United States Aircraft carrier anchored in the Pacific Ocean. Antisubmarine nets are deployed to protect swimmers from sharks. Crew members of the carrier relax. Many sailors swim. some sailors dive from the deck, 70 feet, into the water to swim. Some climb up the anchor chains. Later, aircraft are seen lined up on the flight deck. A destroyer that rescued three downed pilots, pulls alongside and returns the pilots to the Aircraft Carrier, via breeches buoy, while both ships are underway. Rescued pilots pose. The destroyer pulls away.
Film opens with map of the eastern front area during World War 2. A railroad train is seen pulling into a station. Closeup of snow between the tracks. Happy German soldiers, on leave from the front, leave the train and crowd the station platform. Some of the soldiers visit a shop labeled: "Marketenderei,"where they obtain various personal supplies. Views of soldiers washing and shaving, before heading back to the front. Conductor closes railroad train door. Women and others wave from the station platform, one with a dog, as the train pulls out, headed back to the front. Next, the train arrives at another station where the soldiers leave it. A sign directs them to building 29 where they are to register. The troops enter barracks, and then proceed to board army canvas-covered trucks. Army Trucks are seen moving in both directions along a snowy road, across agricultural areas. Troops climb down from a truck, adjusting their weapons. Some are seen walking toward the camera. One carries a lamb in his arms. Views of soldiers traveling on a horse-drawn sled. Others are seen at a camp, where they receive hot soup in their personal mess gear. A Colonel (named Kominsky) eating with one of his troops. Two soldiers in white arctic garb, eating in front of a tank. Soldiers sharing photographs of their children. One, smoking a pipe, holds up a black African doll. Some of the soldiers take advantage of the quiet and begin to frolic in the snow. They begin by throwing large amounts of snow on some of their comrades. Soon the all take part in a snowball fight. Film ends as one brushes snow off himself.
Opening slate recounts that the First American Consul to Japan was received on December 7th 1857, and Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 during World War 2. After the slate, Japanese are seen depicted in prints by famous 18th and 19th century artists: Katsushika Hokusai; Utagawa Kunimasu; and Ando Hiroshige. Next are various views of Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks. An industrial site with numerous smoke stacks spewing clouds of effluents. Momentary glimpse of a Japanese Torii Gate. Crucible of molten steel being emptied. Machine shop powered by driving belts. Closeups of various machine tools in operation. Closeups of Japanese industrial workers. A line of Type 95, 75 mm Japanese field guns produced in Japanese factories. Japanese women engaged in home industries making parts for factories. A Japanese artisans working in pottery, porcelain and metal. Various views of densely populated Japanese city with trolley cars; automobiles; and pedestrians (most in Western style clothing, but some women in kimonos). City buildings of modern design. Men leaving their shoes at the doorway as they enter a house. A woman helps a man don a lounging gown upon arriving home from work. Japanese children in the courtyard of their urban school, performing exercises and calisthenics. Three children walking home from school. A family in traditional Japanese attire, having dinner at home. A steam locomotive pulls a train through rural area of Japan. View from above, of farmers working in terraced area. Closeup of farmer guiding a plow being pulled by oxen. Women sowing seed in a rice paddy. Farmers planting seedlings, and hoeing, threshing, and harvesting crops by hand. Harvested crop being placed on outdoor rack to dry. Exterior of farmhouse with thatched roof. View of family inside, preparing dinner and later sitting around a covered charcoal brazier, to keep warm. The woman of the house turns on a single electric light and the man turns on a radio having an external speaker horn. Two Japanese sumo wrestlers in a ring at an arena. Views of Sumo wrestler going through preliminary movements, followed by two wrestlers battling in the ring. Japanese Jujitsu master demonstrates skill by throwing assistants in a demonstration. Two Japanese men demonstrate kendo dueling before an audience of students in a training facility. (They do not wear protective attire.) A horse race taking place at a large track with many spectators in the viewing stands. A Japanese golfer hitting a ball out of a sand trap. Glimpse of tennis players. Japanese baseball teams march into a stadium and play the game before a crowd of spectators. Japanese office displaying poster for the Marx Brothers movie "Duck Soup." Several Japanese at a home party party with saxophonist playing 1928 American song, "Sweet Sue, Just You." The group joins in singing the song. Patrons in Western style attire dancing in a night club to music of a modern orchestra. Customer smoking cigarette and sampling an American cocktail and a small cup of saki as jazz is being played in the background. A woman dressed as a Geisha plays a shamisen.
Dating and entertainment in Japan. A Japanese man plays an accordion and serenades to a woman. The woman turns and smiles at the man. Two Taxi dancers waiting for partners at a club. Japanese men and women wearing modern western dresses sit in a night club. Japanese musicians play in the night club. Men and women dance on the dance floor in western style. Traditional dance forms of Japanese. A group of Japanese women performs a traditional dance. A group of men performs a Japanese dance form. A Kabuki actor performs a lion dance. Audience watches a classical Japanese drama. Kabuki actors dance onstage. Japanese symbolic drawings and cartoons depict the traditional and modern building structures. A well-maintained Japanese garden with waterways, bridges and trees.
Psychology and living habits of Japanese people. Precision and planning details in Japanese houses. Mats in a Japanese home. The home is free of heavy furniture and is simply furnished. Women wear traditional dresses. Artistic calligraphy and paintings on walls. Arrangement of flowers in home. A Japanese family eats dinner. The family sits together for the dinner. A man and a woman in a Japanese house. Children play on the streets.
Psychology and living habits of Japanese people. Precision and planning details in Japanese houses. A Japanese couple in their home. The man is dressed in western dress and his wife is dressed in traditional kimono. They sit on the mats to drink tea. The Japanese woman serves tea with precision. The tea ceremony is elaborate. The woman enters the room and slides the door.