Japan’s Longest Day (1967)

Japan’s Longest Day (Nihon no ichiban naga hi)
Directed by Kihachi Okamoto
Written by Shinobu Hashimoto from a book by Soichi Oya
1967/Japan
Toho Company
First viewing/Netflix

[box] “… We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.” – Potsdam Declaration signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Chang Kai-shek[/box]

It takes real talent to make a nailbiter when the entire audience knows the eventual outcome.  Tension and suspense along with a phenomenal cast combine for a terrific movie.

The Japanese Cabinet is at loggerheads over how to respond to the Potsdam Declaration.  Military leaders are so indoctrinated with the “no surrender” code that they would actually prefer one last glorious battle losing a million people to surrender under any terms at all.  Unconditional surrender is completely out of the question.  Then, after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito takes matters into his own hands and orders any and all measures that will prevent any more Japanese deaths.  You would think a man who was worshiped as a deity could get his own way, but no, at least not right away.

The Government continues to bicker over terms but the Emperor is determined to have his way.  Finally, the Cabinet agrees on a statement which the Emperor will record and broadcast to the people.

In the meantime, the fiercely militaristic War Minister (Toshiro Mifune) struggles between his beliefs and training and his loyally to the Emperor.  Some officers in the Imperial Guard decide that they must take over the Palace and prevent the Emperor’s broadcast.  They spend much of the movie trying to win their superiors over to their side.  Then things get very bloody indeed.  With Chisu Ryu as the Prime Minister and Takashi Shimura as the Director of the Information Bureau.  Tetsuya Nakadai narrates.  Also with just about every great male supporting player from the golden days of Japanese cinema.

This grabbed me for its entire 2 1/2 hour running time.  I didn’t know what to expect and I really loved the movie.   I hadn’t known about the coup angle to the surrender and thought it was pretty darned fascinating.  And those actors!  And that score!  Recommended.