An official US War Department film restricted in nature and produced by the US Army Pictorial Service, “The Japanese Army and Navy” is a black-and-white creation that “has been assembled from Japanese films and is designed for use in the Civil Affairs Training Schools conducted by The Provost Marshal General.” With that introduction, the World War II-era film opens at mark 00:48 by explaining the “Code of the Samarai” — highlighted by devotion to duty “and a loyalty to a Divine Emperor that gives in death its last full measure of allegiance.” (During World War II, that allegiance was to Emperor Hirohito).
Japanese officers are trained in swordsmanship such as kendo or kenjutsu, as a demonstration of such martial arts skills is shown at mark 01:15. Fencing, the viewer is told, is an important combat training regimen, and also promotes stamina and alertness. Judo also has an influence on the Japanese character, it is said at mark 03:07, as synchronized movements are shown on the screen.
Military training is ingrained in Japanese youth from an early age, the narrator explains. For a boy, training begins at age 6 and by age 12 he is in uniform and participating in annual maneuvers. By the age of 19, he is ready for induction. Demonstrations of strength and teamwork by Japanese soldiers and marines follow, and at mark 06:42 we are told, “The public claims the army as its own and looks to it for leadership.”
The picture switches focus to the Imperial Navy at mark 08:37, but again, stresses the importance of training and regular maneuvers. In 1906, we are told, Admiral Togo Heihachiro explained, “Heaven gives the crown of victory only to those who by habitual training win without fighting and forthwith deprives of that crown those who content with one success give themselves up to the enemies of peace.” (Although Japan relied heavily on its army during WW2, the navy was charged with defending communication lines and territorial waters). The narrator continues to discuss various maneuvers implemented by Japan’s army and navy as training and combat scenes play out.
“Many Japanese soldiers are so determined to die on the battlefield that they conduct their own public funerals before leaving for the front … It is admired as the spirit of the true samurai who enters the battle with no thought of his return unless victorious,” the narrator says at mark 13:36, as continued fighting scenes are shown. At mark 16:34, the viewer is told that the mantra for Japanese infantrymen is that “the enemy forces will be annihilated.”
More training scenes are shown, as the narrator again explains the devotion of the Japanese soldier to the Emperor. “Through the youth of Japan, the army seeks to build within the nation a denial of self, an ardent loyalty. A devotion that glorifies death for the Emperor as life’s greatest reward.” Hirihito is shown beginning at mark 20:30 reviewing the Imperial Fleet at the harbor at Yokohama.
Scenes of Japanese sailors and soldiers continue, and near mark 23:00, the narrator explains that there is some discord between the two branches of service, with the army more politically minded and therefore more able to able to gain appropriation and public support for their positions.
“Into the spirits of soldiers like these had been infused the savage exhilaration of battle,” says the narrator at mark 27:15, as we see infantrymen gathered together.
The final few minutes of the informative film are dedicated to Japanese military hospitals and medical hospitals, as numerous scenes of recovering soldiers are shown, along with images of Japanese troops training for winter maneuvers in the blinding snow.
“The Japanese are still in a strong position,” says the narrator at mark 34:13. “It will require a great effort to defeat this closely knit, fanatically stubborn power.”
