THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE

東日本大震災

Akama Shingi

Japan/30min./2011

The coastline of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi suffered the most severe damage and recorded the highest number of casualties in the Great East Japan Earthquake. Why couldn’t we save lives? Were the lessons from the tsunami in 1896 and 1933 not learned? There are many issues to consider to determine the cause. Seeing the damage done at our very own headquarters, I started recording in order to leave some records behind for the next generation. We recorded 25 hours worth of footage. We decided to give it a simple structure and use inter-titles and testimonies without any narration. We tried to present facts rather than analysis or interpretations. That’s because we want the audience to consider many issues. At one grade school, almost 70% of the children lost their lives. At another school, everyone was saved because they practiced emergency procedures. Many rushed to the designated evacuation spot only to go missing. No one expected tsunami of this magnitude. What was it that divided life and death? In the town of Ogachimachi in Ishinomaki City, there’s a stone monument that says “Be Aware of Tsunami When Earthquake Occurs.” It was a warning from the generation before us. There are so much we need to record and leave behind for the next generation.
Title in English THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
Title in Original Language 東日本大震災
Director(s) Akama Shingi
Director's Bio/Filmography Born on July 10th 1934 in Ishinomaki City (Miyagi). Akama graduated from Department of Economy at Rikkyo University. He joined Sendai Television inc. and produced “Tsuetto wa konakatta”, “Hashire Kikansha” and others. His television works such as “Kita no taiga” and “Fuyumichi no anzen hikou” won various awards. He also directs industrial videos for school and government institutions.
Year of Completion 2011
Nationality of the Film Japan
Running Time 30 min.
Aspect Ratio Video: 16:9
Color Color
Screening Format DVD
Shooting Locations Coast in Ishinomaki City, around Shin Kitakami River, around Oshika Peninsula, Higashi matsushima City and Onagawa Town (Miyagi)
Shooting Dates/Periods March 13, 2011 - April 30, 2011
Names of Characters
Language of Commentary and Dialogue Japanese,
Subtitles English,
Date of First Public Screening 2011/8/30
Place of First Public Screening (Country) Japan
Date of First Public Screening in Japan 2011/8/30
Previous Screenings at Other Film Festivals and Events
Staff Credits Script: Akama Shingi
Photography: Takahashi Kenji
Editing: Atsumi Atsushi
Sound: Atsumi Atsushi
Producer Video Plaza Kanagawa Inc.
Distributor / Distribution Company Video Plaza Kanagawa Inc. Media Section
Official Website for the Film
Other Online Access to the film
Screenings at the Past YIDFF Programs and Events YIDFF 2011
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