How do Japanese films comment on environmental disasters, and what kind of insights can we gain on how people process and address these threats? We will discuss environmental crisis based on the new edited volume “Eco-Disasters in Japanese Cinema,” featuring films made between 1954 and 2020, from activist documentaries to monster and cult films such as “Godzilla,” with topics ranging from environmental destruction and industrial pollution to radiation. Throughout, Japanese directors have rallied images of disaster to produce powerful environmental commentary.

This Japan Zoominar @ UC San Diego is organized by the Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). For more information on activities, as well as recordings of previous Japan Zoominars, please visit jfit.ucsd.edu.