Know Your Enemy: Japan 1945

The film opens with a statement emphasizing that Japanese Americans valiantly fought for the United States, standing for core values like “freedom” and “liberty”. It clarifies that the subsequent content does not portray all Japanese people as aggressors but rather focuses specifically on Japanese natives who are depicted as the aggressors. The narrative then dives into the lives of members of the Imperial Japanese Army, primarily highlighting their appearance and diet rather than their military tactics or strategies. This approach suggests a focus on the uniformity and sameness among soldiers, describing them as “as alike as photographic prints off the same negative,” implying a lack of individual distinction.

A significant part of the film discusses the devotion of Japanese soldiers to Emperor Hirohito, portraying him as the divine figure they entrust with immense powers. The narration states that the Japanese revere Hirohito similarly to how Western nations might view their leaders, claiming that “entrusting to one man the powers of the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Premier of Soviet Russia” resonates with their concept of Hirohito. The film refers to him as the “God-Emperor,” emphasizing his divine status in the eyes of his people.

Further, it explains the divinity of Hirohito, asserting that this divine origin is shared with the entire Japanese nation, thus reinforcing a sense of national unity and divine right. The film then discusses Shinto, Japan’s native religion, describing it as a “quaint religion” that “until 1870 was just a quaint custom”, until a militaristic and expansionist doctrine was woven into it. This doctrine, rooted in the beliefs of Jimmu, the first emperor, promoted the idea of “Hakkō Ichiu” — a concept meaning “all the world under one roof.” The film portrays this as a fanatical pursuit for world domination, linked to the divine authority given to the emperor.

The Yasukuni Shrine, a significant Shinto shrine where all of Japan’s war dead are enshrined, is highlighted as a sacred site from which the spirits of fallen soldiers will return. The narration suggests that if you are Japanese, these beliefs are ingrained, but it prompts viewers to wonder about the true nature of Japan from a geographical, anthropological,, and historical perspective.

The film then counterbalances the idea of “pure divine blood” in Japanese people with the notion that it is merely a “plasma cocktail”, hinting at questions about racial purity. It provides a historical overview, claiming that power was historically held by daimyōs and samurai, with the Emperor wielding little real political influence. The samurai, with their Bushido code, are condemned for sanctioning treachery and double dealing, which the film suggests were perceived as an art form.

A critique of Western influence follows, noting the expulsion of Christianity and the isolation of Japan for 200 years, as reactions against Western teachings of peace and equality—elements portrayed as threatening to Japan’s traditional ways. The Western advances during the Age of Enlightenment are contrasted with Japan’s stagnant isolation until the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853, which is presented as the breakpoint for modernization.

During the Meiji Restoration, the film notes the Westernization of Japan, claiming that it was used by warlords to further their own ambitions, and describes the elimination of the Shogunate in 1868, elevating the Emperor as a symbolic figurehead. However, it claims real power remained with the warriors who guided the Emperor’s policies. The Tanaka Memorial, a questioned forgery allegedly outlining Japan’s plans for world conquest, is invoked as evidence of Japan’s true ambitions.

Throughout, warlords are depicted as maintaining power by rejecting Western moral principles, instead controlling the flow of information to the Japanese people, filtering and altering it to serve their interests. The film emphasizes that despite modemization, most Japanese continued living and working in medieval-style conditions, and urban workers still led lifestyles reminiscent of ages past.

The expansionist and militaristic actions of Japan during World War II are explained as an extension of the warlords’ control over society. The film concludes with a reflection on Japan’s wartime circumstances in 1945, implying that the warlords’ influence was the root cause of Japan’s aggressive behavior. The narrative paints a picture of a nation caught between divine destiny and traditional power structures, which ultimately led to its militaristic pursuits during the war.

Overall, this documentary-style film presents a complex view of Japan’s historical evolution, emphasizing divinity, tradition, and wartime expansion, making it clear that the real power was often hidden behind traditional institutions and belief systems that fueled Japan’s aggressive expansion during the early 20th century.