Life on Distant Islands
(“Shin nihon chiri eiga taikei: Hanarejima no seikatsu—Tsushima, Hachijojima”)
JAPAN / 1961 / Japanese / B&W / Video (Original: 35mm) / 20 min
Director, Script: Naeda Yasuo
Photography: Hiraki Yasushi
Sound: Kimura Katsumi Music: Takeda Shunichi
Commentary: Shinto Fumio
Production Companies: Nihon Eiga Shinsha, The Asahi Shimbun Company
Source: Nichiei Archive, Toho Stella Ltd.
This film focuses on the islands of Tsushima and Hachijojima to examine the unique living conditions and the pursuit of prosperity on remote islands. On Tsushima, it depicts the ferry service, elementary school students commuting by boat, slash-and-burn agriculture, and coastal fishery; and on Hachijojima, the advent of a thermal power plant and direct flights to Haneda Airport. The film introduces distinctive customs of the islands, as well as new possibilities opened up by support from the mainland. Whether these “improvements” in living conditions are really relevant to the islands remains an open question.