One of a series of extraordinary home movies shot in Occupied Japan immediately after WWII, this film shows a visit to Towada-Hachimantai National Park.The man who filmed these was a Harvard graduate (’43) and U.S. Army Intelligence Officer named Robert Ryan. Ryan may have very well worked for the OSS, although it’s not clear. He definitely worked as an instructor at the U.S. Army’s AFFE Intelligence School, and toured Vietnam in the early 1960s to conduct strategic vulnerability surveys. These films dates to the period July 1947-May 1951, when Ryan served in the Department of Defense in the Geographic Branch, Theater Intelligence Division, Far East Command. During this time he served in Occupied Japan and in the Korean theater.
The film begins with shots of peasants (1:04) winnowing rice using traditional methods. At (1:25) a brown touring car idles while a picnic is served. At (1:39) the winnowing process continues. At (3:13) are shots of a large concrete dam. (It’s not identified easily as there are many dams in Japan.) At (6:27) a boat trip through a gorge, possibly Sumatakyo Gorge, Shizuoka Prefecture. At (6:36) a suspension bridge is visible. If it is the Sumatakyo Gorge, this is the Sumata River. At (7:02) more shots of the dam. At (9:10) a visit to an unidentified temple. At (10:30), a American car — probably a 1949 Buick Super 50, 51 or Super Sedanet — drives through the countryside, which is dotted with waterfalls and fall foliage. At (11:03), Japanese in white traditional outfits walk down a rural road, beating on small drums. At (11:55), the roof of a traditional thatch house is repaired, and at (12:26) lumber prepared for an addition. At (12:57) Naga-imo or Japanese Mountain Yam are on display at a farmer’s house. At (13:29) a small water wheel is shown. At (14:05) sign for Totaki. At (15;12) a sign from inside Towada-Hachimantai National Park is shown, indicating that the Kumoi no Taki Waterfall (Towada) is nearby. The film ends with scenes at (16:58) of a car being put onto a railroad flatcar, so that the journey can continue.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
