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English subtitles to be added to DVD of A-bomb film

by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer

Ippei Kobayashi, 63, a film producer and a resident of Tokyo, is planning to produce a DVD about Hiroshima with English subtitles. He will add the English subtitles to a Japanese film about the atomic bombing made in 1953 called "Hiroshima." Mr. Kobayashi plans to complete the DVD project by August 6 of next year and send the DVD to world leaders to urge them to make efforts for nuclear abolition.

Yumeji Tsukioka, an actress originally from Hiroshima, appears in the film. Based on "Children of the Atomic Bomb," a book of essays by children who experienced the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, compiled by Arata Osada, the film details the agony of the children, their parents, and their teachers after being exposed to the bombing, as well as the devastation of Hiroshima. The Japanese version of the film, which runs 104 minutes, is being provided by Independent Professional Grate Films Reservation Society, a film production and distribution company. Shin Nippon Films produces the DVD of the film.

During the production of the original film, Mr. Kobayashi's father Taihei served as an assistant to the director, Hideo Sekigawa. Mr. Kobayashi lost his grandfather, his mother's father, to the blast. "No film can better convey the horrific consequences of the bombing to the leaders of the nuclear weapon states," he stressed. He presented the film in Hiroshima two years ago and the response was strong, motivating him to create a DVD with English subtitles.

Mr. Kobayashi plans to solicit donations and volunteers for the effort to produce the English translation, create the DVD with the English subtitles, and distribute copies of the DVD. Previously, he planned and produced a film for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology called "The Story of the Black Current: A Gift from the Sea" and has been involved in floating bottles with peace messages inside on the Black Current.

Taking advantage of such experiences and the network he has developed through civic activity, he is reportedly planning to hold screenings of the film at several locations, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to call for cooperation for the project. "I want to expand the circle of activity from the A-bomb cities," he said with enthusiasm. Mr. Kobayashi can be contacted at: kobayashi@kuroshio-bottle.org

(Originally published on August 12, 2010)

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