The 8mm Films of Kiyotaki Akira
Kiyotaki Akira was born in 1927. In 1941, he became an employee of the Sanzan Electric Railway. He worked for the railway his entire life, and he was on hand to witness the closing of the Takahata Line, the Obanazawa Line, and the Sanzan Line. The historical footage of these former railways contained within his 8mm films transcends the realm of personal hobby and now represents a store of historical material that grows increasingly valuable with the passage of time.
Images of Autumn
(Aki o utsusu)- 1986 / Japanese / Color / Video (Original: 8mm) / 7 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
Taken on the way from Yamagata City to the Dewa Sanzan mountains, this film includes footage of the village of Ooisawa, which now stands at the bottom of the Sagae Dam, in addition to scenes of the Sagae Dam under construction and a chance encounter with a wedding party. These images are interspersed with autumn foliage and accompanied by narration by Mr. Kiyotaki, allowing us to gain a sense of the filmmaker’s personality.
Sanzan Line in Winter
(Fuyu no Sanzansen)- 1974 / Japanese / Color, B&W / Video (Original: 8mm) / 12 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
This film offers an inside view of the hands-on labor and selfless devotion of railway employees determined to keep their trains running safely in the midst of the heavy snow of winter.
Bygone Days of the Sanzan Line
(Arishi hi no Sanzansen)- 1974 / Japanese / Color, B&W / Video (Original: 8mm) / 20 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
In addition to footage of the swift and smooth passage of Sanzan Line trains, this 8mm film contains a treasure trove of rare shots—including meticulously filmed images of station buildings and scenes of trains undergoing maintenance—that could only have been taken by a person within the railway industry.
Battling the Snow
(Yuki to tatakau Takahatasen)- 1974 / Japanese / Color, B&W / Video (Original: 8mm) / 8 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
In the middle of winter, Takahata Line workers emerge in full force to tackle the seemingly insurmountable task of shoveling snow off the train tracks. For the Takahata Line, this would be its final winter.
Adieu Sanzan Line
(Sayonara Sanzansen)- 1974 / Japanese / Color / Video (Original: 8mm) / 11 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
At a ceremony to commemorate the closing of the Sanzan Line, a large crowd, made up of people ranging from children to local government officials and business executives, gathers to give the railway company a sendoff so rousing that it could easily be mistaken for a grand opening ceremony. This footage conveys the importance that the railway held for the people of the community, and we are also treated to images, taken by another cameraman, of a younger Kiyotaki Akira with his 8mm camera.
New Destinations
(Densha oyomeiri)- 1975 / Japanese / Color / Video (Original: 8mm) / 20 min
Director, Photography, Source: Kiyotaki Akira
After the closing of the Sanzan Line, it was decided that the trains would be sent to Niigata and Takamatsu. National railway lines were used to transport the trains to their respective destinations. Opening the once-closed lines for inspection to ensure the safe passage of the trains would be Mr. Kiyotaki’s final duty as a railway man. The rare scenes of the trains, their markers removed, being towed by diesel locomotives are a must-see for any railway fan.