Twenty-four Eyes (1954)
Songs of sending young men off to war
Thank you for joining me for this Sunday Special commentary.
As with most everything, there are many ways to interpret things, not only with songs but also with films. Comments and questions are welcome. Please be respectful of others’ opinions if they should differ from yours.
For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below.
(286 words)
I’ve just finished watching a Japanese film called Twenty-four Eyes. It was made in 1954 and has won several awards. The story follows a schoolteacher, by the name of Hisako Oishi, in a village on a small island of Japan in 1928 and shows her interactions with her students as they grow up.
Japan is at war with China, and there is a “Red scare” in the town. One of the teachers has been accused of being a Communist and the police are looking for evidence, a pamphlet that a friend of his had given him. Ms. Oishi says that she has seen it and has even read parts to her students. The principal is shocked, finds and burns the pamphlet to destroy any evidence that his teachers could have been disloyal to the government. Later in the film, a rumor goes around that Ms. Oishi herself is a Communist.
There are many songs in this movie. The children at the school sing traditional children’s songs. But there are also songs that the villagers sing to encourage the young soldiers, Ms. Oishi’s former students, as they go off to die for their country.

The war expands in Asia, and more former students are sent off. The young female students grow and have their own troubles in life, as does Ms. Oishi, who loses her husband before the end of the war in the Pacific in 1945.
The films depicts the lives of common people during these war years, their sacrifice, and their patriotism - and the pressure they were under to show it.
English subtitles have been added to the film. The film is two and a half hours in length, but it is well worth viewing.
VOCABULARY
interaction 交流
“Red scare”「赤恐怖症」(共産主義、アナキズム、その他の左翼イデオロギーが台頭する可能性に対する広範な恐怖)
disloyal 不忠実、不誠実
traditional 伝統的
encourage 奨励
depict 描く
patriotism 愛国心
Film with English subtitles
Thanks for reminding me of this film, Louise. Haven’t watched it yet, but I know enough to realize (once again!) how difficult it is to live in a time of mobilization for war.
Watched this one and enjoyed it. It was very sentimental, and there was an AWFUL lot of singing. In fact, it gave the impression that all Japanese children ever did in school was sing! Would have loved to get a look at what other kinds of subjects were being taught at the time, but did appreciate the look into way of life of common people, their trials, dreams and concerns at that particular tumultuous period in time.