Japan surrendered 65 years ago today. Here are 10 Japanese war films about why they lost (w/video)

United States Naval Institute ^ | September 2, 2010 | United States Naval Institute

[Saint X]

Any Japanese film concerning WWII is going to be closely scrutinized by Japanese and international audiences alike. Most Japanese films produced in the first few decades following the war focus on human tragedy while keeping away from anything that could be construed as glorifying combat or defending Japan’s military adventurism. To avoid possible offense, American and Allied Forces in Japanese productions have usually been faceless, instead being represented by their machines of war (as opposed to contemporary Hollywood productions that often include rather negative stereotypes of Japanese soldiers). Americans and the Allied Forces are also rarely even named, usually referred to simply as the “enemy".

However, Japanese films generally fail to explain the cause of the war, which has led to a spate of recent movies that cast Japan in a more sympathetic light. With bigger budgets and slicker production values than the stark and repenting post-war movies, these films portray a more romantic view of the fight against the West where Japan is a victim, not the aggressor. As Japanese films become more revisionist, great concern has already be expressed about the next generation of movies such as the forthcoming The Truth about Nanjing which will boldy dismiss war atrocities as Chinese propaganda. The film's director has stated that the Japanese leaders executed for war crimes are martyrs like Jesus Christ.

[Ax]

You are correct. All the warning signs were there. Also, there were some seriously bad atmospherics in Hawaii that morning and signals relayed from DC via CA didn’t make it through. They had to rely on commercial teletype via the undersea cable to pass the intel to Admiral Kimmel and General Short. The message got there after the attack had begun.

[chimera]

There was some luck in timing when the US planes pressed the attack. But the commanders were willing to be aggressive and take advantage of the opening they had, and the bravery of the Navy aviators in taking on obviously superior forces were also contributing factors. You have to be bold and take advantage of luck when it comes your way. We paid a heavy price in losses, but sure gave a lot more than we took.

[Borges]

You think FDR was actively helping the Axis cause?

[Borges]

You think FDR was actively helping the Axis cause?

[Borges]

Sorry for the double post.

[Ev Reeman]

When one reads about the true events leading up to the Pearl Harbor sneak attack, many of the problems and signals were either ignored or neglected by higher ups, people in authority, heads of state or cabinet level positions or by the military itself. It was disgraceful to say the least.

[Ev Reeman]

While the country was isolationist, FDR wanted to find a way to get us involved in order to help the Allies other than the under the table help we were already providing them.

He got it with Pearl Harbor.

Only I do not think he imagined the horror that would happen as a result.

Whether or not he knew or not is moot. There was a huge collapse of common sense among both politicians in high office and the military.

[Ax]

From what I’ve read I(I wasn’t around at the time), nobody in the upper echelons was too concerned, it being Sunday morning and all. Even on Oahu, the radarmen secured at 0600.