'Yasukuni' director says 2007 film timelier than ever

Yep, the cruelty of war. No matter who you are, war can make one cruel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mutilation_of_Japanese_war_dead

I want to see this movie.

Li’s film sparked controversy when it was shown in Japan in 2008, with some Tokyo cinemas dropping plans to screen it, but declining to say why.

The reason is "why" is simple -- economic terrorism, just like NK just launched on Sony and "The Interview". Except in this case, the Japanese cinemas gave into domestic terrorists -- namely the right-wingers. Shameful.

Sadly I find most Japanese are simply unable & unwilling to face the truths about its past & become irrational in the process & seem very self centred, as in ""why"" is this being focused on poor Japan..........

Its sad Japanese generally cant stand back & just look at history without getting emotional & irrational about it & actually LEARN from it, the past IS NOT about Japanese living today, but most cant seem to grasp that & Japan makes itself look worse for it most of the time, Unbroken flick being a perfect example!

Should Japan make a movie about this place? I'd go to see how the PLA was turned magically into the winners of WW2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Museum_of_the_Chinese_People%27s_Revolution

It is very strange to me that there have been so few movies made about China, Why are there no movies about the "Great Leap Forward" or the "Cultural Revolution" or the Tienanmen Square Massacre? Does propaganda only work one way? If someone made a movie detailing the atrocities that occurred during those historical events would the Chinese government allow it to be shown to Chinese audiences in China? How about the atrocities in the Chinese Civil War following WWII?

It is one thing to accuse the Japanese of being "unable & unwilling to face the truths" especially when the present generations of Japanese had exactly nothing to do with WWII and blame everything on "Japanese rightists." But everybody seems to ignore the fact that China denies its own history or ignores it, and so does the USA for that matter. By the Geneva Conventions the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a horrific war crime--the deliberate targeting of civilians, Why does everybody say it was not a war crime or refuse to even say it might have been? It seems to have been completely forgotten except by a rather small minority. But the "Nanjing Massacre" is brought up very regularly.

There have been atrocities on all sides in every war ever fought. We never see a mention of American soldiers mutilating the corpses of dead Japanese soldiers (cutting off ears and fingers for "souvenirs"). Why is it always a one-way street? It seems to me Japan has learned from the past, as proven by the fact that it has been an entirely peaceful country since the end of WWII and is threatening no other country. It would be nice if we could say the same about every other country.

Not like Abe, who says he wants peace, while at the same time visiting a war shrine.

Most PMs are visiting the shrine. Shrine visits are more than 2,000 years Japan's tradition and culture, the most important Japan's culture. Most J families have shrine in their homes. J public goes to shrines several times a year.

When citizen go to the shrine, Koreans/Chinese should not tell Abe not to go. There is nothing Japan can do, so I'm advocating that J govt and businesses cut economic relation with the two countries and expand with SE as much as possible.

Most PMs are visiting the shrine.

Yep. And they call claim they want peace while visiting a war shrine.

I'm advocating that J govt and businesses cut economic relation with the two countries and expand with SE as much as possible.

Wow, you're clueless. That would sink Japan instantly.

That would sink Japan instantly.

Japan has cut investments in the two countries significantly already over 2 years, but I don't see any sinking of Japan, rather improvement. Anyway, when your culture is jeopadized, you shouldn't be greedy.

Archive shots show that same type of sword being used to behead prisoners.

There's taste for you. That would probably have had the film either denied a classification certificate, or had it edited out. You don't need to see someone being killed for entertainment... and films are entertainment. I sure as hell wouldn't want to see it. I have enough trouble with nightmares without seeing actual murders thank you very much.

As for the Angelina Jolie film... I hope it makes the point that there were an awful lot of Korean soldiers used as prison guards for POWs as well as Japanese.

When citizen go to the shrine, Koreans/Chinese should not tell Abe not to go. There is nothing Japan can do, so I'm advocating that J govt and businesses cut economic relation with the two countries and expand with SE as much as possible.

That ranks as one of the most foolish comments I have ever read on JT. Because it is uncomfortable when countries that Japan raped, pillaged and plundered for decades dare to remind Japan of this fact, Japan should cut off economic ties with them. Thus sending Japan into the Stone Age economically and geo-politcally. But, unfortunately, that kind of "thinking" is not all that rare in Japan.

But, unfortunately, that kind of "thinking" is not all that rare in Japan.

That's right. I rather Japan lives in the Stone Age with free shrine access.

That's right. I rather Japan lives in the Stone Age with free shrine access.

tina -- why don't you just cut right through it and say what you rally mean? What you really want is for Japan to just be able to bury its head in the sand and never have to take a hard look at itself and own up to the millions of lives it impacted during its colonial rule. Being the "victim" is so much easier -- and requires no moral compass at all. But, honestly, other than the U.S. wanting to maintain its relationship with Japan for military purposes, I don't know of a lot of countries that would have a problem with your thought.

Most PMs are visiting the shrine.

The Emperor doesn't. PMs only go there for political purposes, otherwise they'd go in a strictly personal capacity and no one would know about it. As it is they could hardly be less crass and opportunistic if they went there with big VOTE FOR ME badges on their jackets.

tinawatanabe: "I rather Japan lives in the Stone Age with free shrine access."

Hey, that isn't a bad idea. Just give up all the benefits of culture and civilization Japan received from hated China and Korea over the past 2000 years, and Japan would actually be back in the stone age. And then the Japanese can do whatever they want in their caves and nobody would mind.

slowguy2 In case you don't know, When Japan normalized the tie with China decades ago, Japan had already been an advanced country. And Japan imports more from, than exports to China, and even the imports from China are replaceable from other countries.

I'm not suprised Japan-resident Chinese director Li Ying anti-militarist documentary “Yasukuni” has got right up the shrill bleating nationalist right wing nasties noses.

Indeed the slimy cloven hoofed net knuckle dragging ‘netto-uyo’ have  been throwing a wobbler over the fact a portion of the films funding is indeed courtesy of Japanese Culture Ministry.

Li Ying is a internationally renowned film maker, films '2H' and 'Dream Cuisine' are worth a viewing. Don't fall for the bilious hype eminating from these increasingly insignificant band of net activists whose ravings are becoming more outrageous and ludicrous as society roundly rejects them.

Thunderbird - why on earth would A Jolie want to point out in her film that many pow guards were korean when the film is about a personal journey of an individual.

Do you mistakenly think she has made a documentary on ww2?