This document provides a summary and analysis of the 1937 Japanese film "Humanity and Paper Balloons" directed by Sadao Yamanaka. It discusses the film's critique of Japanese social structure through its portrayal of the poor situation of samurai due to the class system. It analyzes how the film subverts expectations by showing the lack of humanity among samurai and merchants, and establishes the lower-class character Shinza as the hero through his display of courage and humanity. The summary concludes that the film uses the metaphor of paper balloons to represent the lack of destination for humanity in a society dominated by social barriers and discrimination.

1. ART401: APPRECIATING FAR-EASTERN CINEMA
Instructor: Dr. Ritwij Bhowmik
Summer Semester (May - July 2016)
1st Written Assignment
Film Name: NINJO KAMI FUSEN
(HUMANITY AND PAPER BALLOONS)
Name: Bhagyesh Ghagi
Roll No.: 12194
Department: AE
E-mail: bhagyesh@iitk.ac.in

2. Introduction
Title: Japanese: Ninjo Kami Fusen
English: Humanity and Paper Balloons
Director: Sadao Yamanaka
Release Date: August, 1937
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Genre: Jidaigeki
This is unlikeany other film of that timein Japanese cinema. This film shows a critical edgeof
Japanese society. At that timesamurai peoplebelonged to upper cast, but this film showstheir
poor situation dueto this cast system. Merchantswereonly caring about themoney not
humanity.

3. Director's Profile
Name: Sadao Yamanaka
Born: November 7, 1909 (Kyoto City, Japan)
Died: September 17, 1938 at the age of 28 years
Main genre he worked on: Jidaigeki
Other movies he made: The Million Ryo Pot (1935)
Kochiyama Soshun (1936)
Director of this Japanesefilm was Sadao Yamanaka. Hewas also a great screen writer. Hedone
most of his work in Kyoto City, Japan. Heworked with Toho Production in this film. Hewas
showing current situation through his films. Hemadesomemovies which wereshowing Japan's
army. In most of thefilms hewas criticizing Japanesegovernment dueto this Japanesearmy
arrested him and later died in a field hospital in year 1938.

4. Film Genre: Jidaigeki
These kind of genre shows lives of Samurai, Warriors, Craftsman, Merchants and government
persons. Thesewere madeto show Japanese tradition and history and to makepropaganda for
their strong army and government.
Genreof this film is Jidaigeki. Jidaigeki is a popular film genre of Japanese films. It was admired
and adopted by many directors and screen play writers in that era. This genremainly shows
various professions of Japanesepeople.
Meaning of word 'Jidaigeki' is 'period drama' and sometimes Jidaigeki means to 'cloak and
dagger drama'. Jidaigeki has a sub-genrenamed as 'Chanbara' which means 'sword fight'.
Somefilms based on Jidaigeki genre:
1. Sword of Penitence
2. Nao-zamurai
3. Jobless Samurai
This movietakes us in 1930 of medieval Japan whereclass division was following by their
people. Four main classes was Samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. Samurai wereplaced
at the top of society. Samurai wereplaced at thetop of society becausethey started an order
and set a high moral examplefor others to follow. Samurais had somepridewith them.
Samurais wereruling class. Second most praised werethepeasants becausethey produced the
most importantcommoditythat was food. Peasantslived in villages and they wereengaged in
producing agricultural goods. That timefarmers weremorethan any other division in number.
Third were artisans becausethey produced non-essential goods. Merchantswereat thebottom
of thesocial order becausethey generated wealth without producing any goods. This class
division was not based on wealth but they wereordered on thebasis of their work and
responsibilities in society. This class division was based on birth. Son of a samurai will beknown
as a samurai.

5. Story Summary
Humanity and Paper Balloons is different from most of other Japanesemovies of that period. At
that timemost of thefilms wereshowing glorify samurai as an upper class man. But this Sadao
Yamanaka madea quitedifferent moviethat shows to refusea glorify samurai. This movie
shows Japanesesocial structure. In that system therewas someprideassociated with higher
choices. In this movieYamanaka mainly shows inferior status of Samurai and Merchants.
Moviestart with a suicideof poor samurai. Then film introduceus to another samurai,
Matajuro Unno who was also suffering from money crisis. His wifewas putting her great effort
to run their family. Shewas engaged in making of thelittlepaper balloons for running their
livelihood. He was losing his respect in his family dueto his drinking habit, sometimelater to
regain his health he had given up drinking. Then new character comein, Shinza who was a
barber who was making his efforts to achievehis real respect in society. Heapparently loves
Okuma, daughter of Mr. Mori who was a merchant. Mori wanted her to get married with a
samurai, so that hecan achieve respect likea samurai. But daughter loved another man who
was clerk of his father. Both of them wanted to run away from home.
As abovementioned Shinza was very different than any other, onceheoperated a gambling
party without permission of local gangsters so hegot someproblemwith them. Hewanted that
Yatagora, boss of mafia learn a lesson. So he kidnapped Okuma. Mori gavesomemoney to
Yatagora to savehis daughter. After search operation Shinza was theprimesuspect so Yatagora
tried to givehim somemoney after somerefusals Shinza took themoney and gavetheaddress
of Okuma. After this incident mafia don found Shinza near a bridgeand killed him

6. Critical Analysis
 Gender biased society:
In themovieduring a scene peoplewere talking about a girl likea material this shows their
lower mentality to women. In a scene they were comparing girl with chicken. This shows that
they don't havesympathy for women.
 Humanity:

7. Shinza was showing humanitymercy towardsthepeoplein thesociety whether they arehigh
class or lower class. In a scenehe was offering drink and to his people. He distributed the
money hegot from Yatagora. These qualities turns him in into thehero of this film.
In this sceneShinza was helping Matajuro Unno from mafia men. This qualityshowsthat he
braveas well as kind hearted man.
 Class Gap:
Lower class peoplefeel happy when they meet an upper class person. Upper class peoplelive
an ideal life. But, lower class peopletry to cheat each other to fulfill own greed. People like
Mori, Landlord, Local gang only work for money. They try to makeprofit.
 Social Barrier:
Unno unableto find a job because Mori ignores him. Working with a merchant is also not a
pridework. He ends up with involving in Shinza'splan. Hespent timewith low class people. He
loses all his respect. He was no longer a respectful samurai. So heends up with suicide. On the
other hand, Shinza gain respect and end up likea local hero. Shinza was a lower class man but
he had all the properties of an upper class person.
 Significance of Title:
Humanity in this film was like thepaper balloons, paper balloon don'tassociatea good money
with them, likethis in thefilm Mr. Mori and landlord wereonly taking caring of their money
they didn't showed a littlebit of sympathy towards Ronin.

8.  Courage of Shinza:

9. In thestarting of thefilm Shinza was threaten by landlord but in themiddleof thefilm hewas
daring theYatagora and at theend of the film hewas fighting with his small knife. This
characteristics madehim hero of this film.
 Corrupted people:
Okuma was shown likea doll. After Okuma kidnapped, When shewas living in a home, shewas
not shouting for thehelp her because may besheknows that nobody will help her. This shows
that peoplewere corrupted.
 Telling Lie to his wife:

10. Samurai arehaving so called greatness in Japaneseculture. They never speak lie but when
Matajuro Unno cameat homeafter fighting with mafia men, hespokelieto his wife. Actually
he was in pain.
 Self-respect is more important than any other thing:
In this scenewhen Shinza was requesting merchant's clerk for a loan then clerk was shouting on
him. Then Shinza said that heis not a beggar and for him self-respect wasmoreimportant than
money.

11.  Camera angle:
Whenever a new seen start In this film thecamera shows thesymmetry in scene, likein this
picturepeddler is moving exact mid on theroad. Thesesymmetry makescene clearer and
audiencecan't distract easily.
Conclusion
This film shows thedark sideof samurai. As they don't havehumanity. Humanityis compared
with paper balloons. In the it is showed that paper balloon goes into themuddy water this
shows that as paper balloon don't havea destination, likethis humanity also don'thaveany
destination. This film don't show glorifysamurai, in most of Japanesefilms samurai areshown
as braveand warriors but in this they arenot even fighting against social barriers and
discrimination. On theother sideit shows therevolutionof Shinza against landlord. Shinza
shows his humanity, determination and courage, in theend he emerges as thehero of this film.
References
1. Bhowmik, Ritwij. “Japan Segment: Humanityand Paper Balloons (1937).” Appreciating Far-
Eastern Cinema. IIT Kanpur. Kanpur. May 2016.Lecture.
2. “Humanity and Paper Balloons.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web.6th
June 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons >
3. “Edo society” from Wikipedia. Web 6th
June 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_society>