21m 39s: Lenght

March 22, 1946. The following scenes were recorded showing the eruption of Mount Sakaurajima which is located in the S part of of Kyushu near the city of Kagoshima. 11' Several aerial views showing volcano in eruption. 12' Several angles of the volcano as seen from the S coast raod just outside Kagoshima city proper. 18.5' Several views of the volcano as seen looking across Kagoshima Bay. 16' Several views of volcanic clound as seen when several hundred feet from base of volcano. 5' Close shot of lava. 31' Aerial view of snowclad peak of Mount Fuji. Several angles, LS and CU of rim area. 18' Several general views of Tokyo as seen when looking S at Diet Building. Mount Fuji in far background. 95' May Day Demonstration, May 1, 1946. Half a million laborers, agrarians, and white collar workers demonstrated before the gates of the Imperial Palace and later marched throught the streets of Tokyo in the largest and most peaceful May Day celebration in Japanese history. Light rain and stiff cool winds failed to alter the carnival air of the demonstrators, which started 10:00 AM with speeches in Imperial Park. This was another first in Japanese history, since the people had never before been allowed to demonstrate on the Emperor's grounds. Speakers called for united workers front to take over the government. The weather was extremely bad for color, however the historic incident could not pass without a few feet of color. The long shots were taken from atop the Meiji building. The roll closes with a series of shots showing the gay mood of the marchers. May 19, 1946. More than 150,000 singing and shouting workers demonstrated for increased food allotments and political readjustments before the Emperor's Palace. This is the second laborer demonstration in Tokyo this month. The demands of the demonstrators were for emergency rice and other food supplies to Japan to be handled by civilian organizations and that the labor be given increased control over Japan's industrial production management. The banner carrying crowd started assembling at many areas and marched singing through the streets carrying many banners which expressed opposition to a "Conservative Reactionary Cabinet". Huge red flags, some with the hammer and sickle, fluttered near the speaker's stand which consisted of a series of four large trucks, this make-shift stand was placed only a few hundred yards from the entrance to the Palace. The follwing series of shots were taken from atop the Meiji building which overlooks the Palace grounds. The scenes show the massed numbers of demonstrators and the red flags. The number of red flags does not mean it was entirely a Russian-inspired demonstration. First Lt. D.A. McGovern was informed that all the Union or worker's organizations have as their standards a red flag with the name or number of the union. The small amount of Cummunist flags were indeed hardly noticeable. 17' LS Pan L to R as seen from atop the roof of Meiji building looking at Imperial Palace grounds showing the demonstration gathered in front of the Palace. First take a false start, second OK. 10' LS Same as above, closer shot. 10' LS Same as above, pan from R to L. 10' LS Same as above, demonstrators by long columns march toward speaker's stand. 25' LS Same as above. Stationary shot. Imperial Palace. Slow pan shot downwards to show demonstrators below. This is followed by a pan R to L to show the thousands of demonstrators. 15' LS Extreme wide angle shot to give an overall view of area and demonstrators, followed by a closer shot of same. 5' MLS Showing the speaker at the makeshift stand. The speaker is Mr. Kenichi Ito, Kanto District Trade Union. (slight edge fog). 5' MCU Same as above (slight edge fog). 22' MS Pan down along the L section of the speakers for a study of the spectators and their emotional reaction. 5' MC Stationary shot of a group of red bandanas on the heads of girls. 9' MC Several shots of a group sitting on the ground listening to speaker. http://research.archives.gov/description/64513 National Archives Identifier: 64513 Local Identifier: 342-USAF-11065 This item documents the time period: 11/1945 - 06/01/1946 Contributor: Camera operator, McGovern, Mimura