The Film "Nankō Ketsubetsu": A Treasured Window into Early Japanese Cinema
Among the more than 87,000 films held by the National Film Archive of Japan, only a handful have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of the nation. "Nankō Ketsubetsu" (Kusunoki's Farewell), filmed on a single afternoon in December 1921, is one of them. Just 1,053 feet of fragile nitrate film captures a fleeting moment in which Japan's very first movie star performed before the future Emperor — and the medium of cinema itself was elevated to a respected cultural form. For travelers fascinated by the early history of film, samurai legend, or the Taishō era, the story behind this short reel is a remarkable journey.
What Is "Nankō Ketsubetsu"?
"Nankō Ketsubetsu" is the popular name for "Shigeki Nankō Ketsubetsu" (Historical Drama: Kusunoki's Farewell), a silent film produced in 1921 by Nikkatsu Corporation. The 35mm flammable original negative film, measuring 1,053 feet in length, is now preserved at the Sagamihara Branch of the National Film Archive of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The film records a momentous event held on December 8, 1921, the closing days of Japan's first nationwide exhibition devoted to motion pictures: the "Katsudō Shashin Tenrankai" (Motion Picture Exhibition), organized by the Ministry of Education at the Tokyo Museum within the Yushima Seidō compound — a site that today houses the National Museum of Nature and Science. On that day, the Prince Regent (later Emperor Shōwa) visited the exhibition, and the legendary actor Onoe Matsunosuke and his troupe performed a scene from the historical drama "Sakurai no Wakare" (The Farewell at Sakurai) before him. The film captures both the staged performance and the very act of filmmaking — including the cameras, the actors, and the imperial audience.
The Story Behind the Performance: Kusunoki Masashige and His Son
The scene depicted is one of the most iconic in Japanese historical lore. Kusunoki Masashige (1294?–1336), a celebrated samurai loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo in the struggle against the Kamakura Shogunate, knew he was riding to certain defeat at the Battle of Minatogawa. At a post station called Sakurai, he bid farewell to his young son Masatsura — entrusting to the boy not only the family's future but the cause of imperial loyalty itself. The episode became a cornerstone of Japanese moral education in the modern era and was retold countless times in poetry, theater, and song.
In the film, Onoe Matsunosuke himself plays Kusunoki Masashige, while the role of his son Masatsura is performed by Onoe Matsuba. Watching this scene unfold within just a few minutes of footage offers a rare glimpse of how Taishō-era audiences experienced the meeting of historical drama and cinematic spectacle.
Why Was It Designated an Important Cultural Property?
On June 29, 2010, "Nankō Ketsubetsu" was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, becoming only the second film ever to receive this honor (the first was "Momijigari," designated in 2009). The reasoning recognized several layers of historical significance.
An Original Negative of Extraordinary Rarity
Most films of the silent era survive — when they survive at all — only as later prints, duplicates, or fragments. "Nankō Ketsubetsu" is widely believed to retain its original camera negative: the very strip of celluloid that was loaded into the camera and exposed to light in 1921. The image quality is exceptionally sharp and rich in contrast, an indication that no successive duplications have softened the picture. Detailed analysis of the film stock, including the manufacturer's edge marks from Eastman Kodak and Agfa, has supported this finding.
A Record of Early Filmmaking Practice
Unusually, the film does not hide the apparatus of cinema. Cameras, crew positions, and the full mechanics of the shoot are visible within the frame. This unintentional document of the production process is a rare resource for understanding how films were actually made in early-Taishō Japan, and it carries great value for the history of film technology.
A Pivotal Moment in Cinema's Cultural Status
The 1921 Motion Picture Exhibition welcomed more than 130,000 visitors and was the first time the Japanese government directly endorsed cinema as a subject worthy of public study. The Prince Regent's attendance — and his viewing of Onoe Matsunosuke's performance — symbolized cinema's elevation from popular entertainment to recognized cultural form. The film stands as a record of that turning point.
The First Movie Star at His Peak
Onoe Matsunosuke (1875–1926), nicknamed "Medama no Matchan" for his expressive eyes, is often called Japan's first movie star. He appeared in around a thousand films during his career. The footage records what was, in effect, the highest honor he ever received: performing before the future emperor. He passed away less than five years later.
Highlights for the Modern Viewer
Because the original nitrate negative is highly flammable and exceedingly fragile, it is kept under climate-controlled conditions at the Sagamihara Branch and is not screened in its original form. Fortunately, a digitally restored version is freely available to watch online through the National Film Archive's "Film IS a Document" historical film portal. Viewers can experience all five sections of the film: the title card, the explanatory intertitle, a brief opening shot of trees, the main body documenting the imperial visit and performance, and a fade-out closing.
Look closely and you will notice two stars sharing the same frame: the heroic Onoe Matsunosuke at the height of his fame, and the young Prince Regent who would later become Emperor Shōwa. Few cinematic documents capture such a meeting so directly.
Where to Encounter the Story: Visiting the National Film Archive
The film itself is preserved at the Sagamihara Branch in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is a specialized storage facility not open to general visitors. However, travelers wishing to deepen their appreciation of this heritage can visit the publicly accessible Main Building (Kyobashi) of the National Film Archive of Japan in central Tokyo.
The Main Building features a permanent exhibition titled "The History of Japanese Cinema in the NFAJ Collection," which traces the development of Japanese film from its earliest days through pieces of film equipment, posters, photographs, and the personal effects of filmmakers. Two screening halls — Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU and the Small Hall — present curated programs by director, theme, country, and era throughout the year, and the library on the upper floors is open to researchers and enthusiasts.
The Main Building stands a one-minute walk from Kyobashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and is also easily reached from Tokyo Station's Yaesu South Exit (about ten minutes on foot).
Surrounding Attractions in Central Tokyo
The Kyobashi area where the National Film Archive stands is one of Tokyo's most historic commercial districts and is a perfect base for a cultural day in the capital. The elegant shopping streets of Ginza begin only a few minutes' walk away. The Artizon Museum, with its distinguished collection ranging from Impressionist paintings to contemporary Japanese art, sits just across the avenue. Tokyo Station's iconic red-brick Marunouchi facade — itself an Important Cultural Property — is a short stroll to the west, and the Imperial Palace gardens lie beyond it.
For those tracing the original setting of the 1921 exhibition, the Yushima Seidō compound and the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno are about thirty minutes away by public transport, and offer their own deep encounter with Japanese cultural history.
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Q&A
- Can I watch "Nankō Ketsubetsu" today?
- Yes. The original 1921 nitrate negative is preserved and not screened, but a digitally restored version is freely available to view through the National Film Archive's "Film IS a Document" online portal. The runtime is short, only several minutes, and the entire film can be viewed in one sitting.
- Can I visit the place where the film is stored?
- The Sagamihara Branch in Kanagawa is a film preservation facility and is not open to the general public. The publicly accessible counterpart is the Main Building (Kyobashi) of the National Film Archive in central Tokyo, where exhibitions, screenings, and a research library are available.
- Why is this film so historically important?
- It is one of the very few surviving original camera negatives from early Japanese cinema, it captures the production process itself within its frames, it documents the moment when cinema gained official cultural recognition in Japan, and it preserves a performance by Japan's first movie star, Onoe Matsunosuke.
- Who was Onoe Matsunosuke?
- Onoe Matsunosuke (1875–1926) is widely considered the first true movie star of Japanese cinema. Originally a kabuki actor, he made the transition to film and appeared in around a thousand productions, becoming a beloved national figure during the Meiji and Taishō periods.
- What is the story of Kusunoki's Farewell?
- It is the famous fourteenth-century parting between the samurai Kusunoki Masashige and his son Masatsura at the post station of Sakurai. Knowing he would not return from the Battle of Minatogawa, Masashige entrusted the cause of loyalty to the imperial throne to his son. The scene is a celebrated theme in Japanese historical drama and moral education.
Basic Information
| Name | Film "Nankō Ketsubetsu" (also known as "Shigeki Nankō Ketsubetsu") |
|---|---|
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (designated June 29, 2010) |
| Production Year | 1921 (Taishō 10), filmed December 8, 1921 |
| Format | 35mm flammable nitrate original negative film, 1,053 feet, one reel, silent |
| Lead Performer | Onoe Matsunosuke (as Kusunoki Masashige), with Onoe Matsuba (as Kusunoki Masatsura) |
| Production | Nikkatsu Corporation |
| Owner | Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art (preserved at the National Film Archive of Japan) |
| Storage Location | Sagamihara Branch, National Film Archive of Japan: 3-1-4 Takane, Chūō-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture (not open to the public) |
| Public Access | Main Building, National Film Archive of Japan: 3-7-6 Kyobashi, Chūō-ku, Tokyo (one-minute walk from Kyobashi Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) |
| Public Hours | Exhibition rooms 11:00–18:30 (last entry 18:00); closed Mondays, year-end and New Year holidays, and during exhibition changeover periods |
| Online Viewing | Digitally restored version available on "Film IS a Document — NFAJ Historic Film Portal" |
References
- Film "Nankō Ketsubetsu" — Cultural Heritage Online (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/169041
- Designation of Films as Important Cultural Properties — National Film Archive of Japan
- https://www.nfaj.go.jp/research/jubun/
- Shigeki Nankō Ketsubetsu (Digitally Restored Version) — Film IS a Document, NFAJ Historic Film Portal
- https://filmisadocument.jp/films/view/185
- National Film Archive of Japan — Official Website
- https://www.nfaj.go.jp/
- Access — National Film Archive of Japan
- https://www.nfaj.go.jp/visit/access/
- National Designated Cultural Properties Database — Agency for Cultural Affairs
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/00011354
Last verified: 2026.05.03