This program will explore works of three major Japanese directors, Kenji Mizoguchi (1898–1956), Yasujiro Ozu (1903–1963), and Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998), who, though diverse in style and choice of material, have each contributed to establishing Japan’s current place in world cinema. Mizoguchi, through his romantic adaptations of literary works, Ozu, through his depiction of family life, and Kurosawa, through his powerfully direct and dynamic cinematography, all explored themes that are universally relevant to the human condition, yet have done so from a uniquely Japanese perspective. We will closely examine their subject matters, artistic presentations and cinematographic techniques in order to define what makes each director different and uniquely Japanese.

Through our study of film, we will also examine the social transformations which have taken place during the past 60 years in Japan, particularly in the areas of family structure, women’s roles, sense of morality, aesthetic sensibility and the Japanese sense of self.