The Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Burned Down in Air Raids

The ruins of the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) amidst rubble, exposing a cruel wasteland. And beyond the slope of the "Maboroshi no Mon" towers the octagonal tower with its roof missing—this photograph, taken immediately after the air raid on May 25, 1945, is incredibly shocking to those of us in the modern era who know the peaceful days at Mita. One might say it vividly conveys the devastation brought by war—but in truth, these photographs require considerable annotation.

First, the photograph of the library amidst the rubble. At first glance, it looks as though the debris is piled up all the way to the library in the background, but in fact, the rubble is only in the foreground. By standing in a lower spot and releasing the shutter from a viewpoint nearly level with the ground, the photographer succeeded in creating an illusion of depth in the rubble. In other shots, students are gathered and chatting in the rubble-free plaza in front of the library.

What about the photograph near Maboroshi no Mon? Even as the library in the background lies burned out, many people appear to be entering and leaving the university. However, please compare the left and right sides. The pedestrians captured here, both those going up and those going down, are exactly the same people. In other words, it is a staged photograph.

These photographs were taken by a cameraman from "Tohosha," a publishing house directly under the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office. Tohosha was known for publishing the overseas propaganda magazine "FRONT" and employed major photographers such as Ihei Kimura and Yoshio Watanabe. We should view these as having been taken on the premise of being used for propaganda.

So, what was the intent behind them? The former image of ruins was likely an emphasis on the indiscriminate nature of the U.S. military in burning down a center of learning. The latter could be interpreted as an indirect criticism of the U.S. military by showing admirable students seeking knowledge even after an air raid. There are 37 photographs in total, and we should consider that the underlying goal of all of them—whether conscious or unconscious—was to tell a story that condemned the U.S. military and invited sympathy for Japan.

What is captured is the fact in front of the lens at the time of shooting, but is it "truth"? The photograph of the ruins is part of the permanent exhibition at the Keio History Museum, and other photographs are scheduled to be introduced in the museum's special exhibition "50 Documents Surrounding 'Keio University and the War'" starting June 18. There is no doubt that these are precious records of wartime. In addition, by providing these auxiliary lines of background explanation, they serve as important materials that provide a perspective on the relationship between modern media, the state, and the individual.

(Takeyuki Tokura, Associate Professor, Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)