Prewar Proletarian Film Collection: Newsletters and Leaflets from the Censors
Few official records from the prewar censors are available to today's researcher, making this section of the collection particularly precious for study. It is also a wonderful sample of the riches to be found in the Makino Collection. During the era of the proletarian film movements, anyone wanting to print a newsletter or a leaflet had to submit a copy for censorship. Only after the censors passed the text could it be distributed publicly. The documents below are the copies kept by the censors for their own records. The markings show both the changes they demanded, as well as the topics that interested in them in the first place. Above and beyond these matters of state censorship, the collection evidences the vibrancy of the proletarian film movements. Most of these documents were produced in conjunction with a multifront strike against a theater chain. Virtually all histories of the proletarian film movement concentrate on criticism and film production, and then even to the exclusion of all groups besides Prokino. These unusual billets and newsletters hint at what was going on in the commercial theaters and outside of the high-profile activities of Prokino.
Leaflet, Puroretaria Eiga (c1928)
This leaflet advertises the upcoming inaugural issue of Puroretaria Eiga. It explains the self-criticism of the publishers of Eiga Kojo andEiga Kaiho that led to the formation of the Puroretaria Eiga Renmei and the creation of this new journal.
Leaflet, Geki (c1928)
This appears to be the leaflet of an independent group of supporters for the Puroretaria Eiga Renmei. Their name is the Proletarian Film Readers League, and they are promoting the first issue of the Renmei's Puroretaria Eiga.
Proletarian Film Night (January 18-19, 1931)
This leaflet advertises the first screening of Prokino films organized by the Prokino affiliate in Osaka. It had been delayed because of police pressure. But with the backup of the Tokyo head office, they managed to stage this event. The films were basically the same as those in the third screening event in Tokyo. The leaflet prints the price of tickets: general audiences were charged 80 or 50 sen, depending on the seats. Workers got in for 30.
Shinko Kinema Sogidan Nyusu 29 (May 23, 1932)
General news about activities at Shinko Kinema studios.
Leaflet, Kobayashi-kei Oboegaki Kaisho no Inbo o Tetteiteki ni Funsai shiro! (February 26, 1934)
This leaflet protests the firing of six employees of a theater in Tokyo. The Kobayashi they refer to is probably Kobayashi Kisaburo, who ran theaters in Tokyo and Nagoya. The censors allowed its distribution.
Kobayashi-kei Hachikan Nyusu 3 (c1934)
In this newsletter, the publishers appeal for a general strike against the Kobayashi theater chain.
Leaflet, Shinai Naru Zenshimin Shokun e! (c1934)
While many of the leaflets for the action against Kobayashi theater chain were made for employees of the company, this one is aimed at citizens of Tokyo. There are three appeals to the company—that they should pay the salaries, pay during sick leave, and that the company should pay for one day of leave per month. The leaflet passed.
Daiichi Gekijo Shinseikan Kyodo Nyusu (c1934)
This undated newsletter reports on arrests and other activities of the organization.
Leaflet, Geki (c1934)
An appeal to unite the various factions of this struggle against theater owner Kobayashi Kisaburo, with his connections to the major studio Shochiku.
Suto Nyusu 29 (September 25, 1934)
The censor highlights an article that discusses the increasingly important role of women in the struggle.
Suto Nyusu 35 (October 1, 1934)
This is probably related to a theater, not Nikkatsu Studio. The articles include a report about the health of a worker that has been in jail for a month. The list of contributions includes not only amounts of money, but pickles, eggplants, and rice crackers.
Suto Nyusu 10 (October 3, 1934)
Benshi Kasumi Musei lends his support to the strike in this newsletter.
Kure Eiga Jugyoin Kumiai Nyusu (October 18, 1934)
This newsletter aims to agitate readers, but is not very specific in terms of agenda. The drawing depicts an explosion ripping apart a human body representing the solidarity of the masses.
Leaflet, Tobu Nihon no Eiju Taishu yo Kekki seyo! (October 1934)
This leaflet announces a meeting to create a union for film theater workers, and is targeted at people outside the industry. Workers probably handed them out to passersby on the streets or in front of movie theaters. This particular leaflet highlights the plight of workers who will lose their jobs with the conversion to sound.
Shinsei Suto Nyusu 20 (c1934) Tobu Eiju Shinseikan Sogidan
The leaflet lists various people and groups that donated money and goods, such as soap and food. The top story reports that the homes of people opposing the strike were attacked with human excrement (this was an era when plumbing was unusual in Tokyo, and such ammunition was plentiful). The leaflet passed censorship.
Daiichi Gekijo Shinseikan Kyodo Nyusu 9 (October 28, 1934)
A newsletter issuing an appeal for the second meeting of the theater union, and other news.
Leaflet, Totoi Giseisha Iro Kanpa ni Kinzen Sanka se yo! (November 12, 1934)
This leaflet is connected to a strike at Shochiku's Dai'ichi Theater. Two activists were arrested, and this group is appealing for help in attaining their release from jail. The censors indicate that the leaflet was acceptable for distribution.
Shinseikan Suto Nyusu, Final Edition (December 2, 1934)
The strike of the theater workers has ended, and this is their final newsletter. The results of their efforts are left unclear.
Leaflet, Komatsu o Homure (c1934)
This fascinating leaflet is pure agitation. It seems to refer to one of the managers of a theater who was probably responsible for firing people. The text is written in various orientations, wrapping around the page, and screams "Let's bury Komatsu—this guy is a murderer!" "Komatsu, the fake gentleman, executioner." The billet passed censorship.
Chuei Honbu Nyusu (December 4, 1934)
Judging from the markings by the censors, they were very interested in the increasing size of the movement. This newsletter, censored in Tokyo, was published in Nagoya and calls for a united effort by all the workers of the theater chain. The newsletter passed censorship.
Leaflet, Eiga Engeki Jugyoin no Zenkoku Toitsu (December 20, 1934)
This leaflet announces the creation of a union and appeals for the support of film workers from across the country.
Kobayashi-kei Hachikan Nyusu 7 (December 20, 1934)
As in a few of these newsletters, the writers complain of a group of youths organized to physically attack strikers. Interestingly enough, the leader of the group is Matsuoka Yosuke, who is most famous for standing up in the League of Nations and announcing Japan's withdrawal from the organization. Matsuoka's other film connection was his role as president of the Manchurian Picture Association.
Sengen (December 22, 1934)
Leaflet for the Zen Nihon Eiga Engeki Jugyoin Kumiai's founding meeting. It describes some of the doctrines of the union, and was probably handed out at the meeting. The sections brushed out with black ink were probably sections that had to be replaced with fuseji,circles or x's instead of characters. As long as those were replaced, the leaflet could be publicly distributed. These portions are rendered illegible in the original document.
Sogichu no Yurakukan no Eiga o Miru na! (c1934)
This small billet says, "Don't watch movies at the striking Yurakukan Theater!" It also appeals to the crowds to send "Zigomar Kobayashi" to his grave. Kobayashi's greatest success was probably his importation of the scandalous French crime film Zigomar.
Kita Nihon Kogyo Tsushin 956 (August 13, 1937)
This is the page the censors singled out. This newsletter billed itself as the only publication for the construction and transportation industry in northern Japan. The black stamp on the front page indicates that the sale of this issue was prohibited. Judging from the article circled in red on page 4, the reason is that it describes the activities of soldiers from Hokkaido in China. This was one month after the China Incident. It is not necessarily critical of the war; rather, it gave printed too much information about tactics and troop movements. The accompanying paperwork indicates that the article notes they deployed from Sapporo, which was a secret.
Memorandum, Interior Ministry Censorship Report (August 13, 1937)
This is the Interior Ministry's paperwork for the newsletter Kita Nihon Kogyo Tsushin. The handwritten comments specify that the reason for banning the newsletter has to do with the article circled in red, which notes that the troops from Hokkaido deployed from Sapporo. This information on troop movements was considered sensitive enough to bar publication of the entire issue. The entire process took 40 minutes to decide. Note the stamps of various officials that had to approve the censorship.