The 12th Tokyo May Day (1931)

The 12th Tokyo May Day (1931) poster

On May 1st, unions all over Japan celebrate May Day, the international day for workers. Workers gather together at parks and hold demonstrations and parades. May Day has its origins in a strike that occurred in the United States on May 1, 1886, a strike that called for an eight-hour workday. Prokino recorded the May Day every year from 1927 to 1932. Among these films, this work is the only one that has survived. However, only its first part has survived. The original film depicts the march to the Ueno Park where the rally was dismissed. Iwasaki Akira coordinated the entire Tokyo Prokino organization as it photographed the 1931 May Day celebrations. They shot in both 16mm and 35mm (other 35mm productions were planned, but this is the only one that achieved completion). A 16mm print was circulated around the countryside by mobile projection units, and a 35mm print was shown at Soviet film nights in Tokyo and Osaka.

Director: Sozo Okada
Genre: Documentary, History
Runtime: 6 min
Release Date:
Production: Prokino
Country: Japan
Language: 日本語
Original Language: ja

Keywords

labor union, partially lost film, political documentary, left wing

More Films by Director: Sozo Okada
More Films in Genre: Documentary, History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The 12th Tokyo May Day about?
On May 1st, unions all over Japan celebrate May Day, the international day for workers. Workers gather together at parks and hold demonstrations and parades. May Day has its origins in a strike that occurred in the United States on May 1, 1886, a strike that called for an eight-hour workday. Prokino recorded the May Day every year from 1927 to 1932. Among these films, this work is the only one that has survived. However, only its first part has survived. The original film depicts the march to the Ueno Park where the rally was dismissed. Iwasaki Akira coordinated the entire Tokyo Prokino organization as it photographed the 1931 May Day celebrations. They shot in both 16mm and 35mm (other 35mm productions were planned, but this is the only one that achieved completion). A 16mm print was circulated around the countryside by mobile projection units, and a 35mm print was shown at Soviet film nights in Tokyo and Osaka.
Who directed The 12th Tokyo May Day?
The 12th Tokyo May Day was directed by Sozo Okada.
How long is The 12th Tokyo May Day?
The 12th Tokyo May Day has a runtime of 6m (6 minutes).
What genre is The 12th Tokyo May Day?
The 12th Tokyo May Day is a Documentary, History film.
Where was The 12th Tokyo May Day produced?
The 12th Tokyo May Day was produced in Japan.