Les films réalisés en coopération avec les Forces japonaises d’autodéfense. Une forme de propagande indirecte dans un monde multicentrique

Abstract

One of the major features of recent Japanese cinema has been the growing number of films produced with the help of the Ministry of Defense. Academics who have addressed the issue tend to characterize the relationship between the military and producers as one of mutual dependence, stressing the overall “passivity” of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the creation process. Though accurate at a formal level, this argument does not fully explain the influence the JSDF has exerted over the film industry in recent years. Drawing on the concept of “multicentric world” theorized by sociologist James Burk, we argue in this article that the JSDF are, on the contrary, fully active and that their relationship with cinema has more to do with “veiled propaganda” than mere collaboration.

Keywords

• Japanese Cinema
• Japanese Self-Defense Forces
• Propaganda
• Nationalism
• Censorship