Picturesque Japan
No credits. Production unknown. UK (?) 1907
Print: BFI
German title and intertitles

“This travelogue visits diverse locations, including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Yokohama and Tokyo. The first half shows panoramic views of rivers, such as the Dotonbori Canal in Osaka, the Sumida River in Tokyo and the Shijo Bridge spanning the Kamo River in Kyoto. The flowing water of those rivers, shot either from a boat or over a bridge, adds to the vibrancy of urban life. The film’s second half focuses on street life, from the bonsai (miniature trees) market to the noodle vendor. The film also bears witness to the zeitgeist of Meiji Japan. In a scene set in Yokohama, we see the annual parade celebrating Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War. The victory in Manchuria gave the Japanese public a sense of pride and confidence, as can be seen on the triumphant faces of flag-wavers.”
Kosuke Fujiki (Film Studies, King’s College London)
YouTube

Au Japon le rapide de la rivière Ozu
No credits. Production unknown. Fr (?) 1906
Print: BFI

“The Hozu River in Kyoto is known for its rapid currents, winding course and giant boulders that protrude from the water. Taken with a camera mounted on the stern of a boat, the opening shot of this film enables the audience to experience a dizzying wild ride, while in the rest of the film the camera stands on the riverbanks to capture the boats being violently tossed by the waters. The rush of water, a popular subject in the earliest years of film, must have thrilled contemporary viewers.”
Kosuke Fujiki (Film Studies, King’s College London)
YouTube

Kosuke Fujiki completed an MA in Film Studies at the University of Kent, after having graduated from Okinawa International University with a BA and an MA in British and American Language and Culture. His research interests include East Asian cinema, cinema and (post-)nationalism, memory, history and nostalgia in film, the questions of cultural representation, and cinema and translation. At King’s, he is currently awarded King’s Overseas Research Studentship. In the past, he has worked as an English-Japanese translator, specialising in film and video subtitles.
King’s College London