selflessness as “apolitical”

The point that remains on my mind from Kamanaka-san’s visit is the problem of political vs. apolitical that we returned to again and again. I read her insistence on the separation of politics and filmmaking in Rokkashomura Rhapsody as a removal of her own political view from the filmmaking process. Of course, with editing choices and interview subject choices, any documentary is formed by the wishes of the filmmaker. However, Kamanaka-san’s film lacked a voiceoever, as well as loaded, leading questions. Instead she actually listened to her subjects. I think the skill of her open-minded listening resulted in the amazing strings of conversation visible to the viewer. I think of this as a very selfless act.

For me, I have so much trouble reining myself in while talking about things I’m very passionate about or knowledgable of. To withdraw, in a way, in order to be more effective in the long run is very admirable to me. It seems so difficult; obviously Kamanaka-san has strong opinions of the issues of radiation. But in order to combat the people’s dislike of events “smelling of activism,” she made the right choice.

-Lauren

Presentation materials

Sorry for the ‘technical difficulty’ today. Here are the websites that I wanted to show:

1. David Rothauer’s interview film:

http://memoryproductions.org/ourlifetolive.mov

*pop quiz: What does he say about Japanese youth’s interest in hibakusha and his film? Where, in his opinion, is the “real” problem of the way Japanese learn/remember the war?

2. Association of Citizens for Supporting South Korean Atomic Victims

http://www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/home/yuu/zaikanen.htm

*see the explanation of how Korean people came to Japan under the “Activities” (in Japanese) –they were directly or indirectly forced to come (yamu wo ezu=unavoidably, necessarily).

*Also, the organization seems to be started and supported by Japanese, not Koreans themselves. I mixed up with another org.

3. Abolishment of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Directive 402: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200702070155.html

4. Joseph Gerson (the author of “Empire and the Bomb”):

http://www.peaceworkmagazine.org/pwork/1298/declead5.htm

US Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons: http://www.wslfweb.org/abolition/uswg.htm

Stonewalk Japan 2005:

http://www.stonewalk.org/japan/japan.html

5. Please give me info. about how you learned about “hibakusha” and/or Hiroshima/Nagasaki in highschool.

Activism behind “Rokkashomura Rhapsody”

After watching the film and hearing her discuss her intentions in making it, I have to disagree, respectfully, with Kamanaka-san’s insistence that Rokkashomura Rhapsody is not an activist film. The various implications of the nuclear reprocessing plant’s presence in the rural town are clear. There is no doubt that Rokkashomura faces grave employment and economic problems without the plant providing opportunities and revenue. In addition, without a reprocessing plant, Japan’s nuclear waste problem and energy crisis call for alternative solutions. Rokkashomura’s dilemma is not the locals’ alone. These impending challenges to both the townspeople and Japanese society at large offer sound grounds for pro-reprocessing camps to argue for Rokkashomura and Japan’s need for the plant. The film manages to convey the frighteningly negative aspects of nuclear power and reprocessing as well as the necessity for both of these services in present day Japanese society and Rokkashomura. It is up to the individual audience member to decide which side’s needs are more pressing and arguments are more convincing (although, I still find it difficult to believe that one could view this film as not anti-reprocessing…). So, is this an activist film?