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Even though it was written 12 years ago, "What Happens Before War" still serves as a cautionary tale, and this brand new short film is helping to take it to a whole new generation.
Back in 2004, a group called Ribbon Project put out a wonderful book promoting Japan’s anti-war stance. Through 70 years of peace, most of the people of Japan have grown up never having to experience the horrors of war. At the time, there were some vocal members of the government who wanted to make some changes to the constitution in order to allow Japan to better defend itself. "What Happens Before War" was a response to those proposed changes which warned people of the kinds of things that could happen before Japan became engaged in an actual conflict.
The book has now been animated by a group called NOddIN, which formed after the Great East Japan Earthquake back in 2011. The group felt that this book still has a very important message and hopes that this new accompanying animation will bring the book to a wider audience.
While many of the warnings might be just theoretical, there are a few points that the book mentions about that have already come to pass.
▼ Passed in 2014, the secrecy laws impose lengthy prison sentences for anyone leaking state secrets.
▼ In September 2015, 11 security bills and amendments passed which permit the Japanese Self-Defense Force to provide material assistance to its allies participating in combat.
Whether or not you agree with Japan’s stance on war, we can all at least agree that the creators of this video did a wonderful job bringing "What Happens Before War" to life—it certainly gave us some food for thought.
Source: YouTube/戦争のつくりかた
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- World War II ended 70 years ago — here’s the planned US invasion of Japan that never happened -- Sanrio mascots promote pacifism on 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender -- Hayao Miyazaki speaks out against relocation of Okinawa U.S. base, criticizes Prime Minister Abe
© Japan Today
21 Comments
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nandakandamanda
This is a very good animation indeed. It needs an English version though, ASAP.
The English title for a start does not really reflect the meaning of the Japanese. 戦争の作り方 'Senso no Tsukurikata' is more like 'How do wars get started?' 'What goes into creating war?', something that has continued to intrigue me for many years.
What is the mind-set that propels us into war? Once war is started, it is very difficult for anyone to stop, but now, before war has started, there are choices that we can make to help keep what precious peace we have.
kibousha
The animation says that the adults are too busy working, so they won't notice what the government is doing, so it's up to the children to stop this, because it's their future that's at stake. I thought it was a good message until I realized the children are preoccupied by youkai watch and boys band, Japan is doomed.
TheGodfather
The translation is just plain wrong. If you use the Kanji instead of the Hiragana, it becomes obvious... and ominous!!
戦争の作り方 ----- sensou no tsukurikata ----- how to make war / the method of making war
PS - I knew there was a reason I learned all that Kanji... ;-)
Wc626
The new Secrecy / Security Laws? What's the big deal?
Sheepish people=sheepish voters. Now there's ur "food for thought."
smithinjapan
Likely to be banned because it "is one-sided" (i.e. Doesn't toe government line).
SenseNotSoCommon
What's scariest is that the cretinocracy® is already bulldozing through the steps outlined in this piece.
Job insecurity keeps workers chained to their desks, their pain dulled by nomunikation.
Meanwhile ABE48, sugary treats, trinkets and other prolefeed keeps us just as in line as an army of red guards might.
As for dissent:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/japanese-tv-anchors-lose-their-jobs-amid-claims-of-political-pressure
Wc626
(LoL-ABE48) Exactly. While the people say baa-baa . . . like a herd of sheep.
nath
I think in this case 'how war is made', or even 'how war comes about' is more accurate.
SenseNotSoCommon
Sheep come in many shapes and sizes, WC. Individuals swallowing dogma are no less of a flock.
CH3CHO
戦争の作り方
the recipe of a war
Alex Einz
well done - full support!
nath
I'd amend that to The Recipe for War, but other than that, I think that's a good translation.
browny1
戦争の作り方 -
Along your lines of "Recipe", I was thinking before that "The Method of War" would aptly fit.
TheGodfather
The point is that the translation is just plain wrong and designed to deceive gullible gaijins...
browny1
godfather - wheres the deception? - I'm thinking that deception has an ulterior sneaky angle!
And in what ways does it deceive gullible gaijins? Gullible for what? A little enlightenment if you please.
And while the translation is not accurate there is a sense of association with the idea of how war comes into being - ie what happens before war. You know kinda like "How are babies Made?" compared with "What happens before babies come?"
badsey3
Most of these "wars" are based on irrational fears. Japan is also an island(s) that has little to fear.
With the (baseless) fiat money printing (inflation) Governments can now easily afford wars or military build-up. -Japan is in this build-up process now with some resistance.
How hard is it to get rid of the war machine? -Look at Okinawa. They have been fighting the war machine for years. It is a very difficult fight and they will continue to deceive the people by various means ¥¥¥, politicians, propaganda. It almost seems like a Okinawa vs Tokyo battle at times, but it must be done in a peaceful way or else you will lose thru the chaos. It is a long, strenuous, generational battle.
Wc626
You're missing the point freind. They all say "Baaaa- (and vote in this same exact matter) LDP in power for how long??
In the US, the GOP and Dems take turns in the white house . . . its a good thing though-
albaleo
Or perhaps the Japanese electorate are just more sophisticated and realize that whatever party gets in, nothing will change. Better and cheaper perhaps to elect the same old fools while everyone gets on doing what they do - things like keeping the crime rate low, the health rate high, not going to war, and stuff. Democracy isn't just about voting.
Black Sabbath
This video seems to think Japan of today is no different than Imperial Japan.
It is not.
TheGodfather
"That'll be me. I get the feeling someone thought long and hard about the English title"
Thanks for being honest... :-)
albaleo
Honest? I thought I was being facetious.
Anyway, I think the English title is pretty good in the sense that it's as quirky as the original Japanese.