HOME MOVIES: 1950 OCCUPIED JAPAN

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1950

Format: 16mm

Description: One of a series of extraordinary home movies shot in Occupied Japan immediately after WWII, this film shows scenes shot in 1950, probably at the Sugadaira Ski Resort, located in Nagano Prefecture. The man who filmed these was a Harvard graduate ('43) and U.S. Army Intelligence Officer named Robert Ryan. Ryan may have very well worked for the OSS, although it's not clear. He definitely worked as an instructor at the U.S. Army's AFFE Intelligence School, and toured Vietnam in the early 1960s to conduct strategic vulnerability surveys. These films dates to the period July 1947-May 1951, when Ryan served in the Department of Defense in the Geographic Branch, Theater Intelligence Division, Far East Command. During this time he served in Occupied Japan and in the Korean theater. The film begins with shots of a ski pole writing the words "Sugadaira" and "1950" in the snow (:50). At (1:11) a rope line, which moved skiers up the mountain before the ski lift was built, is visible. Skiers are shown negotiating the slopes before getting back on the tow line (3:00). At (3:55) a pack horse is shown on the base, bringing up behind it a sledge full of luggage. At (4:22) a skier puts on his skis and at (4:56) they set out for some cross country skiing. At (6:30) the cross country skiers are seen high on the mountain. A big vista (7:05) is filmed as the skiers rest and have a cigarette. At (8:59) what appears to be an active volcano is visible. This is probably Mount Asama, which erupted in September of 1950. At (9:15) the group of hikers / cross country skiers reach the summit of a mountain, where a small monument is examined. The group then skis down the slopes.

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