Akira Iwasaki
Encyclopedia
was a prominent left-wing Japanese film critic, historian, and producer
. Born in Tokyo
, he became interested in film
from his student days at Tokyo University. Early on, he helped introduce German
experimental film
in Japan
, and was instrumental in getting Teinosuke Kinugasa
's masterpiece A Page of Madness
screened in Tokyo. Afterward, he became involved in Marxist politics and established a career promoting progressive cinema and criticism. He wrote or edited over thirty books of film criticism, history, theory and biography during his career. He was also involved in film production, first serving from the late 1920s as a central member of the Proletarian Film League of Japan
(Prokino), where he acted as not only the theoretical brain of the movement alongside Genjū Sasa
, but also as a filmmaker. When Prokino was effectively eliminated by police oppression under the Peace Preservation Law
, Iwasaki continued his critical activities, becoming involved in the Yuibutsuron Kenkyūkai with such thinkers as Jun Tosaka, but was eventually arrested in 1940, in part for his opposition to the Film Law, which authorized increased government control of the film industry. He was the only film critic arrested by the ideological police during the war. After his release, he worked for a time at the Tokyo office of the Manchukuo Film Association
thanks to the help of Kan'ichi Negishi.
After Japan's defeat in World War II
, Iwasaki was active in criticizing those who participated in the war effort. He joined Nihon Eigasha (Nichiei), primarily a documentary
film company, and helped produce two important, but ill-fated documentaries: The Effects of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which was confiscated by Occupation authorities, and A Japanese Tragedy, directed by Fumio Kamei
, which was banned for its critical depiction of Emperor Hirohito. While continuing to work as a film critic from the 1950s on, including pursuing a vigorous debate on the nature of cinematic realism
with Taihei Imamura
, Iwasaki helped produce some of the independent films made by Tadashi Imai and Satsuo Yamamoto
after many left-wingers were expelled from the major studios in the Red Purge.
In 1974, he was a member of the jury at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. Born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, he became interested in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
from his student days at Tokyo University. Early on, he helped introduce German
Cinema of Germany
Cinema in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema has made major technical and artistic contributions to film.Unlike any other national cinemas, which developed in the context of relatively continuous and stable political systems, Germany witnesses major changes to its...
experimental film
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and was instrumental in getting Teinosuke Kinugasa
Teinosuke Kinugasa
-External links:* *...
's masterpiece A Page of Madness
A Page of Madness
-External links:*...
screened in Tokyo. Afterward, he became involved in Marxist politics and established a career promoting progressive cinema and criticism. He wrote or edited over thirty books of film criticism, history, theory and biography during his career. He was also involved in film production, first serving from the late 1920s as a central member of the Proletarian Film League of Japan
Proletarian Film League of Japan
The was a left-wing film organization, known as Prokino for short, active in the late 1920s and early 1930s in Japan. Associated with the proletarian arts movement in Japan, it primarily used small gauge films such as 16mm film and 9.5mm film to record demonstrations and workers' lives and show...
(Prokino), where he acted as not only the theoretical brain of the movement alongside Genjū Sasa
Genjū Sasa
was a left-wing Japanese film director and film critic. He was a founding member of the Proletarian Film League of Japan , providing inspiration to the movement through his writings and his films.- Bibliography :...
, but also as a filmmaker. When Prokino was effectively eliminated by police oppression under the Peace Preservation Law
Peace Preservation Law
The Public Security Preservation Laws were a series of laws enacted during the Empire of Japan. Collectively, the laws were designed to suppress political dissent.-the Safety Preservation Law of 1894:...
, Iwasaki continued his critical activities, becoming involved in the Yuibutsuron Kenkyūkai with such thinkers as Jun Tosaka, but was eventually arrested in 1940, in part for his opposition to the Film Law, which authorized increased government control of the film industry. He was the only film critic arrested by the ideological police during the war. After his release, he worked for a time at the Tokyo office of the Manchukuo Film Association
Manchukuo Film Association
, also known as the "Manchuria Film Production", was a Japanese film production company in Manchukuo in the 1930s and 40s.-Early history:...
thanks to the help of Kan'ichi Negishi.
After Japan's defeat in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Iwasaki was active in criticizing those who participated in the war effort. He joined Nihon Eigasha (Nichiei), primarily a documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
film company, and helped produce two important, but ill-fated documentaries: The Effects of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which was confiscated by Occupation authorities, and A Japanese Tragedy, directed by Fumio Kamei
Fumio Kamei
was a prominent left-wing Japanese documentary and fiction film director.-Biography:Kamei went to the Soviet Union in 1928 to study filmmaking, but had to return home because of an illness...
, which was banned for its critical depiction of Emperor Hirohito. While continuing to work as a film critic from the 1950s on, including pursuing a vigorous debate on the nature of cinematic realism
Realism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
with Taihei Imamura
Taihei Imamura
was a Japanese film critic and film theorist. Born in Saitama Prefecture, he attended the Kobe University of Commerce but left before graduating. In 1935 he helped found the film dojinshi Eiga shūdan . Writing from a left-wing perspective, he was a strong advocate of the realistic aspects of...
, Iwasaki helped produce some of the independent films made by Tadashi Imai and Satsuo Yamamoto
Satsuo Yamamoto
was a Japanese film director.Yamamoto was born in Kagoshima Prefecture on July 15, 1910. He dropped out of Waseda University to join Shochiku, where he worked as an assistant director to Mikio Naruse and others. He followed Naruse when he moved to PCL, and became a director in his own right after...
after many left-wingers were expelled from the major studios in the Red Purge.
In 1974, he was a member of the jury at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival
24th Berlin International Film Festival
The 24th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1974.-Jury:* Rodolfo Kuhn * Margaret Hinxmann* Pietro Bianchi* Gérard Ducaux-Rupp* Kurt Heinz* Akira Iwasaki* Arthur Knight* Manfred Purzer...
.