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[Home Movies of Production of Samurai Film in Japan; Wedding in Tacoma, WA; Foot Races at the Beach and more / circa 1929 – 1933]
Maker
Sasaki, Sensho
Dateca. 1929-1933
Mediumacetate
DimensionsFilm Format: 16.00 mm, L: 285 ft, Diam: 7 in
ClassificationsMoving Images
Credit LineGift of the Sasaki Family
Object number96.150.20
DescriptionBlack and white home movie footage filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki of Tacoma and Japan, circa 1929 to 1933. Footage includes “behind the scenes” of a samurai movie filmed in Japan; a wedding party exiting the Tacoma Buddhist Church; Tacoma Buddhist conference activities including boating and sports; a visiting Japanese navy battleship; and views of a street in Japan.
Timecode list:
0:30 – View from above of a samurai movie being filmed; behind the scenes of various moments. Woman in an elaborate costume runs on a road; close ups of the woman; a man and woman act out a chase scene.
1:19 – Guests exiting a church after a wedding; the bride and groom greet guests. The wedding party walks down stairs; flower girls lead the group. Guests throw rice.
2:16 – View of guests leaving the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church (the wedding site) as seen from across the street; a minister exits the church.
2:40 – People walking down a gangplank from a ship; adults and children throw streamers from ship railings. Views from the ship railing of people on shore catching streamers.
3:36 – [Reportedly the outdoor activity scenes are a Tacoma Buddhist conference.] Groups in rowboats with others on shore as seen from a motorboat; view of the wake behind the motorboat.
4:41 – Good view of groups actively rowing in a rowboat and waving at the camera.
4:57 – View of group on shore standing around in the sand.
5:28 – Young women and men running a team relay race, carrying flags. Panning views of small groups standing around.
6:20 – Closeups of a group of four men playing mah jong. They wave at the camera.
6:45 – Co-ed baseball game in the sand.
7:00 – Outside the Tacoma Buddhist Church; a man approaches the front doors, bows, and returns to the camera operator. Another man exits, the two shake hands for an extended period.
7:45 – Street scene; first man from 7:00 walks past the camera.
7:54 – A young man plays with two boys on the steps of the Tacoma Buddhist Church. One boy jumps off a pedestal; the man catches him; all three grin at the camera. [Same young boys from other Sasaki home movies; likely Reverend Sasaki’s sons.]
8:07 – Closeup of the young man (from 7:54) smiling.
8:16 – Panning view of men assembled on steps, likely for a photograph. (Ministers in the middle.) Some closeups of individuals; the group picks up chairs and exits.
9:00 – Group assembled at a dock, some children have Japanese flags. Japanese navy personnel try to remove ropes mooring the large ship to the dock. Panning views of Japanese sailors on board their battleship.
9:54 – Three sailors stand by a large mounted gun on the ship deck. Spectators watch from the dock.
10:24 – Closeups of sailors running off the ship.
10:27 – Japanese street as seen from above; a shirtless man on a balcony fans himself near the camera. Zoomed in views of people on the sidewalk and other hotel or home occupants across the street. Men sit on the sidewalk; men and women walk in geta (raised wooden sandals).
11:12 – Three women, an older couple, and two small boys (same as 7:54?) stand outside. The adults try to get the children to pose. One small boy and the older man raise their hands simultaneously, the small boy raises his hands to his head like “antlers”. One woman tries to persuade the other little boy to stand up.
11:37 – Film ends.
Black and white home movie footage filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki of a Samurai film production in Japan, and a wedding, a Buddhist conference and other events in Tacoma, Washington, 1927.
0-19 ft. : Japan--film crew filming samurai production. (Great)
19-51 ft. : Tacoma wedding. (Good)
51-72 ft. : People leaving for Japan, streamers, etc. (Excellent)
72-157 ft. : Tacoma(?) Buddhist conference. Boating, racers, mah jong, co-ed baseball. (Fantastic)
157-179 ft. : Street scene.
179-186 ft. : Father(?) and 2 boys.
196-207 ft. : Posing in front of temple.
207-238 ft. : Japanese navy visiting(?). (Good)
238-265 ft. : High angle street scene of Japan. (Good);1 film reel (285 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm. original reversal pos. , Title supplied by cataloger. , Reel 3/4 full.
Timecode list:
0:30 – View from above of a samurai movie being filmed; behind the scenes of various moments. Woman in an elaborate costume runs on a road; close ups of the woman; a man and woman act out a chase scene.
1:19 – Guests exiting a church after a wedding; the bride and groom greet guests. The wedding party walks down stairs; flower girls lead the group. Guests throw rice.
2:16 – View of guests leaving the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church (the wedding site) as seen from across the street; a minister exits the church.
2:40 – People walking down a gangplank from a ship; adults and children throw streamers from ship railings. Views from the ship railing of people on shore catching streamers.
3:36 – [Reportedly the outdoor activity scenes are a Tacoma Buddhist conference.] Groups in rowboats with others on shore as seen from a motorboat; view of the wake behind the motorboat.
4:41 – Good view of groups actively rowing in a rowboat and waving at the camera.
4:57 – View of group on shore standing around in the sand.
5:28 – Young women and men running a team relay race, carrying flags. Panning views of small groups standing around.
6:20 – Closeups of a group of four men playing mah jong. They wave at the camera.
6:45 – Co-ed baseball game in the sand.
7:00 – Outside the Tacoma Buddhist Church; a man approaches the front doors, bows, and returns to the camera operator. Another man exits, the two shake hands for an extended period.
7:45 – Street scene; first man from 7:00 walks past the camera.
7:54 – A young man plays with two boys on the steps of the Tacoma Buddhist Church. One boy jumps off a pedestal; the man catches him; all three grin at the camera. [Same young boys from other Sasaki home movies; likely Reverend Sasaki’s sons.]
8:07 – Closeup of the young man (from 7:54) smiling.
8:16 – Panning view of men assembled on steps, likely for a photograph. (Ministers in the middle.) Some closeups of individuals; the group picks up chairs and exits.
9:00 – Group assembled at a dock, some children have Japanese flags. Japanese navy personnel try to remove ropes mooring the large ship to the dock. Panning views of Japanese sailors on board their battleship.
9:54 – Three sailors stand by a large mounted gun on the ship deck. Spectators watch from the dock.
10:24 – Closeups of sailors running off the ship.
10:27 – Japanese street as seen from above; a shirtless man on a balcony fans himself near the camera. Zoomed in views of people on the sidewalk and other hotel or home occupants across the street. Men sit on the sidewalk; men and women walk in geta (raised wooden sandals).
11:12 – Three women, an older couple, and two small boys (same as 7:54?) stand outside. The adults try to get the children to pose. One small boy and the older man raise their hands simultaneously, the small boy raises his hands to his head like “antlers”. One woman tries to persuade the other little boy to stand up.
11:37 – Film ends.
Black and white home movie footage filmed by Reverend Sensho Sasaki of a Samurai film production in Japan, and a wedding, a Buddhist conference and other events in Tacoma, Washington, 1927.
0-19 ft. : Japan--film crew filming samurai production. (Great)
19-51 ft. : Tacoma wedding. (Good)
51-72 ft. : People leaving for Japan, streamers, etc. (Excellent)
72-157 ft. : Tacoma(?) Buddhist conference. Boating, racers, mah jong, co-ed baseball. (Fantastic)
157-179 ft. : Street scene.
179-186 ft. : Father(?) and 2 boys.
196-207 ft. : Posing in front of temple.
207-238 ft. : Japanese navy visiting(?). (Good)
238-265 ft. : High angle street scene of Japan. (Good);1 film reel (285 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm. original reversal pos. , Title supplied by cataloger. , Reel 3/4 full.
Yoritsune, Henry
1930-1956
Mitsuoka, Norio
ca. 1947-1948
Watanabe, Gunji
ca. 1936-1937
Sagara, Tomojiro
circa 1941-1942