In the Movies: A Set as History and Entertainment

We often say that there is no institution more responsible for the creation of popular culture than the mass media.

Today we merged the pop with the history by prowling around the lot of Eiga Mura (also known as Movieland).  It’s a film studio on one level with a large village intended to re-create the look of Japan during its Edo Period, from around 1603 to 1867.  This was the period when Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate virtually sealed off the country to outsiders, creating a highly workable and structured society, and one isolated from most other developments around the globe.

I’d like to think the scenes also tell us a little more about the foundations of culture. Certainly the Edo era has had lasting influence on Japanese society just as, say, the westward migration and the belief in manifest destiny have helped to define how Americans see themselves. All in all, the movie village gave us a chance to experience history and to consider the implications of how the media construction of history provides frames for how the public may picture past events.

Whatever we might offer from an academic viewpoint, we also can add that the Edo Period made a great, dramatic setting for movies and TV shows.

Despite a chilly rain for a couple of hours, we explored the old world where samurai still held top billing and the leading shogun prevailed. On the day after a national holiday and something of a three-day weekend, the park was nearly empty today (Tuesday). We had the run of the place, with front-row seats for a gymnastic ninja show, and a quick look at some on-site filming.  One highlight, surprisingly, was a haunted house that creeped out those brave enough to shuffle through an Edo-era structure. They liked it, though.

Afterward, we moved to Tenryu-ji temple, with its splendid zen gardens designed by master Soseki Muso in the early 1300s. It was at this place where one of Japan’s best-known and respected emperors, Go-Daigo,  grew up and studied.  The temple was built in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji in memory of Go-Daigo. That gave me some happy shivers (weather didn’t help) to imagine who had earlier contemplated these grounds. Here was another case of history suddenly feeling very close.

Early Wednesday, we’ll board a shinkansen for Hiroshima for a more contemporary lesson in history. More on that in another day or so.

Thanks to all back at home — and elsewhere — who are reading these posts and following our narratives.  We had 312 hits yesterday on the blog and already a couple of dozen more today as I scramble to add photos.  Again, here’s a vow that we’re trying to get everyone in the photos over time. So if you don’t see your favorite samurai — during Edo, by the way, samurai transitioned from warriors to scholars — in today’s images,  check back in another day.  Hard to get many of the mighty E-30 in every day.

Edo samurai in spirit: Inkoo Kang and Alex Harrington. That's one part of the movie set behind them.

Front row at the ninja show! Here is Summer Thaxton, Ashley Barnas, Sarah Zimmerman and Pamela Richter.

Emmy Kean in the Edo village

This may have been the slowest moment in the ninja show, but the lighting was good.

Samurai action shows are common on Japanese TV. These actors were waiting for a camera crew to set up for a shoot at Eiga Mura.

Gray Fain and Randall Andersen check out some girls. The Toei film studio handles some well-known anime and fantasy characters as well.

If ESPN doesn't work out, we can always aim for the Power Rangers -- if we keep practicing Nihongo.

At Tenryu-ji temple, students did well to open up to the contemplative features of Soseki's masterful gardens.

Richard Schulz let the silence in.

Being there seemed worth remembering. Chris Lorch snaps Taylor Brownstein.Hot ramen on a cold day: Another form of tranquility. That's May Milkins and Nick Friederich joining Chris and Taylor.

End of the day: When will we next walk through a bamboo forest?

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