As it states on their page:

"[we will be continually adding new titles and more information to the titles currently under construction] This web site has grown out of the Center for Japanese Studies’ (CJS) annual film festivals. CJS at the University of Michigan is the oldest interdisciplinary institute in the United States devoted to research on Japan and the training of Japanese teaching specialists. As part of its public outreach program the Center has been screening Japanese films for a number of years. At first, on an "as we could get them" basis, but since the early 1970s, 10-20 films annually in two different film series. CJS has shown over 300 films including documentaries, animation, classics, experimental films, and popular titles, most in their original Japanese with English subtitles. Currently we have both a summer and fall film series. While accessible to everyone, the information here has been set up primarily for teachers who are looking to integrate films into their teachings on Japan, or things Japanese. As a result the pages contain complete plot information (we give the plot away), so if you don't want to know how the story ends don't read the plot information. The commentary, plot information, notes, and references are provided as a starting point for an exploration of these films and Japan, they are not meant to be the last word on these films. Please take them as such. Film print availability is listed because of the difficulty in locating distributors of Japanese prints. These pages are not supported by any film companies, rather we provide this information as a guide to helping you find films (not video tapes). For general help in locating prints see the Kinema Club pages"

The films of Akira Kurosawa are a major contribution to film arts. His films have impacted upon major film makers of the United States to include George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese and others. "The Hidden Fortress", a film apparently from the Sengoku Period, features Toshiro Mifune as a General Rokurota who is attempting to rescue a princess from opposing forces after her clan was attacked and dessimated.

George Lucas has directly indicated that this Kurosawa film was a source of inspiration for characters and incidental plots in his Star Wars films. Kurosawa Sensei drew from the wealth of literature to give us Jidai Geki (Period Pieces) which came from sources such as Shakespeare's MacBeth - (Throne of Blood), King Lear - (Ran), Rashomon (Akutagawa Ryunosuke), and historical figures such as in the film "Kagemusha" (about the Warlord Takeda Shingen of the Sengoku Period). "Men Who Tread on Tiger's Tail" was based on the kabuki play regarding the tragic circumstances of Yoshitsune Minamoto and his faithful retainer Benkei. The kabuki play on which "Men Who Tread on Tiger's Tail" is based is titled "Kajincho" and a similarly related piece from the Noh Drama is titled "Ataka".

Kurosawa's film, "The Lower Depths", explored the desperation of the outcast society, known at various times in Japanese society as the Eta or the Burakumin, basically meaning that his was the untouchable society who lived outside the city limits due largely to the fact that these individuals primarily dealt with dead animals or the leather trade and were considered unclean in a culture which took great stock in ritual and physical cleanliness.

"Shichi Nin no Samurai", which was the direct inspiration for the American Western Classic - "The Magnificent Seven" with Yul Brenner, is nearly 3 hours in length, but this is perhaps my favorite film . "Yojimbo" was the inspiration for one of the first films which came to be known as spaghetti westerns and launched the film career of Clint Eastwood in his portrayal of a drifter who says little but shoots, and generally thinks, pretty fast to overcome the ambitions of two rival gangs who have taken over a town and are destroying it for the local townspeople through rampant greed and corruption. This same plot line was used in a film of - in my opinion - lesser status, which is titled "Last Man Standing" featuring Bruce Willis.

Besides period pieces, rom Kurosawa's own personal imaginings and dreams (in fact he produced a film of short stories called "Dreams") come many other films which are classic and entertaining, as well as educationally viable in addressing such topics as dialect, historic periods, society and societal problems, as well as aspirations and dreams found within the world of his characters. "Dreams" deals with folklore and a child's perception, soldiers returning from World War II with regrets and sorrow over lost comrades, the ghostly story of Yuki Onna, and a cinematic nightmare regarding nuclear fallout and world devastation. As such, "Dreams" is a good film to use for Halloween time in a class, either in segments or in total. As for the horror genre, it is interesting to note that Kurosawa also worked closely with Inoshiro Honda and Tomoyuki Tanaka who were responsible for the production and release of Godzilla films from the outset of the Monster. Akira Kurosawa surrounded himself with a troupe of actors which he developed as ensemble players.

One of these players was Toshiro Mifune, perhaps best known to American audiences as the Shogun to be in James Clavell's lengthy miniseries with Richard Chamberlain. In this miniseries, SHOGUN, Mifune loosely portrays Ieyasu Tokugawa of the Sengoku Period who ultimately established the Tokugawa Shogunate which lasted for more than 260 years.

Akira Kurosawa was honored by the Acadamy Awards of 26 March 1990 with a lifetime achievement award and his films continue to provide a wealth of entertainment through VHS and DVD. I recommend nearly all of Kurosawa's works as an absolutely essential part of Japanese education because of the depth and breadth of his cultural, historical and linguistic explorations which bridged gaps between traditional Japanese theatre forms, classical Shakespearean dramas, and good old fashioned American westerns. If you don't incorporate anything else into your language classes, at least avail yourself to the interdisciplinary education you can provide with using films such as Ran, Throne of Blood, Shichi Nin No Samurai and Yojimbo into your lesson plans. These films and their British or American related counterparts are priceless in making connections and communication.

The Films of Akira Kurosawa - Richie, Donald, ISBN: 0-520-20026-8, U of California, 1996

Seven Samurai and Other Screenplays - Akira Kurosawa/Richie, IBNS: 0-571-16224-x, 1992

The Western - Fenin, George & Everson, Wm, ISBN: 0-1400-4416-7 Penguin 1973

Clint Eastwood - McCabe, Bob, ISBN: 0-517-18449-4 Crescent Books

Mr. Smith Goes to Tokyo (under the American occupation) - Hirano, Kyoko, ISBN: 1-560098-402-3 Smithsonian Inst., 1992

Peasants, Rebels and Outcasts -The underside of Modern Japan, Mikiso Hane, ISBN: 0-394-71040-1, 1982

Shogun - Clavell, James, ISBN: 0-440-17800-2, Dell, 1975

Kwaidan (kowaidan) - Hearn. Lafcadio, ISBN: 0-8048-0948-2, Charles E. Tuttle 1998

Individualism and the Japanese (1st Ed.) - Yamazaki, Masakazu (Sugihara), ISBN: 4-915226-09-3, Japan Echo, 2000

Harp of Burma - Takeyama, Michio( trans Hibbett), ISBN: 0-8048-0232-7, Charles E. Tuttle, 1987

The Bridge Over the River Kwai - Boulle, Pierre, 33rd printing, Bantam Paperback, 1968

With regards to these last two reference, I find that these two films make an excellent companion set in my third year classes. Harp of Burma (Biruma no Tategoto) by director Kon Ichikawa is a striking film, set in Burma near the end of the war. It is based on the novel by Takeyama Michio which is listed above, and, atleast as one theme which can be taken to explore, addresses the similarities between fighting men of opposing armies. As Americans, we can recognize some of the emotions faced by men in a foreign land fighting for a cause, and arriving at a point in their lives when they must come to terms with inner spiritual needs. There is a strong music connection with this film, particularly with the performance of Stephen Foster's "There's No Place Like Home", which proves to be a pivotal element in the outcome for the soldiers in one Japanese command. Within this film, an example of the Buddhist philosophy that an ideal follower is one who is motivated by compassion to perform deeds which cultivate the six Buddhist virtues of generosity, morality, patience, zeal, concentration, and wisdom is brought out by the protagonist, Mizushima. The director, Kon Ichikawa began his career as an animator, and is also the director for Dagger of Kamui which is listed in the Anime section.

I generally show the "Bridge on the River Kwai" and use web resources as well as resources from the DVD notes and the book to highlight the difference between fiction and reality. Pierre Boulle wrote the book upon which the film is based, and did not base the book on fact. It is actually historically inaccurate because the ending in the film when compared to historical reality is vastly different. I will refrain from telling you the ending of the movie because it would ruin the climax of the film, if you haven't seen it. I do suggest further study regarding the history of the River Kwai Bridge, and will point out that it was a severe, deadly and horrendous time for those forced to build it. However, it served as a functional bridge up to the late 1940's if my memory serves me correctly, and brings out attitudes and differences between Americans, British and Japanese military men.

I also use this film to incorporate an article published by JAPAN ECHO Vol. 26, No. 6, December 1999,

Prisoners in Burma, THE ANGLO-JAPANESE HOSTILITIES FROM A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE.

There is a distinct possibility that there really is a flavor of bias and bigotry being protrayed in the film. In order to examine and evaluate reality, one of the topics we address in class is that of racial discrimination. We approach it from the Japanese perspective as found in the Prisoners of Burma article and by examining the historical actions of the United States government. Before World War II, America denied citizenship to any Asian people's unless they were born here. We examine information about the concentration camps set up in America, and the relocation of thousands of Japanese-Americans to these camps, as well as the patriotism demonstrated by the 442nd Battalion which was stationed in Europe and composed of Japanese Americans who were only allowed to fight in Germany. Much of this information can be resourced more completely to your needs by using the internet and concentrating on issues which come up with students as your film viewing prompts discussion.

The Kikuchi Diary (Chronicle from and American Concentration Camp) - Kikuchi, Charles, ISBN: 0-252-06283-3, Univ. of Ill .Press, 1993

The Samurai Trilogy, of which the three films are known as Samurai I Musashi Miyamoto, Samurai II - Duel at Ichijoji Temple and Samurai III - Duel at Ganryu Island feature Toshiro Mifune as the Samurai who became known as a Sword Saint (Kenshi). This historical figure, Miyamoto Musashi, figures prominently during the latter days of the Warring States periold (Sengoku) and actually survived the battles he participated in when he was on the side opposing the Tokugawa forces. As he matured, he cultivated skill and discipline in a variety of artistic forms, and excelled in carving, sumi-e, the making of sword guards, and writing. His Book of Five Rings (Go rin no Sho) is still a popular book of strategy today, which has been co-opted by American businessmen to study corporate tactics. Besides the translation of his book by Victor Harris, there is a newer translation which has been made by Thomas Cleary.

Musashi - Yoshikawa, Eiji, ISBN: 4-7700-1957-2, Kodansha, 1995

The Book of Five Rings - Musashi Miyamoto/Harris, Victor, ISBN: 73-33986, 1974

Musashi (paperback)- Yoshikawa, Eijo ISBN: 0-671-67721-7, Pocket Books 1989

The Western, Fenin, G. & Everson, W., ISBN 0-1400-4416-7, Penguin, 1973

---