Theaters, citing safety, won't show 'Yasukuni'

Cinemas have canceled the April screenings of the documentary "Yasukuni," citing potential problems or harassment over the film some have criticized as "anti-Japan," theater officials said.

All five movie theaters that had planned a first showing of the film on April 12 said they are now concerned about the safety of their facilities and customers.

Several other movie theaters said they are negotiating with Argo Pictures, the distributor of "Yasukuni," on whether to show the film from May, as initially planned.

"Yasukuni," directed by Chinese filmmaker Li Ying, is about the Shinto shrine of that name in Tokyo, where Class-A war criminals are honored along with the nation's war dead. The shrine, which China and South Korea view as a symbol of Japan's military aggression before and during World War II, has long been a sticking point in diplomatic relations, especially when Japanese politicians pray for the souls of those enshrined there.

Argo Pictures had agreed with the five movie theaters--four in Tokyo and one in Osaka--to show "Yasukuni" from April 12. Shinjuku Wald9 in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward told the distributor on March 15 that it would not show the documentary.

The four others have since followed suit: Ginza Cine Pathos in Tokyo's Chuo Ward; Q-AX Cinema in Shibuya Ward; Cinemart Roppongi in Minato Ward; and Cinemart Shinsaibashi in Osaka.

According to Humax Cinema Inc., operator of Ginza Cine Pathos, right-wing sound trucks started circling the movie theater around March 20.

"Showing the film could create problems for our customers. So we decided on the move voluntarily," an official of Humax Cinema said.

A fund affiliated with the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs extended 7.5 million yen in public subsidies in fiscal 2006 for production of the documentary.

"Generally speaking, opportunities to show movies or other cultural works must not be hampered by outside harassment," said Akira Shimizu, chief of the Arts and Culture Division of the agency.

A group of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Tomomi Inada, raised questions about using public subsidies for "Yasukuni." A special preview of the film was held for all Diet members on March 12.

Inada said Monday that the preview was intended to see if the use of the subsidies was justified, not to check on the film's portrayal of Japan's history. "We cast doubts only on one point--whether the use of public subsidies for the movie was appropriate or not," she said.

The lawmakers said many on the production staff were Chinese and that the film used photos of the 1937 Nanking Massacre whose authenticity, they say, is questionable.

Inada said she felt the film's "ideological message" was to portray Yasukuni Shrine as apparatus that mobilized Japanese people for a war of aggression.

"The movie (presents a view) entirely different from my way of thinking, but I can see that a lot of effort was put into this work," Inada said.

She also said freedom of expression and freedom of political activities are protected in Japan, and that politicians' criticism of a film should never lead to the cancellation of a screening.

"It is regrettable that all (five) movie theaters have canceled the screening," she said.

The Directors Guild of Japan, led by filmmaker Yoichi Sai, said the special preview for the lawmakers has had a negative effect on freedom of expression.

"We strongly protest the actions and comments made by some Diet members to demand a special preview of the film," the guild said in a statement Monday. "It is obvious that such a move psychologically suppresses filmmakers' free and creative activities."(IHT/Asahi: April 2,2008)