BRIDGING THE BOUNDARY

■LOGLINE
Every grandchild of Japanese soldiers has memory Toru blew up an oil refinery to stop Dutch invasion to
bullied as "descendants of invaders". Mario Kuroiwa Indonesia in 1947. The site was still there. Hendry
explores his grandfather’s footsteps with his father and explained that his father had directed the operation at the
they discover the way to overcome the trauma. site. Then the manager of the place informed them that
as the children and grandchildren of heroes, they would
■SYNOPSIS like to be invited to the commemoration ceremony on
In August 2022, third-generation Japanese Indonesian August 13. For Hendry, who had been bullied as a
gathered in Jakarta aiming to create a history gallery Japanese child, it was time to let go of the pain in his
that inform the unknown story of their grandfathers. heart.
After Japan's defeat, their grandfathers were deserted
Mario plans to come to Japan in early 2024. “My
from the Japanese army and joined the Independence
grandfather did not receive any medal, so he was not
War. Their desire is sincere. In Indonesian history
buried in Kalibata Heroes Cemetery like other Japanese
textbooks, it is written, "During the Japanese
soldiers. But I want to put a piece of his grandfather's
occupation, nearly millions of people died from forced
remains in Kalibata while my father is alive."
labor and rice offerings, and Indonesia was exploited”.
Mario Kuroiwa says, “The children of Japanese
descent are still being bullied after every history class.
I want people know our grandfathers' experiences ■BACKGROUND INFORMATION
fought for independence." On August 17, 1945, two days after Japan's defeat,
Indonesia declared its independence. However, the
Mario Kuroiwa's grandfather, Toru Kuroiwa, was a Netherlands did not recognize it and invaded to Indonesia
former member of the Japanese Special Military
again. This led to a war between Indonesia and the
Service. As head of the Special Police Force of the
Aceh Military Administration, he was responsible for Netherlands. 1,000 Japanese soldiers deserted from
maintaining security under Japanese military rule and the Japanese army and joined the Indonesian War of
he had conducted military training for the Indonesian Independence. During the four and a half years of the
Youth Party. After the Japan's defeat, he led the War, approximately 400 Japanese soldiers died. After the
Youth Party. During the Independence war, Toru war ended, 300 returned to Japan, and about 300
married to Emma. Emma's father was a Dutch remained in Indonesia.
engineer who was imprisoned in Japanese camp.
When Toru went to rescue him, he had already died of
illness and hunger. After independence, Toru had
been involved in the Aceh struggle and he was forced
to return to Japan in 1955. His second son, Hendry,
was four years old at the time. Emma raised two
children as a dressmaker, but their lives were very
poor.

To follow Toru's footsteps, they visited Emma's

younger sister, at the nursing home. Ivone (90) said,
"Toru was a special agent, so he couldn't even send a
letter. But he sent money to Emma every year."
Hendry, who for many years thought his father had
abandoned him, cried at the age of 72.
Contact: Haruko Konishi, Managing Director of Documentary Eyes
2-7-17-503 Shirogane, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan Cell :+81-90-2151-6046 Haruko.konishi77@gmail.com
■SIDE STORY ■MAIN CHARACTERS
Other History of the Remaining Japanese Soldiers Mario Kuroiwa (39)
On August 17, Jakarta was abuzz with excitement on Mario began to hear stories from his
Independence Day. Rikiyama Fujiyama, a 25-year-old, parents, research the Internet, and
Japanese Indonesian was visiting a grave in Kalibata, the learn more about the realities of his
National Heroes' Cemetery. His grandfather, Hideo grandfather's life. He decides to visit
Fujiyama, is buried as a hero who participated in the place relating with his grandpa
Independent War. For Rikiyama, memories of with his father, and talk to people
grandfather only go back to when he was 10 years old. who knew Toru back then.
Hideo, who lived with him, did not talk much about the
war and did not express any regrets, saying,"I am glad I Hendry Kuroiwa(72)
stayed in Indonesia”. At the age of 24,his grandfather After his father, Toru Kuroiwa, was
made the decision. What kind of life did he lead? deported to Japan after
Rikiyama began to trace his experiences. independence in 1955, his mother
Hideo Fujiyama grew up as a military boy, and at the age and him live in a poverty without
of 19, he enlisted in the Air Force. In 1942, as a fighter help. Toru did not send any letter.
mechanic, he was sent to West Java, where the war For a long time, Hendry thinks that
ended. "When I saw the Japanese soldiers working for he had been abandoned by father
the Allied Forces, I felt ashamed that I could not resist. At and was still traumatized.
that time, Sukarno's appeal to unite our hearts and However….
achieve independence and the sight of frenzied people
moved me”. After much consideration, he deserted from ■SUB CHARACTERS
the army and jumped into a unit of volunteer soldiers. Rikiyama Anugrah Wijaya
IHe converted to Islam, married a woman he had fought Fujiyama(25)
with, and was discharged from the army in 1950. He Real Estate Consultant
decided to live as an Indonesian, but what awaited him Born in 1997, the first son of Hideo
was extreme poverty. He did everything to survive, from Fujiyama's fifth child. His
fishing to car maintenance. His eldest son and daughter grandfather, who was a kind man,
were bullied for being "cruel Japanese. Rikiyama did not talk much about the war.
believes that the negative history of the Japanese era in He is reading his grandfather's
textbooks cannot be rewritten. However, he wants people diary and tracing his grandfather's
to know that there were Japanese soldiers who fought for life..
Indonesia's independence.
Rima Komatsu (34)
Rima Komartsu, 34 also wants to know more about her Content creator
grandfather who already passed away when she was A social media Influencer with 1.1
born. Takashi Koumatsu. He was an elite officer who million followers who spreads trends
graduated from Waseda University. An idealist, Lt. such as gourmet food reports and is
Komatsu deserted in South Sumatra to fulfill Japan's favored by young Indonesians. She
promise of independence under its "Greater East Asia thinks if it have a good impact to tell
Co-prosperity Sphere" policy. He said, "I'm going to join more people about ex-Japanese
the Independent Army and fight a war with the Dutch. It soldier's effort, and contribution to
would be good to have at least one idiot.”. Indonesian Independence, its better
to communicate thorough Indonesian
Efforts to bridge the gap historian.
The historical gallery opened in July 2023. The 3rd
generations exhibit their grandfathers' accounts of events
during the war and their lives after the War, along with ■DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
photos and artifacts. Rikiyama Fujiyama found his In 2000, at the age of 80, my father Shigeo Konishi talked
grandfather's handwritten notebook and knew his about his war experience for the first time, saying that
grandfather had been desperately living through the war. Japan had liberated Indonesia from Western colonialism.
Rima Komatsu plans not yet to announce the existence He was a soldier who fought in the Pacific War in
of the gallery on her social networking sites. However, Indonesia. My father was a university student when he was
she begins to confide in people close to her that her drafted into the army. During his military training, he was
grandfather had fought the Revolutionary War and was submitted to severe mental education and was obliged to
buried in Kalibata's Heroes Cemetery. Then, she said write a military diary. “Even if I die on the battlefield, I am
happily that the reaction was "It's amazing". very fortunate and grateful that I can find calm
resignation in the spirit of loyalty and filial piety."
As the past of the grandfathers is revealed, the scars
remaining are also revealed. The third generation are I went to Indonesia shortly thereafter to find out what the
working hard to bridge the scars between Indonesia and Indonesian people had experienced. People who were
Japan. This film looks at the reality of 78 years after the laborers or auxiliaries during the Japanese occupation
war from the perspective of a third-generation Japanese were seeking individual compensation from Japan. Mr.
Indonesian trying to cross boundaries. Rusdi who had been assistant soldiers in the Japanese

Contact: Haruko Konishi, Managing Director of Documentary Eyes

2-7-17-503 Shirogane, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan Cell :+81-90-2151-6046 Haruko.konishi77@gmail.com
army, showed me the scar on his forehead from being hit ■Producer: Ken-ichi Imamura
by a Japanese soldier with the bottom of a gun. They Producer of NHK enterprises
were seeking compensation to restore their pride as Producer of “Studio IMAKEN LLC.
individuals. I found that my father's view was an illusion. He was the commissioning editor of the
At the same time, I met Japanese soldiers remained in slot “World Documentary” at NHK.
Indonesia. Since 2000, I have been corresponding with Since 2012 he has been working with
their families. These young Indonesians' activities will NHK Enterprises and is in charge of
provide one of the answers to my question what is co-production, pre-buy and commission
needed for reconciliation between Japan and Indonesia. of TV programs. He is one of the founders of Tokyo Docs.

■Production Information
55”/ 80” Subtitles in English / HD
Language: English /Indonesian/Japanese

■Visual Materials

6’27” footage with English Subtitle:

https://vimeo.com/850674936
Pass: YWP

20Minutes Footage
https://vimeo.com/836766322
Pass: YWP

27minutes Rough Cut in Japanese

https://vimeo.com/766032924
Pass: Scars

■ Bio & Filmographies ■Timeline

Director/Producer: Start of Development 2000 August
Haruko Konishi Start of Production 2022 August
Managing Director, Documentary Eyes *Pitch at Tokyo Docs Excellent Film Award
In 2005, Konishi planned and Filming in Indonesia 2022 August / 2023July
produced the film, “Little Birds”, 2023 December
which was awarded the Human Filming in Japan 2023 October - 2024 March
Rights Prize in the Locarno International Film Festival. Start of Post Production 2024 March
“Little Birds” portrays the lives of people in Iraq during Expected Completion 2024 August(55”version)
war. As a successor, she produced film “Peace on the 2024 December(80”version)
Tigris”. “Peace on the Tigris“ won "Young jury award" Expected Film Release 2025 May(80”version)
from FIPA in 2014. 2015, She directed the film”
Akahama Rock 'n Roll”, which describes the pride of
residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake,
supported by Agency for Cultural Affairs. The film "Fight
for the future" was shown in Yamagata Documentary Film ■Contact Information
Festival 2019.2020, she directed the TV program Haruko Konishi Haruko.konishi77@gmail.com
"Bridging the Division" and distributed through NHK Managing Director of Documentary Eyes
World. After 10 years of the Earthquake, she directed 2-7-17-503 Shirogane, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan
“Rock 'n' Roll Fisherman” which was broadcast at NHK. Cell :+81-90-2151-6046
Her short film "Scars After 80 Years" won an excellence
award of at Tokyo Docs 2022.

"Akahama Rock'n Roll " (89minutes Director)

https://vimeo.com/101837292
Password：Rock

“Scars after 80 years” (10 minutes Director)

https://vimeo.com/754701364
PASS: Scars

“Peace on the Tigris” (108 minutes Producer)

https://vimeo.com/705960605
Password：Iraq

Contact: Haruko Konishi, Managing Director of Documentary Eyes

2-7-17-503 Shirogane, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan Cell :+81-90-2151-6046 Haruko.konishi77@gmail.com