Abstract

Without him, Japanese people might never have had the opportunity to encounter European masterpieces.
Without him, the happy encounter between Japanese people and Charlie Chaplin might not have happened.
Without him, the Japanese film industry might not be what it is today.

This is the first comprehensive biography of Kawakita Nagamasa, who transcended his role as the founder and CEO of a foreign film import and distribution company (now Toho-Towa) to elevate the status of cinema in Japan and contribute significantly to the establishment of the film industry in a broader sense. With the full cooperation of the Kawakita Memorial Film Cultural Foundation, this book includes rare materials, documents, and testimonies from before and during the war, revealing the full scope of this extraordinary filmmaker.
His wife, Kashiko, known as ‘Madame Kawakita,’ dedicated her life to international exchange as a promoter of high-quality foreign films (especially European films, particularly French films) with her discerning eye. Kawakita supported her activities as a businessman.
Kawakita also aimed to export excellent Japanese films and embarked on the production of international co-production films throughout the pre-war, war, and post-war periods. After the war, he held numerous public offices and worked tirelessly to raise the status of the film industry and lay the foundations for it as an industry. The most compelling part of this book is the wartime period in Shanghai.
He managed a film organisation established by the military government in Shanghai under Japanese occupation for propaganda purposes. In contrast to Kaneko Masahiko's ‘Man'ei,’ Kawakita believed that coexisting with local filmmakers would lead to peace. Despite the harsh circumstances, his unwavering belief would later lead to activities far surpassing those of a mere businessman.

Author’s Information

Born in Ehime Prefecture in 1954. Completed a master's degree at Waseda University Graduate School of Literature in 1984. Specialises in Japanese film history and film and video policy. Joined the Film Centre at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and after serving as Senior Researcher, became an Art and Culture Research Officer (Film and Video) at the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
During his time at the Film Centre, he conducted research on the location and preservation of pre-war Japanese films remaining in the Russian Federation (owned by the ‘Manchuria Film Association’). At the Agency for Cultural Affairs, he participated in the formulation and implementation of film promotion policies, with major projects including the ‘Young Filmmaker Development Project.’ He is currently an advisor to the Visual Media Industry Promotion Organisation (VIPO), a non-profit organisation; a member of the jury for the Outstanding Foreign Film Import and Distribution Award; and a board member of the Kawakita Memorial Film Cultural Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation.