in the Far East?
GW at 08:05 PM JST - 22nd August

burakumendes

I am pretty sure you mean Japan Apologists not Japanophiles, they can be but often are NOT the same thing.

This goof ball is being rightly slagged by everyone here, our views on yasukuni are irrelevant to this thread, in fact its probably the 1st yasukuni thread where the vast majority are in agreement.

Most here agree this guy is just plain ignorant & stupid! LOL
UnagiDon at 09:20 PM JST - 22nd August

Metropolis seems to be a great venue for inexperienced writers to embarrass themselves publicly - keep up the good work!
OssanAmerica at 09:35 PM JST - 22nd August

Wow. This film-maker has really come under attack from the Japanophiles >on here! I for one am prepared to listen to all sides, no matter how >biased they may be, and make up my own opinions.

No you're very wrong. The film maker is getting flack here from everybody because of his naive amateurish approach, I-can-do-anything-I'm-a-film maker attitude and utter lack of knowledge (gee..what's a war criminal?) and qualification to be making a "documentary" on the subject.
OssanAmerica at 09:38 PM JST - 22nd August

"Communicable diseases,Product piracy and infringements, Quality control >failures, Suppression of dissent and free thought, censorship and >disregard for human rights, air and water pollution, territorial >disputes with other countries,..... Sounds like Japan

Only to someone who lives on another planet. China excels in the above far beyond any other major country. Just ask any Chinese.
OssanAmerica at 09:40 PM JST - 22nd August

Stopped reading here. China will never overtake Japan. Wow, thats the biggest call I've heard in years. All those other >economists must be wrong!

How do you think we ended up in the global recession we're in now? Ever hear of Alan Greenspan?
Cicada at 09:51 PM JST - 22nd August

I agree with the posters who noted that this is a terrible article, and that the author only succeeds in embarrassing himself. Jesse Veverka does a bangup job of proving that his documentary is shallow and ill-conceived, and that the shrine director made was wise to kick him out.

What exactly is Jesse attempting to accomplish?

There’s no question about it. Yasukuni Shrine instills a certain fascination...for documentary filmmakers like me, it’s simply a matter of wanting to know why so many people seem to think it’s so darn important.

Apparently, Jesse was going to ask people at the shrine why they think it is important. Later in his article he tells the director of the shrine that he believes the importance is "overblown":

“But wait!” I say. “We are students, and we aren’t here to defame the shrine. Actually, we want to show that the whole controversy is overblown.”

Yet Jesse cannot even tell us how this would fit into his documentary, which is

about China’s 21st-century re-emergence as a great world power, and what that is going to mean for all of us.

Since Japan is

About to be replaced in that regard [number one in Asia] by China. We were wondering how the Japanese felt about this, and if they were worried that China might still be harboring some resentment over that little incident that they don’t teach very much about in public schools, namely World War II.

Well, Jesse is apparently going to ask visitors at the shrine if they are worried about Chinese resentment, even though he himself thinks the Yasukuni shrine controversy is "overblown".

Very poorly thought out. I didn't even think it was worth saying so, but was moved by the kindness of others who did take the trouble to comment. Jesse is lucky he only got kicked out of a shrine. With writing like this, it is a wonder he has not been kicked out of school as well.
tigris at 02:00 AM JST - 23rd August

The film maker is getting flack here from everybody because of his naive amateurish approach, I-can-do-anything-I'm-a-film maker attitude and utter lack of knowledge (gee..what's a war criminal?) and qualification to be making a "documentary" on the subject.

Yep, that's about it. Nothing to do with Yasukuni shrine whatsoever.

Why would someone filming non actors in a documentary film shout 'action'?

He bought a camera and now stands around like Look-at-me-I-am-a-filmmaker.
gyouza at 06:57 AM JST - 25th August

All successful documentary production starts with one simple but highly effective tool. Research. Might have been missed here?
Osakadaz at 11:47 AM JST - 25th August

lucky this guy didn't get the crap kicked out of him by the ever-present rightist idiots or the police like they belted that group of Japanese peace protesters that visited the shrine a year or so back.
Disillusioned at 06:14 PM JST - 25th August

Yep, been there. Done that. Went there a few years ago with my nice new shiny digital camera. Took some cool photos of the shrine, weapons, bombs and the local right-wingers. Got abused by them too. Stiff poop! They are just a bunch of pathetic wankers anyway. They are about as intimidating as Unpanman. Actually, Unpanman is more intimidating cause he can fly.
ThonTaddeo at 09:19 PM JST - 25th August

Rightists have no trouble filming in Yasukuni:

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=12162#comments
netrek at 11:12 PM JST - 26th August

This 'filmmaker" is a moron.