1. JUNICHI KAJIOKA’S WWII SHORT DRAMA “IMPHAL 1944”
Based on the story of Masao Hirakubo O.B.E. and the Battle of Imphal
for the 70th
anniversary
The battles of Imphal and Kohima during World War II have been voted the “greatest
battles” fought in the history of the British Army by the National Army Museum in England
in 2013 but the least talked about in film. In fact the subject matter has never been made it
to film.
London-based Japanese actor Junichi Kajioka has appeared in several big budget films such
as 47 RONIN, SPECTRE BOND24 as well as indie films including TAKING STOCK, RAMDOM 11,
KING OF LIFE and PHONE BOX, which brought him Best Acting nominations. This is the very
first time that he has been involved in writing, directing, producing as well as playing the
leading role.
“I had no budget on the final day of the shooting. I got up 3.30am and made sandwiches for
all the crew. ”, he laughs.
Why did Junichi make this film and where did his passion come from?
Clearly his Japanese - British connection and his film career in China made him passionate
about the subject matter. When he was attached to another WWII-themed Indian film MY
JAPANESE NIECE almost 3 years ago, he had already appeared several award-winning
Chinese films. He intensively researched the subject
and came across the name of a Japanese veteran,
Masao Hirakubo O.B.E.
Masao Hirakubo tirelessly contributed himself to
reconciliation and peace between the Japanese and
British veterans until his death. Even though Junichi
has lived many years in London, he didn’t know
about Mr. Hirakubo and was fascinated by his story.

2. “Filmmakers have a mission to discover and tell unknown stories to the world and can
promote peace through filmmaking.”, he says.
“IMPHAL 1944” is an unusual heart-warming drama based on the life of Mr. Hirakubo and
the Battle of Imphal, which touches peoples’ hearts. The story concentrates on the
beginning of his reconciliation work and uses some metaphors to express the meaning of
life and the futility of war. It ends with the theme song “Memories of Imphal”, which seeks
a connection between the three countries involved in this battle. The film was set in both
London and India but was shot entirely in London. This film was made for the 70th
anniversary of the Battle of Imphal and dedicated to all who lost their lives in the war.
Synopsis:
Set in both modern day London and North East India
in the 1940s, “Imphal 1944” is a film about an
unlikely friendship between a Japanese and British
war veteran.
When the Japanese war veteran, Masao, was fighting
for his country in India, he took two British soldiers
captive. In the course of the ensuing battle one dies
and the other survives. In his later life he seeks out
his old enemy. He takes with him the dead soldier’s handkerchief that he has kept for all
this time. His attempts are rebutted and he wonders whether reconciliation is possible after
so many years.
Masao Hirakubo O.B.E.
A Japanese veteran of the Second World War Burma
campaign, Masao Hirakubo devoted the latter part of his life
to reconciliation with his former British adversaries, for
which he was honoured by his Emperor and appointed an
honorary OBE. He went back to North East India and Burma
many times and gave much help with the building to the new
cathedral in Kohima. He believed that the Japanese and the
Allies who had caused such devastation in Burma and India
had a continuing responsibility to help to rebuild the country.
He was the founder and chairman of the Burma Campaign
Society (formally known as the Burma Campaign Fellowship
Group). He was born in Kobe and died in London in 2008 at the age of 88.
The life of Masao Hirakubo was the inspiration for the lead character in this film.

3. Junichi Kajioka (writer, director, producer and the lead actor)
Junichi Kajioka is an award-winning Japanese filmmaker and
actor based in London. He speaks fluent English, Japanese, and
Chinese. He comes from Kobe and started his career in Tokyo
appearing in popular TV series in the early 90s and then went to
China to study acting. He was one of the pioneer Japanese
actors who went to China to study drama and to work in the
Chinese Film and TV industry.
Junichi's first professional film appearance came in Wen Jiang's
Cannes 2000 award winning film DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP in
China where he was studying acting at the Central Academy of
Drama. He has also played various Japanese historical figures in
Central Chinese Television (CCTV) drama series in leading roles.
He now resides in London and actively works both behind and in front of the camera in the
international film industry. Notable projects include Universal Pictures' 47 RONIN, SPECTRE
BOND 24, Chuan Lu’s CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH and Yimou Zhang's THE FLOWERS OF
WAR. He is due to appear in Mark Stirton’s Scottish thriller DARK HIGHLANDS and Miyako
Akina Fuqua’s award-winning LA project BARCODE MAN in leading roles.
He was nominated for his roles in KING OF LIFE and PHONE BOX at film festivals in the UK
and India. Further successes followed and he won awards for his first directorial film
IMPHAL 1944, winning Best Producer and Best Screenplay for Short Drama at the Monaco
International Film Festival. He is currently making a documentary film called SUGIHARA
SURVIVORS. The story is about Chiune Sugihara, who was a Japanese diplomat who saved
6,000 Jews during WWII in Lithuania.
For more information:
Junichi Kajioka
Email: japanvialondon@gmail.com
Facebook official page：https://www.facebook.com/imphal1944
IMDb：http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3667620
Official trailer：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qEogbFH9jk
Trailer with theme song：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYAzEOVthI

4. Awards and Film Festivals:
Won Best Producer at the Monaco International Film Festival 2014 (Monaco)
Won Best Screenplay for Short Period Drama at the MIFF, Angel Screenwriters Awards 2014
Official Selection at the Sand Dune International Film Festival 2014 (India)
Official Selection at the New York Peace Film Festival 2015 (USA)
Short Film Corner at the Cannes International Film Festival 2015 (France)
Selected English media coverage:
Cannes International Film Festival 2015 Official Website Short Film Corner
http://sub.festival-cannes.fr/SfcCatalogue/MovieDetail/ce4ffcdd-2674-414f-8d3f-1bd3ab9acceb
The Hollywood Reporter on 25.11.2014. ‘Monaco International Film Festival Announces Jury, Lineup’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/monaco-international-film-festival-announces-752232
The Japan Times on 29.08.2014. ‘New movie ‘Imphal 1944′ stresses the futility of war’
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/08/29/films/new-movie-imphal-1944-stresses-the-futility-of-
war/#.VVJmHRtwbIX
THE TIMES OF INDIA on 27.06.2014. ‘Battle of Imphal's 70th anniversary to conclude with Junichi film’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Battle-of-Imphals-70th-anniversary-to-conclude-with-
Junichi-film/articleshow/37301248.cms
Yahoo India! News on 02.06.2014. ‘Japanese filmmaker's 'Imphal 1944' set for Imphal premiere’
https://in.news.yahoo.com/japanese-filmmakers-imphal-1944-set-imphal-premiere-073209782.html
Bollywood Life on 02.06.2014. ‘Imphal 1944 to have the Imphal premiere on June 28’
http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news/imphal-1944-to-have-the-imphal-premiere-on-june-28/

5. Selected Japanese media coverage
includes the Japan Times, NHK News, Kyodo News, Yomiuri, Sankei, Asahi, the Japan Society
and Sponichi
Technical information:
Format: HD, Colour
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Running Time: 21 mins
Shot on location all over London including King’s Cross, Covent Garden, West Acton, Fulham
Broadway, Hendon Cemetery, Camden War Memorial and Epping Forest in April 2014
Cast and crew:
Masao / Young Masao: Junichi Kajioka
David: Ray Bull
Linda: Diane Crush
Young David: Daniel Shelley
John: James Viller
Isamu: Yusei

6. Writer, Director and Producer: Junichi Kajioka (Japan)
Co-Producer and Co-Writer: Timothee Layat (France)
Director of Photography: Michal Tomasiczek (Poland)
Music: Luna Luna (Japan) and Raphael Fimm (Germany)
Editor: Wenjia Zhao (China)
Costume Designer: Taylor Dougan (UK)
Hair and Makeup artist: Ann-Marie Mays (UK)
1st
Assistant Director Himen Joshi (india)
Associate Producer Paulina Moskwa (Poland)
Production Manager Timothee Layat and Junichi Kajioka
IMPHAL 1944 Director’s notes/Production Notes. Junichi Kajioka:
I always wanted to make films about my own
personal interests but was afraid of what other
people might think. I’m in my 40s now and I am more
comfortable now with pursuing my own passions and
interests. I’m especially interested in war time
history. I have had many opportunities to play
Japanese soldiers in films and have been able to
study this subject matter in detail.
I was chosen to play the lead role in an Indian film MY JAPANESE NIECE, which was then
postponed several times. I even visited India twice to publicise the film. The film has yet to
be made. I decided that I shouldn’t be afraid any longer and it was high time to make my
own film. I went to the Raindance Film School - inspiration for indie filmmakers around the
world - to learn the ropes and made my first directorial film.
“We Don't Teach Filmmaking, Raindance Makes Filmmakers.”
I made this film in less than 4 months including pre-production. I felt that I had entered my
own ‘war zone’. For the very first time I experienced the highs and lows of filmmaking on
set every day. It’s completely different from when you just play a part in front of the
camera. Fimmaking is the art of team work. Instead of ‘killing’ people, you are required to
cooperate with people and bring out the maximum talent from everybody. This project
made me much stronger and I matured lot. I feel that I have a stronger voice now as a
filmmaker.
In IMPHAL 1944, unlike the films I did before I wanted to focus on the human stories rather
than the acts of violence and physical aggression associated with war. I used some
metaphors to express the concept of war and associations with life and death.

7. One of these is the use of flowers: The three kinds of flowers in the poster carry the
message of peace from three countries to the world. Roses from England, cherry blossoms
from Japan, and lilies from Manipur in India. These of course relate to the countries of the
combatants and the scene of the battle in the film.
Another of the metaphors is the use of handkerchiefs
related to female characters in the film. I hope that
you will spot other metaphors in my film.
This film is based on a story about reconciliation
between Japanese and British war veterans. The film
was inspired by the true story of a Japanese soldier
Masao Hirakubo OBE, who fought in the Battle of
Imphal in Manipur, Northeast India, and subsequently worked tirelessly on reconciliation
activities. What he said in the interview was my starting point of the film; “We are made
alive by the wishes of the war dead. It doesn’t matter whether you are British or Japanese,
those who survived are members of the same group, which means that survivors from both
sides can share the same grief for their fallen comrades.” This is the essence of the film.
This story offers a chance to think about the importance and the meaning of one's life in
this special milestone year. The film including the ending song “MEMORIES OF IMPHAL” is
dedicated to all people who lost their lives in the war.
The lyrics of the ending song “MEMORIES OF IMPHAL” by LUNA LUNA
The peoples’ Kingdom was torn apart Ah, Imphal, Imphal
Your tears became our lives Ah, Imphal, Imphal
We will never forget you
The people who died, the people who survived.
Ah, ah, that borderline
Although time has passed, the pain is still deep in our hearts
Sleeping in the land of Manipur
The lives of three countries
The people of Manipur saved our lives
Country of roses and country of cherry blossom
Returned home to live our lives
It will never disappear, that borderline Ah, Imphal, Imphal
Gratitude wells up from our hearts
A storm of helpless tears Ah, Imphal, Imphal
Who does this life belong to?