A U.S. Government background study film about the culture and behavior of Japanese society

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.

This historic stock footage available in HD video. View pricing below video player.