Interview with Japanese Ambassador H.E.Mr Kenjiro Monji
H.E. Mr. Kenjiro Monji, the Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar was born in Fukuoka in 1952. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1975 and has been actively engaged in public diplomacy throughout his career, promoting Japanese culture. He has worked closely with DFI to curate our season of Japanese screenings, which celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Qatar and Japan.

DFI: Please describe your earliest memory of Japanese cinema.

I remember seeing samurai movies and monster movies like “Godzilla”. It was in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I was too young to watch the films of Akira Kurosawa. I discovered him at a later stage.

Actually, I really got interested in film in my junior high school days. I watched a lot of American and European films. As students, we went to a very nice movie theatre each month. I watched “The Sound of Music”, “Dr Zhivago”, “Those Amazing Men in their Flying Machines.”

DFI: Japanese cinema has a number of genres: horror, mythology, anime. Why have samurai films, in particular, proved so popular?

I think “Seven Samurai” is fun to watch. And it is based on a lot of effort on the part of the film makers – the historical investigation was very serious. It pays attention to details and is realistic. The film is also a totally different setting for western people who are new to Japanese cinema. It is an introduction to the samurai and a feudal society. Not much was known about Japan right after the war. Those films won lots of awards at international festivals.

DFI: How did you develop an appreciation of Japanese cinema?

In the Seventies there were many film featuring young talented film makers. I also watched all of the classic films of the 1950s and 1960s – I was too young to understand them at the time.

DFI: During your formative years, which Japanese film influenced you most, and why?

I particularly remember “Tokyo Olympiad”, a documentary film by Kon Ichikawa. There was a big controversy about whether it was a documentary or artistic work. Normally, a documentary would record the event and tell you who won the medals. But in the case of the horizontal bar, Ichikawa shot just two hands clinging to the horizontal. Other people shot just the faces of the athletes. Despite the controversy, the film was a huge success. It was a tremendous way of recording the Tokyo Olympics.

DFI: Which other non-Japanese films had a profound effect on you when you were growing up?

I watched “Star Wars” in 1978 when I was a trainee in Paris. That was really shocking for me. I had always thought Japan was the leading country in terms of science fiction, special effects, monsters and superheroes. This was totally different. It is science fiction, but it was so real and unreal.
I also spent my senior year in America as a high school student in 1969-70. It was at the time of “Easy Rider”, “Woodstock” and “American Graffiti”. I watched “Easy Rider”. It was interesting, but a bit different from the United States that I knew. I had been living in a small town called Cazenovia, near Syracuse.

DFI: How would you define the present day film industry in Japan?

The country produces many, many films each year. Some of them are good, and some are not so good. Some go to foreign film festivals and win awards. I think they are doing well. Many people think the Japanese are good on horror and anime.

DFI: Have manga and anime been a major influence on you?
I grew up with manga and anime – I have been watching for over 55 years. It is because of Japanese manga and anime that when people understand that animation is not for children only. Japanese manga is for all ages. Anime and manga are popular all over the world. When I think of Hayao Miyazaki anime, my favourites are “My Neighbour Totoro” or “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. I can watch it so many times, since it is so soothing.

DFI: When you look at the Japanese film industry, are there any parallels to be struck with the Middle East?
Both cannot compete with Hollywood. “Departures” is important because it struck the hearts of many people in the world. I think that is one of the ways to pursue film in the Middle East. We can make good films without spending a huge amount of money. We can revolutionise new technologies. Most importantly, we can tell good stories.

DFI: The world of Japanese film contains many genres – how has it contributed to our better understanding of Japan?

Certainly a variety of genres can introduce Japan to many people in the world. Some of the latest anime productions would be a very good introduction. Films such as “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”. The “Evangelium” films will also be interesting to people – this is robot anime. I feel I should mention here that “Transformers” was inspired by a Japanese TV series.

DFI: What effect can Japanese films have on Qatari and Middle East audiences?

I think it is a good opportunity for them to see the world. Sometimes, culture and societies are totally different. At the same time, people feel something in common with a broadly defined Asia. I was ambassador to Iraq – where people wanted to learn lessons from Japan about reconstruction. People may recognise much from Japanese film. For example, the relationship with family members. I am very interested in promoting those relationships.

DFI: Please name your desert island film – one film you could not part with?

If it is manga, it would have to be “Phoenix”. If it was anime, which is my preferred choice, it would be “My Neighbour Totoro” – because you have to be able to watch it a thousand times on a desert island.

DFI: Lastly, is there anything you would like to add about the Doha Film Festival?

I would like to thank the staff for screening two Japanese films last year. This year, I hope more Japanese films will be shown to the public.