1. Considering Hedataru to Najimu what are physical and psychological distances between General Kuribayashi and Saigo?
Between the General and Saigo themselves I would say that each kind of experiences a different level with the other. It doesn't seem that the General really knows Saigo so a certain Hedataru, or seperation, exists in the form of military rank. On Saigo's end it seems he feels a level of Najimu, or attachment, for the General; He seems to admire and look up to him with some fascination and respect it seems. In terms of the two with everyone else, the General it seems, as a General, keeps a level of Hedataru with everyone, but shows Najimu especially in the form of offering to sit and have a drink with the other soldiers. Saigo has his friends and his acquaintances, he definitely feels Hedataru for Shimizu whom he really just met and has a particular dislike for, but it seems that changes as the two interact and are thrown into stressful situations together.
2. Considering Hedaturo to Najimu, how does psychological distance changed between Saigo and Shimizu. What was changed between them?
I think they both got psychologically and physically closer to each other as they spent more time with each other and learned about each others past. Especially, when Shimizu told Saigo his history and how he was expelled from the school he went to for not killing a dog and then was shipped out to Iwo Jima as punishment for that as well. This brought Saigo closer to him after he learned he wasn't there to spy on anyone and report traitorous thoughts.
3. Considerin the do spirits of japan, what kinds of aspects did you see in the film? Explain the reason you think so.
I think the military is a good example of the do spirit and in the case of this film it really shows in the interactions between officers and the troops. The troops are supposed to listen to their commanding officer and go as hard as they can, should they fail this is punishment only recoverable by suicide. This makes a bit more controversy when some of the commanding officers refused to listen to the general because they thought he was too American in his ways, especially when not allowing them to regain honor by committing suicide but ordering them to regroup at a different location.
4. Considering Hedataru to Najimu, what does drinking (for General Kuribayashi) mean?
I touched on this in the first question, but for the General I think the drinking signifies a level of respect and Najimu for the other person. The offer to drink is similar to the Lord asking his samurai vassal to sit closer, it shows that the General trusts the person and is sort of letting them into their circle, their personal space. This concept seems pretty standard in both the Japanese and American cultures. In the old days of lords and vassals, I think it varies between are cultures in that sense, but offering a drink to a friend seems pretty standard.
5. Considering hedataru to najimu and shudan ishiki, the sense of uchi to soto is more reinforced. what is the negative effect of uchi to soto? how is this shown in the film?
I think this is mainly shown between Shimizu and Saigo and the differences and feelings they have toward each other, or at least that Saigo has toward shimizu created a seperation between them. Saigo was on the inside and shimizu on the outside. It can also be shown in the nationalistic pride that all the Japanese people are sort of forced to take on, everyone has to raise a flag to support the country and the emperor and anything else is traitorous and punishable with utmost severity.
6. Considering Shudan Ishiki, what is the negative effect of group-ism in this film? Explain the scenes that demonstrate it.
There for sure is one scene in particular that sticks out in my mind as a prime example of group-ism and the negativity that it brings and that is the seppuku by grenade scene. The Japanese primary thought is that they have an objective and to fail this objective is a great dishonor redeemable only by seppuku. Seppuku is the samurai act of slicing open their stomach with their blade as an act of honor, this is translated into more modern times when the whole group (excluding a few) grab grenades and proceed to blow themselves up. This, of course, is all in defiance of the General who ordered that all remaining soldiers were to report to a different location to continue the fighting. These orders were promptly ignored by a CO and group-ism took over and one by one people were blowing up. I don't want to insult a different culture for having different beliefs by calling this stupid, but this was stupid. As an American it seems much more logical and more effective to obey the orders and go fight and kill for your country than it is to blow yourself up for it, shame redeeming or not. I digress. Shudan Ishiki, or group-ism is very evident in this scene when you have people who obviously have no desire to die, especially in this manner, blowing themselves up simply cause their neighbors are.
7. What is the connection between this film and "The Last Ronan"? Do you see "bushido" in this film? How do you think it affected this war? Explain the reasons.
The Japanese soldiers are a product of the bushido era and mindset, I think this made them a ferocious and difficult enemy to face in the war, despite the size of their country. I think it seemed like a lot of the COs and the overall mentality of the civilian population seemed to be in a Bushido mindset.
8.
No comments:
Post a Comment