In Japan, ritual is tangible, and respect is as necessary as food and water. In their absence, the social contract erodes, and violence can result. This is evidenced in the most dramatic terms at Yasukuni, Japan’s Shinto shrine to 2.46 million soldiers who have died in the name of the Japanese emperor. Here honor meets history in daily gatherings of worshippers, visitors, and, increasingly, protesters.

To many in Asia, Yasukuni represents Japan’s militaristic past. Some, like South Koreans and Taiwanese, want their ancestors removed because they were forced to serve the emperor. Others believe the soldiers who were convicted of war crimes should not be honored at the shrine. For many Japanese, however, all the soldiers are heroes and their memories revered. The controversy has swept Asia, where South Koreans, Chinese, Taiwanese, and others carry the traumatic memories of such events as the massacre of 300,000 Chinese in Nanking, and the Japanese history of dominating countries in the region.

For award-winning, Chinese-born filmmaker Li Ying, “Yasukuni is like a stage, and all these people reveal themselves upon it.” In this bold cinematic observation, Li combines stunning archival footage with vérité interviews and scenes of the oldest living swordsmith crafting his last ritual sword, or yasukunitou, for the shrine. Throughout, he explores the meaning of war, honor, memory, and oblivion at this most important Japanese shrine.

Li Ying - Born in 1963, Li Ying began directing documentary films for China Central Television (CCTV) in 1984. In 1993, he cofounded Dragon Films Inc. to create both TV programs and films. His first film, 2H, was made in 1998. Since then, he has worked in both Japan and China on films that integrate aspects of documentaries and narrative features. His unique method of filmmaking has been praised at many international film festivals.

Screenings:

Fri. January 18, 6:30pm, Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden
Sun. January 20, 1:00pm, Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City
Mon. January 21, 7:30pm, Broadway Centre Cinemas VI, SLC
Thu. January 24, 12:15pm, Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Sat. January 26, 3:15pm, Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Yunhui Zhang
Dragonfilms Inc.
Suzuki Apartments 303
5-12-10 Harajuku, Shibuya-ku.
Tokyo 150-0001
Japan

+03 5466 5788
info@dragonfilms.co.jp