Japan’s Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) is launching sales on their first theatrical documentary Education And Nationalism, participating in the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) for the first time.
The controversial film is also the first theatrical feature directed by award-winning journalist Hisayo Saika.
“Since Education And Nationalism deals with some of the very important historical issues between Korea and Japan during and after World War II, ACFM is the ideal market at the best timing for us to introduce this film to Korean buyers and audiences as well as those from other countries,” said Yoshimitsu Naohara, international business manager, content strategy division, MBS.
The documentary deals with how right-wing political interference has put pressure on Japanese textbook publishers and others to erase any mention of anything that puts the country in a bad light, including mention of Second World War “comfort women” - sex slaves to the imperial army.
Arata Iura narrates the documentary, which features personages such as the recently deceased Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan.
First released on May 13 in Japan, the film is still being screened in theatres there.
”Education And Nationalism has already gained huge attention domestically in Japan since its release in May 2022, but we strongly feel that this film should be seen by people, young and old, in Korea, China and other countries that were affected by the misconduct by Japanese military during the war,” said Naohara.
“Director Hisayo Saika has been attacked as “anti-Japanese” and “traitor” by the right-wingers ever since she first broadcast a TV documentary programme on this issue in 2017, but she never gave in to the hate campaign or pressure from the public or the politics and continued her reporting which led to this theatrical version with additional coverage.”
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