Confession: ANPO wasn't exactly what I thought I was signing on for, but that's not a bad thing. The doc was actually quite illuminating on a subject that I knew precious little about...and contained enough stunning artwork to send me home happy.
ANPO is the Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty that was signed between Japan and USA back in 1960. In short, it states that both countries assume an obligation to back one another in the case of armed conflict, and develop capacities to resist such an attack. The controversy of ANPO stems from the fact that within the agreement, there is an article that allows The United States to station troops and military bases on the islands of Japan.
Suffice it to say, that the Japanese government agreed to this a mere fifteen years after WWII didn't go down so well. Indeed there were mass protests, calls of corruption, demands for voices to be heard...all of which were unilaterally denied. The Japanese signed the agreement, and to this day, America has bases and military personnel on the islands of Japan.
One intriguing side effect to this anti-ANPO movement, is that it has created some startling moving artwork and photography. The doc is filled with work by such artists as Aida Makato, Nakamura Hiroshi, Kazama Sachiko, and Ishii Shigeo amongst many others.
The presentation of this doc was a little bit dry - especially given the lavish artwork on display, but that can't take away from the story of this very moving issue. A story many of us in the west are ill-informed about, and a story that still continues to be debated in Japan.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
TIFF Review: ANPO
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2 comments:
Foreign policy covered on film. Things like this and senate committee hearings in Iron Man 2 always bring out the poli-sci geek in me.
It doesn't really presnet much of an issue now, but back then I imagine the treaty signing process must have looked like Japan with it's arm being twisted behind it's back.
@ Fitz... Still an issue that's sparking protests today bud. A sovereign nation that was defeated in war sixty-some years ago is still giving up land and airspace to the country that defeated them.
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