Artistic montage of seemingly unrelated scenes. Slates in Japanese overlay scenes of explosions with smoke rising from a volcano. This is followed by high winds and severe thunderstorms with lightning and views of ocean crashing against rocks. A steam locomotive rushes across a steel railroad trestle bridge. Glimpse of a ship's funnel and sound of horn blowing in presence of stormy weather. Glimpse of power plant (or other industrial site) near water, with smoke rising from 5 smoke stacks. Ship's funnel and horn shown again in stormy conditions. Multiple artistic images of a man are overlaid upon each other. Then a momentary view from track level of fast-moving railroad train. A large room filled with enthusiastic young men waving raised hands. View from trackside of speeding locomotive passing close to the camera. The men waving arms, again followed by view of speeding locomotive driving arms and wheels.The men waving their arms are now seen to be inside a room where several men in business suits stand before them. More views of speeding trains interspersed with ocean waters and network of humming electrical communication lines. Panning upward view of a tall smoke stack. Aerial view of narrow isthmus of coastal cliff extending into the sea, accompanied by overlaying slate in Japanese with sounds of strong winds in background.
After opening slate in Japanese, General of the Imperial Japanese Army, Baron Sadao Araki, enters and stands before the Japanese flag to introduce the film. As he continues to speak in the background, images move across the screen, including clouds, a spinning world globe, a relief map of Japan, a circular striped spinning disk, a man seen from waist down walking across low grass and foliage. He transitions to walking along a sidewalk and then to a street, where his shadow is cast on the pavement. Next, storm clouds appear, followed by numerous images of the legs and feet of ordinary people walking on a city sidewalk. Most are in Western dress. But some women wear kimonos.
A rough map of Asia is shown.Inner Mongolian horsemen are seen silhouetted against the sky on a hill top where several tents are pitched. They appear to be gathering for a meeting of sorts. Closeups of the horsemen gathered and listening to one speaking to them. Snow-covered mountains are in the far distant background. Various views of the horsemen moving about in groups. An old Chinese man smokes a long pipe. The national flag of the Republic of China flies in front of a building. View of entrance to the French Concession in Shanghai, where several French uniformed police hold the French tricolor flag and others monitor persons coming and going. A group of Chinese soldiers remove items from their clothing as they prepare to enter the area. A group of French firemen is seen and then a number of Chinese civilians, some carrying belongings, and some with children, are seen evacuating an area, under supervision of Chinese men wearing armbands. Scene shifts to view from starboard bow of a large vessel at sea. The ocean is quite rough and waves break with foam. View from the deck, upward shows various lines and rigging of the ship. More views show it to be a battleship. Formations of Japanese warships on maneuvers, firing their heavy guns. Formation of U.S. Dreadnought era battleships firing their 12-inch guns in double turrets. View from bridge of one, with forward double guns visible below, while she is underway in heavy seas. Naval guns on a battleship, being maneuvered into position for firing. Smaller Japanese gunboats being led in formation by a 3-stacker Isokaze-class destroyer. The Japanese battleships Nagato and her sister ship Mutsu, both displaying curved funnels. Other Japanese warships, including Kamikaze-class destroyers, the aircraft carrier Ryūjō, and a Kongō-class battleship.
Sakura cherry blossom trees in full bloom on the grounds of the Yasukuni Shrine (3 Chome-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-8246, Japan) in Tokyo, Japan. After a glimpse of the shrine, the Flag of Japan is seen waving in the breeze. Torii gate at the Yasukuni Shrine. A farmer transports a wagon load of hay in a wagon pulled by a donkey. Boys run behind the wagon. Men are seen carrying heavy loads of brush using poles over their shoulders. People ride on donkeys. Two small boys play a game. A man feeds a small puppy. Two men work with a buck saw. A barber shaves a man outdoors. A man prepares a meal outdoors. A barber shaves a man's head outdoors. People ride through a rural village on donkeys. Men carry children using a bamboo carrying pole. A traveling food merchant cuts a piece of meat for a customer.
Film opens with closeup of Japanese general, Baron Sadao Araki, speaking. Behind him is a huge Japanese flag so that his head is silhouetted against its huge red ball. His image fades out and a map of Japan and Asia appears. Sadao Araki continues to narrate. The map shows animated arrows directed from Russia southward toward Japanese held Manchuria (Manchukuo) and from India northward. The arrows converge and are joined by arrows from the sea. All are directed against Japan. The message clearly speaks to need for Japan to be ready to protect against attacks by others. Back to closeup of Baron Sadao Araki speaking. Then flags of world nations are shown with Japan's rising taller and larger than all the rest. Next a map of Japan and its occupied territories in Manchukuo, and Korea, with arrows from foes threatening them. Japan seems to shudder on the animated map.
Film begins with scenic views of mountainous Japan. A water wheel turns at river's edge. A mountain stream flowing. Views of rugged terrain, with ridges and valleys. White clouds above a valley in which a stream run. The waters gradually increase as the stream joins with others to create rivers. View of high-tension electric wires and an electric generating station at the side of a large dam. Electric trains seen in silhouette. View from a train passing large buildings and then view from the front as it traverses track along a wide rail complex, passing train stations and large buildings. A view of University of Tokyo and its distinctive clock tower (7 Chome-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan). Street cars, bicyclists, pedestrians at Ginza shopping district. Some women in latest Western fashions on sidewalks with other women in traditional kimonos. Western imaged dolls in a shop and Japanese women in Western fashions window shopping in shops carrying such fashions. Similar Western fashions for men. An automobile and building features that appear Western in design. People in a Western-style bar having cocktails.
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