[1947 HOME MOVIE TRIP TO OCCUPIED JAPAN]

Genre: home movie

Description:

This untitled color silent home movie from 1947 was shot by U.S. Army Col. Arthur Thayer. It provides a snapshot of Occupied Japan, blending traditional Japanese culture and natural landscapes with glimpses of American military presence. Japan was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945 until 1952. The film opens with scenes of what is apparently the Will Rogers Estate in Beverly Hills / Los Angeles before shifting to Japan, with sequences of American soldiers, local Shinto festivals, and Hinoki cypress tree forests. Further highlights include farmers tilling soil with horse-drawn plows and views of iconic Mt. Fuji from multiple perspectives. (Note: Prior to moving to the more famous ranch in the Pacific Palisades, Rogers' family had a house in Beverly Hills. It may be that this is the home shown, as it's clearly not the one in Will Rogers Park.)

Film opens; Various shots of grounds and home of Will Rogers Estate in Los Angeles (0:08). Young American girl sits beside blooming oleander tree (0:40). Soldiers stand at attention holding US Army 2-Star Major General Service Flags and 3 Star Army Lieutenant General Flags (2:05). Waves crash along rocky coastline (2:25). Forest of Hinoki cypress trees (2:43). Chindon'ya (street peddler performer) plays shamisen (a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument) strapped to his chest (3:02). Montage shots various flora and fauna (3:21). Japanese Shinto festival taking place in local town featuring a large float or drum with the mitsudomoe symbol (consists of three comma-like shapes in a circular pattern and associated with Shinto festivals); Men shirtless and wear white shorts (3:55). Aerial view of Western-style garden, perhaps on diplomatic compound; Montage shots of Western-style estate or diplomatic residence (4:30). Baby boy stands in front of street cart selling paper flowers "washi no hana" resembling cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, or other blooms, often sold at festivals (5:04). Montage shots capturing frenetic energy of streets during festival, pedestrian traffic along streets dressed in mix of “Western” dress and traditional Japanese kimonos (5:08). Bucket filled with persimmons, usually symbolize abundance, good fortune, and longevity around time of harvest (5:47). Footage becomes dark, silhouettes of festival-goers walking along cobblestone road (5:57). Appears some people performing “Ja Odori” (Dragon Dance) (6:30). Festival participants wear black outfits with matching headpieces featuring golden disc (6:49). Floats carried throughout temple grounds (7:16). White waters of rapidly flowing river framed by red, green, and brown hues of fall foliage (8:06). Cascading waterfall, perhaps Kirifuri Falls (8:48). Farmers operate horse-drawn plow (likely Kiso horse) to till soil (9:10). Members of military and their wives at some sort of reception or social gathering with some Japanese dignitaries (9:33). Military officer accompanied by woman and man on walk through perhaps Kirifuri Highland (9:54). View of farms and farmland in fertile green valley from lookout point (10:23). What appears to be reservoir water amid Kirifuri Highland (10:30). Snow-covered peak of Mt. Fuji (11:13). View of perhaps one of Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) (11:24). Montage shots of Mt. Fuji taken from different vantage points including looking across from Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) (11:42). Shots of multicolored foliage - red, yellow, green hues - dotting lake coastline (12:52). Miniature Shinto shrine "hokora" on roadside (13:23). Farmers seem to rhythmically thrash down on grass on farm (13:36). Little girl sweeps village road while carrying younger sibling on back (14:30). Film ends (14:58).